Videos by According2HipHop
Hip-Hop is its own genre. But there are subgenres of hip-hop based on the region that the artists come from. Let’s take a look at four cities that created a name for themselves in the industry.
New York City
New York City is often referred to as the birthplace of hip-hop. And while some may dispute that fact, there is one thing that you cannot deny about New York City. They elevated the hip-hop game in more ways than one. New York’s dominance started in the early 1990s with acts such as Biggie Smalls and Lil Kim during the Bad Boy Records takeover. But that was just the beginning. Following the untimely passing of Biggie in 1997, it was Jay-Z who carried the torch. Albums such as The Blueprint and The Black Album have become part of the fabric of New York’s rich hip-hop history.
Other legendary artists such as Nas, DMX, the Lox & Dipset have contributed to New York being possibly the most important city in hip-hop’s history.
Atlanta
You can’t talk about the history of hip-hop without talking about the city of Atlanta. The uprising of the Atlanta hip-hop scene began in the early 2000s. Artists such as Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, and Lil Jon showed that the South indeed had something to say. Dupri and Ludacris put the hip-hop world on notice that Atlanta was a force to be reckoned with when they dropped their smash hit “Welcome to Atlanta.” The track saw so much success that artists from other cities wanted to be included. The likes of Snoop Dogg and Diddy appeared on the remix, wanting to brag about their cities as well. In addition, Atlanta led the charge when it came to combining hip-hop & R&B. Especially after Usher linked up with legendary Atlanta producer, Lil Jon, for hits like Yeah and Lovers & Friends. Atlanta is also home to several other hitmakers such as Migos, Gunna, and Lil Baby, who have greatly contributed to the city’s success.
Los Angeles
When you think of Los Angeles’s contribution to the hip-hop scene, most people think of the feud between the East Coast and the West Coast in the 1990s. But Los Angeles’s involvement in hip-hop dates back to the 80s. NWA (or Ni***s With Attitude) was one of the first hip-hop groups. And started a movement with songs such as F**k Da Polica and Straight Outta Compton. However, the group ultimately split up. But that is ironically when the West Coast had a musical renaissance. Solo acts like Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac would pave the way for artists such as Nipsey Hussle, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, the Creator.
Chicago
The evolution of the hip-hop scene in Chicago has been a marvel to witness. It’s no secret that Kanye West was one of the first rappers to take Chi-town mainstream in the hip-hop industry. His early works, such as Graduation, Late Registration, and College Dropout, not only catapulted him to superstardom but also put the Chicago rap scene on the map. Other artists such as Twista and Lupe Fiasco would follow suit thanks to getting a co-sign from West. Kanye was also one of the first people to take the Chicago drill music stream mainstream when he appeared on the remix to Chief Keef’s I Don’t Like. The success of that song gave the Chicago drill music scene a life of its own. Other artists such as Lil Durk, Lil Reese, King Von, and Fredo Santana would also rise to superstardom because of the Chicago drill scene.
