Two decades after a year that saw rap birth legendary albums such as A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders, the Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage, NPR’s Hip Hop channel “Microphone Check” brought influential Hip Hop contributors to the basement of the Ace Hotel in New York City Wednesday (September 25) for a panel discussion hosted by the program’s hosts, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Frannie Kelley.
The goal of the event, titled “Microphone Check Presents: ‘Eight Million Stories: Hip-Hop In 1993’,” was to discuss that year in Hip Hop and talk about the moments that led the genre’s oft-debated peak.
The panel consisted of Reservoir SVP and major record label A&R expert Faith Newman; Video Music Box creator and Hot 97 personality Ralph McDaniels; DJ/producer Prince Paul; producer Mike Dean; and co-host of The Stretch and Bobbito Show on Hot 97, Stretch Armstrong. Producer/emcee Large Professor and Combat Jack, host of “The Combat Jack Show,” were also in attendance.
As the panel discussed the evolution of the genre over the past 20 years, the panelists did not agree on the time frame of Hip Hop’s Golden Age.
“The Golden Age was ’86-‘88,” said Stretch, who served as a tastemaker in New York City from ’90-‘98, providing exposure to dozens of emerging artists on his radio show.
Others said that ’93 was the genre’s best year. “It just felt more grown up,” said Newman, leading to a collective agreement that tough times removed the dancing nature of Hip Hop so popular just years before and caused artists to create a darker sound. “The rhymes got even more intricate and more thoughtful, and we were entering a recession,” she said.
“And we had crack,” added Paul, before adding that he was already old school by 1993, prompting a laugh from the crowd. McDaniels, who was already well-established by the early ‘90s, echoed his sentiment.
“It’s almost Nas sitting out on his window looking out on the world and telling stories,” said Newman, who helped vault Nas into the spotlight as the A&R for Columbia Records by signing him to a production deal. “Nobody was dancing.”
The group also discussed the fight to get Rap on the radio, the East Coast’s longtime lack of respect for the West Coast’s flavor and the way people acted at shows.
“It wasn’t any different than a 2 Chainz performance,” Paul said. “Y’all have never seen a 2 Chainz performance? You’re lying.”
Nas shows, however, seemed different. “People were getting robbed in the crowd,” said McDaniels.
“There was a use for army fatigue back then,” said Paul, referencing his time spent touring with the Wu-Tang Clan.
Each member of the group was asked to pick their favorite track from ’93; the only stipulation was that a panelist could not select a song they worked on. Newman chose the Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.”; McDaniels went with Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day”; Dean selected the entire Midnight Marauders album; and Stretch opted for “One In A Million” by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.
Although the panel focused on the genre’s past, current artists were also included in the discussion. When asked whether any of the panelists listened to commercial radio, Paul said, “Even to this day I don’t listen to commercial radio. If I did, I’d probably be making a new Drake record.”
RELATED: Large Professor On ’90s Babies, Nas & Rakim’s Relationship And Lupe Fiasco’s Rights To “T.R.O.Y.”
We all know the significance of that year. Wayne turned 11 that year!
a yo 1234567
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H59HshM1lig
well halloween coming early this year
abutle i like to burn to the roots “shhh” lol
well canbis nobody knows wat your saying lol
dmx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5L1WtHwJF0
trick or treat
but ppl dress happy now lol
thats hat im saying rabbit mask devils doing crazy shit dig what im saying
rabbit mask devils waveing at u in back yards start putting 666s out the bitcher
playing on swings putting 666 jason waters out the mother
http://kingdomofstyle.typepad.co.uk/.a/6a00d8341c2f0953ef012876b3315b970c-500wi
My FAVORITE song of time!!! has to be Gang Starr feat Nice and Smooth “Dwyck” Ah man, I still catch frills when that song is on. I know it came out in 92, but HEY! Close enough.
http://i1241.photobucket.com/albums/gg504/bradleykidner/tumblr_lt4mnxprjt1r0v9w8o1_500.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/ThomasLex3/halloween_the_Movie_2.jpg
Gucci Mane = realest rapper ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
– T.I. snitch to the feds
– Young Jeezy was never bmf
– 50 Cent snitch and was never in jail but a youthcamp
– Game was never a banger but lived the life of his brother in his lyrics
– Nas Escobar never sold drugs
– Ice Cube never was a gangbanger
– Dr Dre never was a gangbanger
– 2pac was a ballerina and never sold drugs after he become famous he was doing some stupid stuff like beating and shooting at people because he though he could get away with it. Without Suge Knight 2pac was just a skinny motherfucker. Oh and i like his music so fuck you.
– Mobb deep are the biggiest pussies in rap they are short as midgets and keep talking this g shit but never did g shit.
That was the equivalent of the ragtime era in Jazz.
That was the end of when people wanted to hear some dope music without caring what they sold, just the music and the regional sounds were more defined back then and there weren’t as many truly wack groups then. Can’t think of 10 off the top and can’t front on bass music because that was practically underground. Bottom line there was variety.
93 was the G.O.A.T in Hip-Hop
SOM 93 Til Infinity
2PAC Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z
Dre The Chronic
Snoop Doggy style
Wu-Tang 36 Chambers
The Roots Organix
Cypress Black Sunday
Tribe Midnight Marauders
LONS Inner Minds Eye
De La Buhloone Mind State
Del No Need For Alarm
Digital Body Hat Syndrome
Eazy-E It’s On
Da Youngsta’s The Aftermath
Digable Planets Reachin’
Freestyle Fellowship Inner City
Funkdoobiest Which Doobie
BBD Hootie Mack
Ice Cube Lethal Injection
KRS-One Rturn Of Boomp Bap
LOTUG Here Comes The Lords
Masta Ace Slaughter House
Warren G & Nate Dogg Indo Smoke
Naughty By Nature 19 Naughty III
Onyx Bacdafucup
The Pharcyde Bizarre Ride
…
Man, I was a spoiled hip-hop kid
I guess you can get away with “The Chronic” cause it came out at the end of ’92.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVuiM3dmw3Y
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/3OLJ5ArAUXo/default.jpg
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/PFzns8Go9KI/default.jpg
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/fyPsRyhP0CY/default.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCD8Bc_02c
why were concert-goers getting robbed at Nas shows?
Four words Brooklyn in the house. people get robbed at concerts now check the ticket prices.
’93 to ’97…arguably the best 5 five in hip-hop history.
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/UhCD8Bc_02c/mqdefault.jpg
1993-1995 were the best 3 years and things started going downhill from there. Not just the hip hop albums and groups but also-
-Great late night radio shows
-Hip Hop Movie Soundtracks
-Cable shows like the original Rap City with Prince DeJour, Joe Clair and Big Lez plus Yo MTV Raps with Dre & Ed Lover and Fab Five Freddy
– Freestyle cyphers
-fashion
-record stores
im a retard with a ice cream cone on my face.
my fans are all fucking morons. This is a fact!!
Its all good they keep my pockets fat.