I originally posted this in the OT forum, but Martin said was cool for me to put it here so...here it is (and PLEASE understand that I am well aware and respectful of the greatness of pre-1989 or pre-1986 Hip-Hop. I used the term "Golden Age" because it was coined by someone other than myself..feel free to look it up) Anyway....

This is the original post:

http://ultimateknicks.com/forum/topic.asp?t=17244&page=#285793

Sup Everyone...

For those interested I just put up my latest Old School Hip Hop Mix which I am labeling a "Golden Age" mix. I posted the text from my podcast site to explain what I mean (although I know pretty much everyone here knows exactly what I'm talking about) and the track listing.

From my podcast site:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0144499

"So, as promised here is the "Golden Age" Hip Hop mix I have been discussing for some time. I apologize before you listen to this podcast for a few record skips that sadly took place on a few tracks. Part of that may be related to my setup since I am currently missing a screw meant to attach the cartridge to the headshell on on turntable, making it a bit less stable.

Regardless, I hope everyone enjoys the mix as much as I had creating it. I tried to put together a blend of well known tracks of that era, plus a few gems that may have fallen below the radar. Technically, Da Youngsta's, 'Mad Props', and Lords of the Underground's, 'Neva Faded,' off of their sophomore album were released in 1994, a year after the "Golden Age" but the sound of both songs is definitive of that era. In fact, both songs were produced by two of the the most talented and influential, who also worked closely together for years, Marley Marl and K-Def. In fact, this podcast is HIGHLY influenced by and peppered with the dirty, raw sound that made Marley Marl the legend that he is in Hip-Hop."

Playlist:

MC Lyte – Ruffneck (Beatnuts Remix)
LL Cool J – Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings
Downtown Science – This Is A Visit (Hardhead Mix)
Del The Funky Homosapien – Don’t Forget
MC Solaar – Nouveau Western
Showbiz & AG – Soul Clap
Souls of Mischief – That’s When Ya Lost
Main Source – Looking At The Front Door
EPMD feat. LL Cool J – Rampage
Ultramagnetic MC’s – Make It Happen (Remix)
Three Times Dope – From Da Giddy Up
Positive K – I Got A Man
Art of Origin – No Slow Rollin’
Lords of The Underground – Neva Faded
Da Youngsta’s – Mad Props
House of Pain – Who’s The Man
Cypress Hill – Lil’ Putos
A Tribe Called Quest – Oh My God (Remix)
The Nonce - 85

nice list...its a shame what rap has become now....theres stilla couple ppl i listen to on a daily basis like nas, but in my car you'll find old er hiphop lke anything from 94-2000

albums like illmatic, reasonable doubt, Cuban Linx, ready to die and others

so when is the "golden age" ? I always thought the best years of rap was 92-98 around that time... maybe u could even say from the first chronic to chronic 2001 hahaha... But i concider "Old school" to be pre-92


[Edited by - elite on 09-11-2006 2:42 PM]

As for the "Golden Age" again, I'm merely using the term coined by someone else. Anyway, it's only meant to describe the period from 1986-1993/94.

I agree that rap became FAR more commercialized in 94, with Dr Dre's 'The Chronic' (although there were some other phases that contributed to its ever increasing commercialization) and even more so in 1997 with Biggie's second album and Puffy's first solo record.

However, it wasn't like suddenly in 1993 all hip-hop became all-"commercial". Many of the older artists who were "big" in the late 1980's and early 90's were still signed to major record labels and some of the "big" producers of the time, like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, The Beatnuts, Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee, A Tribe Called Quest, Marley Marl, The Bomb Squad, Showbiz/D.I.T.C., etc. and the artists they produced were getting work and radio airplay on "urban" radio. It took another 4-5 years for most of those artists to fall out of "mainstream" rap approval as the genre became more commercialized, or they adjusted their sound to conemporary tastes (a la Buckwild of D.I.T.C. and Salaam Remi).

Anyway, the term "Golden Years" is subjective, but not something I made up out of the sky because I am biased towards that era. One of the reasons I did not use the term "Old School" is because the last time I used that I received flack from people who only consider Old School to be pre-1986. I disagreed, using the pre-1994 argument, but I really wish some Old School Hip-Hop lovers would relax with the "I know better than you, and you must be 16 years old to think that such and such is old school." (not saying anyone here is saying that. In the end I think a lot of hip-hop from pre-1994 is great, and there is also some that is great from beyond that date as well, although most, (although not all) in my view, does not fall into the highly "commercialized" rap that has ruled the pop charts since 1997 (because remember, there was a backlash against the G-Funk era from pop stations who around 1994 would literally advertize, "We play Nooooo Rapppppp!!!" like Z100 in the NYC area.) Acts like Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, etc. have all had their hey-day after 1994, so it's not like everything past that day is wack.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the mix, no matter what you think of my labeling job..

[Edited by - PresIke on 09-11-2006 5:34 PM]

[Edited by - PresIke on 09-11-2006 5:35 PM]

Yeah the Beatminerz are one of my favorite producers too. Loved Boot Camp Click, in general. If you check my radio weblog or my website I believe I have an "old school" hip-hop mix with Black Moon on it.

Posted by PresIke:

As for the "Golden Age" again, I'm merely using the term coined by someone else. Anyway, it's only meant to describe the period from 1986-1993/94.

I agree that rap became FAR more commercialized in 94, with Dr Dre's 'The Chronic' (although there were some other phases that contributed to its ever increasing commercialization) and even more so in 1997 with Biggie's second album and Puffy's first solo record.

However, it wasn't like suddenly in 1993 all hip-hop became all-"commercial". Many of the older artists who were "big" in the late 1980's and early 90's were still signed to major record labels and some of the "big" producers of the time, like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, The Beatnuts, Large Professor, Easy Mo Bee, A Tribe Called Quest, Marley Marl, The Bomb Squad, Showbiz/D.I.T.C., etc. and the artists they produced were getting work and radio airplay on "urban" radio. It took another 4-5 years for most of those artists to fall out of "mainstream" rap approval as the genre became more commercialized, or they adjusted their sound to conemporary tastes (a la Buckwild of D.I.T.C. and Salaam Remi).

Anyway, the term "Golden Years" is subjective, but not something I made up out of the sky because I am biased towards that era. One of the reasons I did not use the term "Old School" is because the last time I used that I received flack from people who only consider Old School to be pre-1986. I disagreed, using the pre-1994 argument, but I really wish some Old School Hip-Hop lovers would relax with the "I know better than you, and you must be 16 years old to think that such and such is old school." (not saying anyone here is saying that. In the end I think a lot of hip-hop from pre-1994 is great, and there is also some that is great from beyond that date as well, although most, (although not all) in my view, does not fall into the highly "commercialized" rap that has ruled the pop charts since 1997 (because remember, there was a backlash against the G-Funk era from pop stations who around 1994 would literally advertize, "We play Nooooo Rapppppp!!!" like Z100 in the NYC area.) Acts like Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, etc. have all had their hey-day after 1994, so it's not like everything past that day is wack.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy the mix, no matter what you think of my labeling job..

[Edited by - PresIke on 09-11-2006 5:34 PM]

[Edited by - PresIke on 09-11-2006 5:35 PM]

it is all a matter of perspective. there were commercial hits before 94 with tone loc and young mc. however, 93 was a significant change in music. other groups still rocked on ( i am a die hard quest fan) why others falter. it happens. you can't compare epmd to capone and noreaga. it is a different era and depends on preference.

Not to drift the thread but what kind of music generally constitutes "indelible beats"?

I ask because I'm only familiar with about 10 of the bands in all those mixes, and of them there's little relationship. Is it basically just cool dancey music? I'll probably D/L one or two. Is there one you consider a favorite?

Posted by bigbeast:

The golden age to me started when Rakim came out. Between Rakim and Ultramagnetic M.C's, they personally made Run DMC irrelevant.

Lyrically, Rakim was from another planet. So far ahead of his time with his intricate wordplay. Same with Kool Keith with his off beat rhymes.

There 2 golden ages if you will, Golden Age (86-90) This is when Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G rap, Lord Finesse, KRS One, EPMD, LL, Lyte, Latifah, Antoinette, Main Source, Jungle Brothers, Tribe, D.O.C, Public Enemy, etc were in their primes. It was more divers during that time. More trend setting than trend following.

Then (93-95) This is when Nas changed the game lyrically similar to how Rakim changed it. Other artists were Black Moon, Wu-Tang, Snoop, Biggie, Keith Murray, Redman, AZ, Big L, CL Smooth etc.

Today, I only listen to a few artist (Nas, Raekwon, Ghost, Meth)

BTW IKE, don't forget about Marley Marl, the God father of sampling...

marley paved the way for sample producers like kanye west. loved the juice crew. sorry, south bronx.

I also gotta agree with the golden age starting with rakim. Dude is a genius. He's like the dali(sp?) lama of rap.

As far as nas, I don't like to give that dude that much props. He was definately nice coming out but people talk about him like he is Christ. He came out when a lot of dudes came out. Still when he came out though everyone was trying to out do each other. Lots of classics came out then. Biggie, wutang, bootcamp, mobb deep, fat joe,i can go on forever.

It was to the point where you just had to be straight up ill in order to hang with these guys. There was such a thing as a wack mc, and they would never get on. Nowadays there are so many wack dudes out there sounding the same its sickening.

I guess all music goes through it. There are too many rock groups now that are gay as hell. A lot of them don't know how to rock nothing and are disrespecting the art form.

Same with r&b. All these dudes sound the same. None of them are touching anyone or making babies like the old days. To busy trying to dance and be vulgar.

enyspree, i agree with you on most of what you are saying. however, rap today is "tolerable" fo me. i do like kanye west and i have to admit that there are a few songs from the south i like. but southern music is not that great for me and it is dominating the airwaves. actually southern rap in the 90's with the ghetto boys and outkast was much better than now. as far as nas, i felt the same way until one record came out, "verbal intercourse" on the raekwon cuban linx album. hands down, probably the best lyrics i have EVER heard. nas is definately one of the best even though i do like ra and kane who were ahead of their time. if people mention jay z as the best rapper of all time they do not know what they are talking about.

And don't get me started on this southern music. It's embarrassing. I swear them videos look like modern day minstrel shows