Long before Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Drake rose to popularity, there was a group of artists who reformatted the music scene and laid the foundation for the success of almost every Urban act in the industry today. By mixing Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop in new ways, these performers helped to create a special subgenre that changed the landscape of popular culture – Hip-Pop.

From the incredibly random yet exciting ‘Fantasy (Remix)’ collaboration between Mariah Carey and Ol’ Dirty Bastard to the innovative production styles of Missy Elliott and Timbaland, these were artists who opened the door for Hip-Hop to become a permanent fixture on mainstream radio. Indeed, the once despised Hip-Pop sound has become the dominant force in music today.

Check out some of the songs that defined the Hip-Pop Revolution in this special Way Back Wednesday below:

Aaliyah – ‘Are You That Somebody? (Ft. Timbaland)’

Janet Jackson – ‘Someone to Call My Lover (Remix) (Ft. Jermaine Dupri)’

Mariah Carey – ‘Fantasy (Remix) (Ft. Ol Dirty Bastard)’

Mariah Carey – ‘Heartbreaker (Remix) (Ft. Da Brat & Missy Elliott)’

Missy Elliott – ‘Sock It 2 Me (Ft. Da Brat)’

TLC – ‘No Scrubs’

Although rappers and singers have been collaborating since the 1980s, the true development of the Hip-Pop genre occurred in the mid-1990s. The commercialisation of Hip-Hop rapidly increased thanks to the efforts of Diddy – then called Puff Daddy – and many of the other music moguls who foresaw the potential of the music to go far beyond the club scene.

Of course, the track that many critics regarded as the record that gave the Hip-Pop movement its definitive sound was Carey’s ‘Fantasy (Remix)’, which included an unlikely contribution from ODB. Yes, artists such as Mary J. Blige had been working with rappers for years but none of Carey’s predecessors had the Pop appeal, writing skills or musical sensibility that she possessed to have the young girls of middle America singing along to the jarring vocals of ODB.

Carey had experimented with Hip-Hop and New Jack Swing since her debut album – she even rapped two verses on ‘Prisoner’ – but she perfected a previously undeveloped brand of music with ‘Fantasy’. Indeed, TLC’s Left-Eye, Toni Braxton and several other artists have credited Carey has the mastermind behind the sound that Beyonce and Christina Aguilera have used throughout their careers.

Still, it is important to stress the difference between Hip-Pop and Hip-Hop/Soul. Though the lines between the two genres are quite vague, it has always been helpful to put faces to the sounds.

Carey and Elliott represent Hip-Pop – readily played on Top 40/Pop radio because of their use of colourful melodies and radio-friendly productions. Conversely, Blige and Faith Evans are Hip-Hop/Soul – grittier and more niche to the Urban formats. In other words, Hip-Pop is Hip-Hop/Soul’s cuter little sister; the Destiny’s Child to Xscape.

Before we go, enjoy one of the most successful Hip-Pop songs of the last year, Nicki Minaj’s ‘Super Bass’:

Nicki Minaj – ‘Super Bass’

Thoughts?

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[Edited 1/11/12 14:14pm]

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