Man, I love 80's rap music, it was so much better than what it is now. It was lighthearted and fun, and it wasn't about shootings, gangs, hos and drugs like it is now. Groups like Run DMC, Whodini, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, shoot, even the Fat Boys were cool back in the day. 80's music was great back then, it's sad to see how much it has changed. I can't even listen to most of the rap music that is out nowadays, which is sad when you think about it.

I like `80s rap music, but not exclusively to the ideals you professed.

There's good "street" rap music from the 80s too: Schoolly D, Kool G Rap, Ice T, Too $hort, King Tee...

CinisterCee said:

De La, P.E., Stetsasonic, UltraMagnetics, 3rd Bass, Kool Moe Dee, NWA, Ice-T, Bizmarkie, Dug E Fresh/Slick Rick, and Dana Dane.

psychodelicide said:

Right on! And also de la soul and Tribe Called Quest who took it into the
90's.

StoneCrib said:

Yeah, I remember those groups, they were cool.

phunkdaddy said:

Rap peaked in the '80s, no doubt! I'll be able to recite the lyrics to "Self Destruction" on my deathbed.

OTOH, it is sad, sad, SAD that I'm the first person in the thread to mention Eric B. & Rakim or BDP.
[Edited 7/9/06 20:38pm]

Salt N Peppa. Public Ememy, Run DMC, NWA, Fresh Prince, Kid N Play, Boogie Down Productions, Young MC, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Heavy D, Sir Mix O Lot, for starters

Now The Whodini's inside the joint!!!

I used to listen to every single group listed here, except for 3rd Bass. I haven't heard much of it in ages though since I have it all on tapes gathering dust somewhere.

Anybody remember Kwame?

ladygirl99 said:

You coulda left Young MC out

sitruk7 said:

A Polkadelic Experience!

I just got done listening to some Eric B. & Rakim not too long ago. I can't get enough of the 80s rap. Some of it's just untouchable.

ladygirl99 said:

Alright thats the shit, Ice T, 2 Live Crew, Eazy E all that shit. Brings back tha memoriez.
These guys were the originators and we need 2 give mad crazy props. Also a great rapper called Prince and a slammin track "Bob George" and Dead on it.

I just thrashed bigger and deffer by Cool J then that was like my favourite album when I was 11.

funkpill said:

Born and raised in the streets of Brookyln, there's three of us and we're all good looking

sitruk7 said:

Love Kwame! He really had his own style.

Ownlee Eue

Maybe it's cuz of the memories, I love 80's rap.

Boogie-Down Bronx
Boogie-Down Bronx
Boogie Boogie Boogie....

AlexdeParis said:

He was part of just about every rap tour in the late 80's-early 90's. He came along probably a few years too soon.

It was funny to see how he could joke about one line in a BIG song finally killed his career.

Lemme bring some Eric B. & Rakim in this piece.

Paid in Full - http://www.youtube.com/wa...X-Zu5dfRIw

Follow the Leader - http://www.youtube.com/wa...hOOxhgzT9Q

I Ain't No Joke - http://www.youtube.com/wa...QTCW8JHbVk

Microphone Fiend - http://www.youtube.com/wa...racJP6kIWY

Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em - http://www.youtube.com/wa..._dcLMG5a4I

Before this ....



... Sugarhill Records released :



Funny coincidence : both were a trio-group and featured a blonde MC .

http://www.youtube.com/wa...20angie%20


& featuring an early Angie "B" Stone (in the middle )

'80's rap was great. What do y'all know about the LA Dream Team or Whistle? How about Steezo? Chill Rob G?

Just messin' with you as they were all 1 hit wonders with great 1 hits! I miss the '80's for the versatility that rap had- Poor Righteous Teachers to Sir Mix A Lot to X Clan! Hell, give some props to LL in the '80's- I'm 32 years old and I often feel the need defend "Bigger and Deffer" as the greatest solo rap ever- better than "Long Live The Kane", "Ready To Die", or "Doggystyle".

The '80's are amazing to listen to in retrospective because you can see how the art form progressed in such a short time period. Check out the the lyrics and rock beats for "King Of Rock", then give the same kind of listen to BDP's "Criminal Minded" and then check out Tribe's "People's Instinctive Travels...".

It's like listening to Prince come into his own from "Controversy" through "Sign O' The Times".

CoolMF said:

Hip-hop was more diverse and evolved more through the 80's than it did in the next two decades.

But I must say this. The evolution of hip-hop did not end in the 80's completely. It set the stage for what could be the true golden age of the genre in the first half of the 1990's. Think about these jewels from that era:

To The East Blackwards (1990)
All for One (1990) and In God We Trust (1992)
Reel To Reel (1992)
The Low End Theory (1991) and Midnight Marauders (1993)
Fear of a Black Planet (1990) and Apocalypse '91 (1991)
Mecca and the Soul Brother (1992) and The Main Ingredient (1994)
Reachin' (1993) and Blowout Comb (1993)
Resurrection (1994)
Hard to Earn (1994)
The Sun Rises in the East (1994)
Southernplayalistik . . . (1993)
Edutainment (1990), Sex and Violence (1992) and Return of the Boom Bap (1993)
De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Buhloone Mindstate (1993) and Stakes Is High (1994)
The Devil Made Me Do It (1990) and Sleeping With The Enemy (1992)
Mr. Hood (1990)
Downtown Science (1991)
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991) and The Predator (1992)
Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde (1992)
Whut? Thee Album (1992) and Dare Iz A Darkside (1994)
Illmatic (1994)

Not to mention Biggie, Snoop, Dre, 'Pac, Mobb Deep, Black Moon, and so many others who came out of that era. In many ways hip-hop in the 21st century is still living off the rep others built over a decade ago.

But it all comes back to the 80's as literally the defining decade.

Glad to see so many of you like 80's rap as much as I do. Let's not forget the Sugarhill Gang rap song, "Rapper's Delight". That started it off for me. I just heard that song on the radio the other day as I was going to work, and was mad because I had to turn it off without hearing the whole song because I had to get into the office.

AlexdeParis said:

Cool! Thanks for the link.He had a few jams didn't he? The Man We All Know and Love might've been my favorite though.

namepeace said:

Nice list. Don't forget another early 90's gem and maybe the most underrated hip-hop album ever: '93' Til Infinity - Souls Of Mischief

psychodelicide said:

but todays rap is much better because shooting,ho's and drugs are fun to do.
Man law....admit it ...we all like a good ho every once in awhile
shooting is fun and funny....think of arsenio hall in Harlem Knights.....
and drugs take you out of this terrible life we all live with $4.00 GAS PRICES

ccollin88 said:

You're joking, right? Maybe for you it is, but not for me. I don't think shooting is at all fun or funny.
[Edited 7/10/06 16:48pm]

psychodelicide said:

SO WHEN A SUCKER talk noise to you....what do you do? you gotta show'em who boss