Building from our earlier conversations about the beginnings of Conscious Hip-Hop and Gangsta Rap, we go back to the foundational days of hip-hop to look at the emcees still heralded as most influential and/or legendary.
RAKIM and BIG DADDY KANE
Starting with the two mc’s who changed the game with their lyricism and flow.
LL COOL J
We continued with the king of braggadocio and self-proclaimed GOAT. He had a gold name-plate that said “I wish you would”.
PT I — THE FIRST DECADE
Busting on the scene as an incredibly energetic 16 year old, LL was one of the first solo rap stars, and helped build a little rap label called Def Jam.
PT II — THE SECOND DECADE
After successfuly launching a “comeback” at a whole 22 years old, LL almost lost his cred — if not his fans — a couple of times, but managed to evolve, stay relevant, and chart hits into the mid-2000s. Something none of his peers had been able to do.
PT III: KRS-ONE and CHUCK D — Coming soon
But in the meantime, here’s the Self Destruction video, which is relevant.