Hip-Hop Pioneers and the History of Rap Music

Hip-hop lyricist KRS One battled a then more popular lyricist, MC Shan, when KRS One's record was not played on the radio. MC Shan had previously made "The Bridge" about Queensbridge's effect on Hip-Hop. KRS One felt that MC Shan didn't correctly represent for the Bronx, the city where Hip-Hop originated, so he made a song called "South Bronx." Because KRS One battled one of the more popular lyricists in the mid-80s, his career skyrocketed with "The Bridge Wars" battles. Roxanne Shante, a 14-year-old female rapper, made a song called "Roxanne, Roxanne" which was so instigative that it launched over 100 records in retaliation to her rhymes. In today's raps, emcees like 50 Cent, Game, Nas, and Jay-Z and others boost their career with battle rapping, even after the deaths of Tupac and Biggie. They can thank old school artists like Kool Moe Dee, L.L. Cool J, Ice Cube, and Roxanne for this way of gaining popularity. And while they're thanking them for selling records by challenging top lyricists, new Hip-Hop emcees should thank the pioneers of Hip-Hop for everything else too.

The Beginning of Hip-Hop