East Coast hip hop

East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City during the 1970s.^[3][4] Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the Bronx, New York City;^[5] East Coast hip hop only became a distinct subgenre after artists from other regions of the United States emerged with different styles.

In contrast to other styles, East Coast hip hop music has prioritized complex lyrics for attentive listening rather than beats for dancing.^[5] The main components of hip hop culture have been MCing, DJing, break dancing and graffiti. The term "East Coast hip hop" more specifically denotes hip hop originating from the East Coast of the Northeastern United States; while Southeastern states such as Georgia are also located on the East Coast, their hip hop scenes are instead considered Southern hip hop and rarely given the "East Coast hip hop" connotation.

Musical style[]

In contrast to the simplistic rhyme pattern and scheme utilized in old school hip hop, East Coast hip hop has been noted for its emphasis on lyrical dexterity.^[3] It has also been characterized by multi-syllabic rhymes, complex wordplay, a continuous free-flowing delivery and intricate metaphors.^[3] Although East Coast hip hop can vary in sound and style, "aggressive" beats and the combining of samples were common to the subgenre in the mid- to late 1980s.^[5] The aggressive and hard-hitting beats of the form were emphasized by such acts as EPMD, Beastie Boys and Public Enemy, while artists such as Eric B. & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Notorious B.I.G and Slick Rick were noted for their lyrical skill and gangsta rap style. ^[5] Lyrical themes throughout the history of East Coast hip hop have ranged from lyrical consciousness by such artists as Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest to mafioso rap themes by rappers such as Raekwon, MF Grimm and Kool G Rap.^[3]

History[]

Emergence (1970s–80s)[]

East coast hip hop is occasionally referred to as New York rap due to its origins and development at block parties thrown in New York City during the 1970s.^[3] According to AllMusic, "At the dawn of the hip-hop era, all rap was East Coast rap."^[5] Leading up to hip hop, there were spoken-word artists such as the Last Poets who released their debut album in 1970, and Gil Scott-Heron, who gained a wide audience with his 1971 track "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". These artists combined spoken word and music to create a kind of "proto-rap" vibe.^[6] Following this, early artists of hip hop such as DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, the Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Jam Master Jay and Run-DMC, pioneered East Coast hip hop during hip hop's development in the mid-1970s.^[5] As the genre developed, lyrical themes evolved through the work of East Coast artists such as the Native Tongues, a collective of hip hop artists associated with generally positive, Afrocentric themes, and assembled by Afrika Bambaataa. New York-based groups such as De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers also earned recognition for their musical eclecticism.^[5]

Renaissance (1990s)[]

RZA, producer and member of the Wu-Tang Clan

This was called "The Golden Age" of hip hop.^[7] Although East Coast hip hop was more popular throughout the late 1980s, N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton (released in the summer of 1988) presented the toughened sound of West Coast hip hop, which was accompanied by gritty, street-level subject matter.^[5] Later in 1992, Dr. Dre's G-Funk record The Chronic would introduce West Coast hip hop to the mainstream. Along with a combined ability to keep its primary function as party music, the West Coast form of hip hop became a dominant force during the early 1990s.^[5] Although G-Funk was the most popular variety of hip hop during the early 1990s, the East Coast hip hop scene remained an integral part of the music industry. During this period, several New York City rappers rising from the local underground scene, began releasing noteworthy albums in the early and mid nineties such as Nas, The Notorious B.I.G. and others.^[8] The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show was the launch pad for many east coast artists during this era.

Nas's 1994 debut album Illmatic was critically acclaimed.

Nas's 1994 debut album Illmatic has also been noted as one of the creative high points of the East Coast hip hop scene, and featured production from such renowned New York-based producers as Large Professor, Pete Rock and DJ Premier.^[8] Meanwhile, The Wu-Tang Clan, Onyx, Black Moon (group), Smif-N-Wessun, Big L, Lost Boyz and Mobb Deep became pillars in New York's hardcore hip hop scene, achieving widespread critical acclaim for their landmark albums, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993), Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995), Enta Da Stage (1993), Bacdafucup (1993), Dah Shinin (1995), Legal Drug Money (1996) and The Infamous (1995).

The Notorious B.I.G. became the central figure in East Coast hip hop during most of the 1990s. Bad Boy Records comprised a team of producers known as the Hitmen Stevie J, Derrick "D Dot" Angelletie and Amen Ra directed by Sean Combs to move the focus on hip hop to New York with the Notorious B.I.G.'s Billboard topping hits.^[9] His success on the music charts and rise to the mainstream drew more attention to New York at the time of West Coast hip hop's dominance.^[9] According to AllMusic editor Steve Huey, the success of his 1994 debut album Ready to Die "reinvented East Coast rap for the gangsta age" and "turned the Notorious B.I.G. into a hip-hop sensation — the first major star the East Coast had produced since the rise of Dr. Dre's West Coast G-funk".^[9] Many saw his dominating presence as a catalyzing factor in the East Coast/ West Coast hip hop rivalry that polarized much of the hip hop community, stirring the issue enough to result in the Brooklyn rapper's 1997 death, as well as his West Coast counterpart, Tupac Shakur, months prior.^[10] His commercial success helped pave the way for the success of other East Coast rappers such as Jay-Z, DMX, Busta Rhymes, The Lox, Fat Joe, Big Pun and many upcoming rappers.^[9][11]

Mainstream Success and Decline (2000 - 2010)[]

East coast rap arguably reached its peak commercial success with the success of 50 Cent and his G Unit crew in the early 2000s, along with established artists such as Jay Z, Ja Rule and Dipset. However, critics bemoaned the over commercialization of the subgenre during this era, with popular artists glorifying money, excess and sex, evidenced by Jay-Z's 2000 hit Big Pimpin', which attracted strong criticism for its misogynistic lyrics and over the top, big budget music video.^[12]

Many artists associated with east coast hip hop were equally dissatisfied with the commercialization of hip hop, such as Nas, who proclaimed hip hop 'dead' by the mid-2000s.^[13] Indeed, by the middle of the decade, east coast artists had begun losing popularity with the growth of Southern hip hop artists such as Lil' Wayne and T.I., with regional scenes in New Orleans and Atlanta, respectively, whose party ready sound proved popular with mainstream audiences. Other southern cities such as Houston and Miami also received attention from the mainstream press as well, with subgenres such as Houston's chopped and screwed hip hop, bounce and trap music attracting attention.^[14]

Partial Revival and the rise of New York Drill (2010- Present)[]

A partial revival of East coast rap has occurred in the last decade, albeit without the same level of commercial success as in the nineties, due to various factors, such as the rise of social media, music streaming and the internet, which has led to a decline in unique regional scenes across many musical genres. In addition, rivalries between different cities and regions have declined significantly and artists across different regions and genres are much more willing to collaborate than in the past. Despite this, the distinctive East coast sound is still notable in today's music. Notable artists who have rose to prominence in the past decade include A$AP Mob particularly, A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg, Joey Bada$$, Vast Aire, Azealia Banks and most prominently Cardi B. and J.Cole (himself a transplant from North Carolina), all based in New York City. Notable artists from other cities include Philadelphia's Meek Mill and Lil Uzi Vert, Wale and Logic from Washington, DC and Hampton Roads native Pusha T.^[15]

In addition, New York City's drill movement, heavily influenced by UK drill (and often using the same London producers), has injected new energy into the New York hip hop scene, attracting both critical acclaim and a significant following, despite departing from standard hip hop song structures. Initially focused in Brooklyn, led by artists such as the late Pop Smoke, Fivio Foreign, Sheff G, Sleepy Hallow, Bizzy Banks, J.I. Prince of N.Y., Jay Critch and others; and more recently in the Bronx, with artists such as A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Lil Tjay, Kay Flock, B Lovee, among others.^[16]

Legacy[]

Many knowledgeable hip hop fans and critics look favorably upon the emergence of East Coast hip-hop in the early nineties, as a time of creative growth and influential recordings, describing it as "The East Coast Renaissance". Music writer May Blaize of MVRemix Urban comments on the nostalgia felt among hip hop fans for records released during this time:

It was claimed as the East Coast Renaissance. Wu-Tang brought the ruckus with 36 Chambers. The world was ours when Nas released Illmatic. Big L, (The MVP) came out with Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous. Temperatures rose in clubs when Mobb Deep came out with The Infamous and Brooklyn’s finest Jay-Z released Reasonable Doubt. . . And who can forget the powerful uplifting anthem that would brand New York’s concrete "Bucktown" (Smif-n-Wessun's hit single)? . . .Ahh, it was a beautiful time in hip-hop history that many of us wish we could return to.^[17]

David Drake of Stylus Magazine writes of hip hop during 1994 and its contributions, stating: "The beats were hot, the rhymes were hot - it really was an amazing time for hip-hop and music in general. This was the critical point for the East Coast, a time when rappers from the New York area were releasing bucketloads of thrilling work - Digable Planets, Gang Starr, Pete Rock, Jeru, O.C., Organized Konfusion - I mean, this was a year of serious music."^[8]

See also[]

• Music of New York City
• Culture of New York City
• Music of New Jersey
• Music of Philadelphia
• Music of Baltimore
• Music of Massachusetts
• Music of Delaware
• Music of Washington, D.C.
• Music of Virginia
• Music of Rhode Island
• East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry
• List of East Coast hip hop record labels
• Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives

References[]

External links[]

• Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation — By Jeff Chang
• It's Bigger Than Hip Hop — By M. K. Asante, Jr.
• Rap Music and Street Consciousness — By Cheryl L. Keyes