Key Moments In Hip-Hop History

 

Hip hop is more than music; it’s a cultural movement that incorporates different elements of art. Before there was Lil Yachty, Young M.I.A., or YNW Melly, there was a world of hip hop artist who's name rain supreme even still today.

Back when music was real, artist had the opportunity to shine in their own distinctive way. Rap is one of the most distinctive features of hip-hop. Rappers use rhythm, lyrics, and vocal tone to express themselves. The best rappers are distinguished by their “flow” – the way the words run together without the performer getting tongue-tied.

Can Rap Music Be Positive?

 

Many rap artists use their lyrics to comment on social and political issues, raising awareness about topics such as inequality, racism, poverty, and injustice. Many don't. 70 percent of Americans believed that rap had an overall negative impact on society.

Rap music, in-spite of the negativity and controversy that often surrounds it, can have a positive influence on listeners and expand their consciousness.It can reduce depression and anxiety, improve emotional expression, expand communication and interpersonal skills, and potentially lift one's self-esteem.

The Evolution Of Gangster Rap

Gangsta rap or Gangster rap is a style of hip hop characterized by themes and lyrics that generally emphasize the "gangsta" lifestyle. The genre evolved from hard rap into a distinct form, pioneered in the mid-1980s by rappers such as Schoolly D and Ice-T, and was popularized in the later part of the 1980s by groups like N.W.A. 

Hip Hop & Drug Culture

We make excuses for the negative impact of rap music because it has given so many young black males a way out of the hood; but for every ONE that it gives an exit, it entraps thousands more.

Who Is The King Of Rap?

How do one put a label or tag someone as the king of rap? How do you mix classic rap tracks with today's style of music?

Tupac would probably be the most influential rapper of all time, while Eminem holds the record as the highest selling artist.

Independent Record Labels You Should Know

From independent icons like XL Recordings and Sub Pop to newer teams like 88 Rising and Mind of a Genius, here are some of the essential labels you should know. As always, we encourage you to do your own digging and share your own favorites with us, but as long as you discovered just one new label, artist, or piece of music that you love from this list, then we did our job.

From legendary indies to internet-based upstarts, these labels are all doing something special.

Gansta Marcus Talks The Future Of Rap Music

(The Wrap-Up Magazine) Music has changed inn many way. When I was growing up, we had +Rap City and then went to +106 and Park. Now +BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION is doing reality t.v.

What Happened To Lil Jon And Crunk Music?

Was Lil Jon the last of "Crunk Music?" This was a time in rap music that had a big and short impact on the community.

The Atlanta-based rap group that would become Lil Jon and The Eastside Boyz was originally formed in 1997. Lil Jon was the lead vocalist for the group Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz from 1997 to 2004.

The group signed to Atlanta’s Mirror Image Records, and in 1997, released their first album, distributed by Ichiban Records. A couple years later, Lil Jon & his Boyz started BME Recordings, and released their sophomore album.

Not long after, Bryan Leach heard from his street teams that Lil Jon was an artist to watch. He went to a show, and was immediately impressed. Comparing Lil Jon’s stage presence to the Beastie Boys, Leach immediately tried to sign the group to TVT Records. He succeeded, and in 2001 released Put Yo Hood Up.

TWUM Best Rap City Moments

Rap City Tha Basement was one of the top shows to be on in the early 2000's. The show originally started in 1989, helmed by Chris “The Mayor” Thomas. When Tigger took the helm, the show became Rap City: 

Music Industry Tips

Top Music Sites For Artists

We live in an age where this world is busy running after each and every minor thing. Gone are the days when people had to buy cassettes or CDs for their favourite songs...READ MORE CLICK HERE

How Swag Will Evolutionize The Rap Game

The Lima, Ohio producer recently released a statement on rap music and its future, now he returns with a new written statement on "How Swag Will Evolutionize The Rap Game." In his own statements...READ MORE BY CLICKING HERE

Internet Advertising vs Street Promotion

What is the distinction between digital marketing and internet marketing, what is the most recent trend in the industry and...CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Tips For Approaching Blogs

Some blogs have strict music submission guidelines. Music submissions are a part of the game. It is also another way for a blogger to test if you have taken the time to read their blog or not. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Recent Post:
Learning Digital Media 2015

These Are The Top 5 Lima, Ohio Artist That Left The Biggest Impact In Music

These Lima, Ohio artist has stepped up to the plate and will leave there musical legacy over the city's rap culture. The Buckeye state has no shortage of celebrities, but these Top Five artist sure stood out among the rest.

Even though Eastside Po was not mentioned in the article, he is next up on the rising artist list.

Were not saying that these are the best artist from Lima, Ohio, but I am noting that these are the artist who legacy will continue on through time.

In contrast with its East Coast, West Coast and Southern counterparts, Midwest hip hop has very few constants in style or production. Midwest hip hop's first dose of national popularity came in the mid-90s with the extremely fast-paced rappers known as Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (Cleveland), Twista (Chicago), Tech N9ne (Kansas City), Atmosphere (Minneapolis), and Eminem (Detroit).

But Ohio, in general, has a rich musical history that makes it one of the most important states when it comes to the evolution of sound in various genres. Everything from shock rock and industrial metal to funk and R&B developed in the Lima, Ohio area.

Jay-Z Returns To Spotify Music

Rap icon Jay-Z brought his music discography back to the world’s largest streaming platform Spotify, leaving Tidal subscribers scratching their heads. The service he bought for $56 million in 2014 has struggled to gain any real market share against major players like Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

What Songs Will Last A Lifetime To You?

Whether you listen to rap, dance, hip-hop, techno, country, jazz, rock-n-roll, or pop music, the Wrap-Up Magazine would like to know, what song last a lifetime to you?

Nielsen Music, the industry-standard information and sales tracking sector, released a mid-year report highlighting 2020's current most popular genre. Stats reveal hip-hop as America's favorite and most influential genre, so far.

If you’re a songwriter, I would think that longevity is something you strive for when writing a tune. You want your music to live on, especially if your career doesn’t. We love the nineties. The nineties gave us grunge and gangster rap as well as (unfortunately) a cringeworthy combination of the two.

Additionally, the 1990s gave us Nirvana, Beyonce, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Beck, The Fugees, Snoop Dogg, Green Day, and Smashing Pumpkins. The following decade is when pop truly took over, followed closely behind by rap. It’s when rock started to fade a bit despite stellar offerings from Kings of Leon and Green Day.

DPB (@worldofdpb) f/ Ouiwey Collins - "American Strong" (Video)

David Paul Brooks (DPB), is the Billboard-Charting, Josey Award winning, positive rap artist, songwriter, author, actor, clothing designer, ordained minister, motivational speaker, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of BreBro International Group LLC and of DPB Muzik Inc. DPB has shared the stage with many greats including the legendary Bootsy Collins, Salt ‘n Pepa, Kool Moe Dee, Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, King and Country, Unspoken, Toby Mac, Deion Sanders, Canton Jones to name a few. To add to his impressive resume, he has appeared and/or performed on multiple television shows that include the BET (Teen Summit) Gospel Special. DPB was also a member of the D.O.C. (Disciples of Christ), a Grammy and Dove nominated music group. As a solo artist, DPB has charted on the Billboard Charts in Christian Rock Radio National Airplay with his song "Brighter Day" at #15, and also “Feels So Good Today” as ‘the most added song’ twice on Billboard Charts. In 2023, DPB reached the top the Urban Influencer Christian Hip Hop chart with “Let It Go”. In 2024 DPB climbed to #1 on the National Radio Hits Charts, AC, and top 40 for 5 straight weeks with the song “Undefeated 3.0 Radio Edit”. The song also went #1 on the Independent Music Network Mainstream Chart, and was named the ‘#1 Single of 2023’ in the Louder Than Music Magazine. Next, DPB won a Josey award from the largest Independant Music Awards in the world for “Social Impact Music Video Of the Year” Undefeated 3.0 (The Movie). It doesn't stop there…”I Feel So Good Today (Happy Remix) went #1 on all National Radio Hits charts; TOP 40, AC Top 40, and Christian charts. The momentum continues in 2025 with peer pressure hitting #1. As of today, “American Strong” has reached #1 on the Country NRH charts and also on the Adult Contemporary NRH chart. DPB’s ministry has taken him to new heights through the creation of music with mass appeal, a ministry experience like none other, assisted by other performance technology such as video dance skits and through music to win souls for Christ, Ministering, and motivating those to fall in love with God, impacting people‘s lives all around the world. David has developed relationships with pastors for over 25 years in US cities that continue annually bringing his ministry to the youth in each of those destinations. In addition, Dave has created a program for schools dealing with character education issues such as peer pressure, bullying, making the right choices, respect, and more, as stressed by the US Department of Education. David continues to reach the country’s communities with his involvement via the “Party in the Park” program that brings his ministry into neglected areas of cities across the US and incorporates free food, prize giveaways, music, and special sporting events which encourage the whole community to come together for good times and fellowship in the Lord. David also teamed up with the Fargo ND police department and created “Fargo United” which continues to bring the whole city of Fargo together. David has come together with his business partner and best friend Brent Beck and created BreBro International Group LLC; an umbrella corporation with 13 subsidiaries spanning everything from music, video, merchandise, apparel, ministry, jewelry, shoes, and outreach, among others. DPB Muzik Inc. is their record label, created to assist and promote Christian and Gospel artists to reenergize the Christian and Gospel music industry and also the secular marketplace under Gods’ divine rule. Are you ready to experience the world of DPB…

Top 5 Lima, Ohio Artist Who Made The Biggest Impact In Our Hip-hop Community

These Lima, Ohio artist has stepped up to the plate and will leave there musical legacy over the city's rap culture. The Buckeye state has no shortage of celebrities, but these Top Five artist sure stood out among the rest.

Even though Eastside Po was not mentioned in the article, he is next up on the rising artist list.

What Is Your Favorite Rap Group?

 

Every now and then, a hip-hop music group breaks through the barriers to the big screen. Run-DMC's place as the most influential rap group and undeniably one of the greatest hip-hop acts of all-time.

Fans Favorite created this thread for hip-hop lovers and viewers of the Wrap Up Magazine to engage on. "We want to know which rap group is your most favorite?"

Gansta Marcus Talks How Swag Will Revolutionize The Rap Game

The Lima, Ohio producer recently released a statement on rap music and its future, now he returns with a new written statement on "How Swag Will Evolutionize The Rap Game." In his own statements below, Gansta Marcus defines swag and its new movement.

What Happened To Lil Flip?

Texas had a big impact on the music scene in the mid 2000's and Lil Flip was a big part of the movement. Lil’ Flip these days is perhaps most well known for his feud with fellow rapper T.I.

Flip started rapping for Suckafree Records out of Houston, Texas, when he was 18, in 1999. He released his first album, The Leprechaun, the next year. Eventually selling more than 200,000 copies, it featured the hit single “I Can Do Dat.”

The single, “The Way We Ball,” helped propel Lil’ Flip into the national spotlight. The rapper was also able to work with Yung Wun, Ludacris, and Three 6 Mafia that year. This gave him the clout necessary to create U Gotta Feel Me, a double-disc album released in 2004, distributed by Sony Urban Music.

Lil Flip went on to start his own record label, which he named Clover G Records, after Cloverland, Lil’ Flip’s home neighborhood in Houston.

While T.I. was incarcerated for parole violations, Lil’ Flip used the opportunity to object to T.I. calling himself “King of the South.” The heavily publicized feud led to T.I. going to Cloverland, to expose Lil’ Flip as a fraud. When T.I. arrived in the neighborhood with his crew, Lil’ Flip approached him with his respective crew.

Why Is Scareface The Most Loved Movie In Hip-Hop Culture?

The movie Scareface has been a huge staple in the hip hop community. Even rapper Jay-Z has dedicated countless rap lyrics and interludes to the film. The release of Scarface coincided with the rise of hip hop music.

The hip-hop community has single-handedly made the movie a cult classic. Even though the story of Tony Montana, a poor Cuban immigrant who quickly ascends through the ranks to become a drug kingpin, is actually a remake of a 1932 film of the same name.

Nas or Eminem

 

Celebrity Match Up is back with another topic for all you hip hop lovers. This time, we would like to know who would you place as your top artist out of Nas or Eminem. Most fans of there music would say they would love to see the two together on a track someday while others may argue.

Before we get into the discussion, lets do a little background check on the two.