Best decade for hip-hop music? - Music - Forums : Best Ever Albums

useless

Just an attempt to trigger a discussion. I must confess that sadly I am not familiar enough with the genre since I have only listened to 6-7 hip-hop albums (and the only ones I've given a proper amount of spins are MBDTF and Plastic Beach), therefore I abstain, but anyone else who's experienced enough is more than welcome to share his opinion(s)

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I'm gonna drop an essay on this thread. Whether or not it comes to a conclusion with regards my favourite decade for hip-hop is as yet unclear (I've only just started writing it), but I'd just like to let you know that I think this is a cool topic for discussion. It's strange to think of hip-hop in terms of decades, as it's usually referred to in terms of "eras" or fads or regions ("old school", "the golden age", "gangsta rap", "the shiny suit era", "ringtone rap", "Dirty South", "hyphy", etcetera etcetera whatever whatever) which often overlap, but hopefully I can write something coherent on the issue. Plastic Beach, however, does not constitute hip-hop. Anyways, I'll be back.

Applerill Autistic Princess <3 Profile
Location: Chicago

I don't mean to sound like a Rolling Stone editor, but now we're finally reaching the point where hip-hop is taking rock's place as the music genre of innovation. And that's why I definitely think this decade is the best.

ButterThumbz I always used to wonder if she wore false ears Profile
Location: O'er the hills and far away

As exciting, informative and important as the '80s was to my hip-hop hungry teenage mind, I've had to plump for '90s, certainly as far as albums are concerned. Many of my favourite late '80s acts actually released some of their best stuff in the '90s. And when I say 90's hip-hop, I'm talking late golden age, native tongues, turntablism and underground stuff. I just didn't go for Tupac, Biggie and the like.

ButterThumbz I always used to wonder if she wore false ears Profile
Location: O'er the hills and far away

Applerill wrote:

I don't mean to sound like a Rolling Stone editor, but now we're finally reaching the point where hip-hop is taking rock's place as the music genre of innovation. And that's why I definitely think this decade is the best.

If you think that hip-hop has only just become innovative, you clearly haven't been paying attention. Rolling Stone? More like the editor of The Christian Science Monitor.

Last edited by ButterThumbz on 05/09/2013 15:00; edited 1 time in total

meccalecca Voice of Reason Profile
Location: The Land of Enchantment

ButterThumbz wrote:

As exciting, informative and important as the '80s was to my hip-hop hungry teenage mind, I've had to plump for '90s, certainly as far as albums are concerned. Many of my favourite late '80s acts actually released some of their best stuff in the '90s. And when I say 90's hip-hop, I'm talking late golden age, native tongues, turntablism and underground stuff. I just didn't go for Tupac, Biggie and the like.

Everything you just said reflects my personal feelings about the genre. It was really hard to pick a favorite decade, but the 90s had Wu Tang, Tribe, the Roots, The Chronic, Doggystyle, Geto Boys, Pharcyde, De La Soul, Mos Def, Outkast...etc.

GeevyDallas WATTBA Profile

It's got to be the 2010's for me,simply because I've probably heard and loved more from this decade than any other,yes there are a huge number of albums from 80's,90's(especially) and the 00's that I love,but Drizzy wasn't dropping classics in any other decade.

As well as the simple fact that I love more from now,there is also the fact I find hip hop now to be more interesting.Could RiFF RaFF,Cakes Da Killa,Kitty Pryde,Chief Keef,Lil B,etc. be successful in any other decade,probably not,with maybe the exception of Keef. It's undeniable that these type of acts add greatly to the genre and makes it a more colorful and ultimately better thing/place.Thanks to the internet we are made aware of acts like this and hundreds more that would have never had the opportunity to shine without it and that is quite unique to this decade and maybe the late 00's.

The whole mixtape culture right now also plays a huge part in it,three great mixtapes dropped in the last week that I love and that's only the ones i've heard,i'm sure a least a handful more are worth a listen. Yes it was extremely popular and perfected in 07 with Weezy,but mixtapes have become more like albums now and their quality is always rising.

Then you have the likes of A$AP Rocky,Danny Brown,Drake,etc. bringing together a variety of styles and sub genres together to create something new and exciting.You have bonafide classics that can compete with any other decade,namely MBDTF,GKMC,Flockaveli,Life Is Good to name a few.As well as dozens more cult classics that probably didn't get the credit they deserved.

I get the impression that artistic freedom and creativity in hip hop is at an all time high(although I'm not going to state this as a fact),I think this ultimately means that the genre will continue to grow and become greater as a result.

Applerill Autistic Princess <3 Profile
Location: Chicago

ButterThumbz wrote:

If you think that hip-hop has only just become innovative, you clearly haven't been paying attention. Rolling Stone? More like the editor of The Christian Science Monitor.

I never said it wasn't innovative before.

I meant that we're getting done with the "rock era" of popular music, and heading towards a more hip-hop (or at least electronic in general) era. When we think of the innovations this decade in music, we'll think of it in a hip-hop context, just as we normally think of a rock context in the sixties, even though it was more than existent before.

And then there's mixtape culture, where great free music is the norm and not the exception.

ButterThumbz I always used to wonder if she wore false ears Profile
Location: O'er the hills and far away

Applerill wrote:

I never said it wasn't innovative before.

I meant that we're getting done with the "rock era" of popular music, and heading towards a more hip-hop (or at least electronic in general) era. When we think of the innovations this decade in music, we'll think of it in a hip-hop context, just as we normally think of a rock context in the sixties, even though it was more than existent before.

And then there's mixtape culture, where great free music is the norm and not the exception.

Yeah, sorry, I was being a bit of a dick but I would argue with your idea that rock was more than existent before the sixties. Yes, it's roots are in blues and rock & roll but the late sixties are considered rock's golden age, just as the late eighties is referred to as hip-hop's golden age.

Also, mixtapes have been a means of hip-hop artist releasing promotional material since the nineties but, yes, it is certainly a lot easier to obtain them.

Last edited by ButterThumbz on 05/09/2013 15:48; edited 1 time in total

meccalecca Voice of Reason Profile
Location: The Land of Enchantment

Applerill wrote:

I never said it wasn't innovative before.

I meant that we're getting done with the "rock era" of popular music, and heading towards a more hip-hop (or at least electronic in general) era. When we think of the innovations this decade in music, we'll think of it in a hip-hop context, just as we normally think of a rock context in the sixties, even though it was more than existent before.

And then there's mixtape culture, where great free music is the norm and not the exception.

I understand what you're saying. but, well, hip hop was massive in the 90s. I'm not really sure it can get any bigger than it's already been. Rock sales have been trumped by hip hop sales for well over a decade. If anything, rock is the genre needing a resurgence.