Though critics and fans disagree on its exact start and end dates, many have labeled the period stretching from 1987 to 1996 the “Golden Age of Hip-Hop.” With heavy groundwork laid by Run DMC, the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J in the early to mid-80s, the Golden Age saw radical advancements in lyrical and production techniques. Hip-hop’s growth outside of New York City allowed new perspectives to leave their mark, and the fierce competition between the East Coast and West Coast scenes resulted in musical wonder. While discussions of this period often center on impressive solo artists like 2Pac, Biggie and Nas, many hip-hop groups proved crucial to the developments of the era and produced some of the most timeless tracks therein. Throughout this list, I’ll take you through some of my favorite songs from these hip-hop groups, highlighting each group’s talents and significance along the way.
1. Eric B. & Rakim: “I Ain’t No Joke”
Rakim pioneered the use of more complex rhyme schemes and flows throughout the late ’80s, and the duo’s debut album Paid in Full (1987) stands today as one of the most influential albums of the era. On this track, Eric B.’s production pairs brilliantly with Rakim’s talents on the mic, with a catchy funk sample, a driving drum beat and record scrubbing providing a compelling backbeat that doesn’t distract from Rakim’s work as MC.
N.W.A. undeniably stands as one of the most important groups in hip-hop history, bringing gangsta rap and the West Coast hip-hop scene to national prominence. The star-studded group featured many skilled producers and MCs, including Eazy-E, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre, all three of whom also enjoyed successful solo careers. “Express Yourself” sees Dr. Dre take control of the mic, delivering memorable lyrics written by Ice Cube over a beat Dr. Dre produced alongside DJ Yella.
A key group in the Native Tongues movement, De La Soul pushed production forward with creative, multi-layered sampling techniques. “Say No Go” features samples from eight separate songs, most notably featuring bass and vocal parts from “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Daryl Hall & John Oates. The resulting product showcases the sampling’s power to create completely new ideas from existing material.
On “Officer,” The Pharcyde brilliantly incorporates the vocal talents of its four original members. Fatlip’s deep register is featured in the first verse, followed nicely by Bootie Brown’s higher register in the second verse. After the first chorus, Imani continues with a higher register performance until Slimkid3’s middle register helps resolve the song in the final verse. Despite differences in sound, the song’s clever flow ensures listeners don’t experience whiplash from verse to verse.
5. Digable Planets: “Jimmi Diggin’ Cats”
Throughout their work as Digable Planets, rappers Butterfly, Ladybug Mecca and Doodlebug crafted many impressive jazz rap and alternative hip-hop tracks that remain effortlessly smooth to this day. In this quieter and more laid-back song, Butterfly delivers hypnotically smooth rhymes over an almost ethereal backing track.
6. Souls of Mischief: “93 ‘Til Infinity”
Like The Pharcyde, Souls of Mischief mastered the art of switching control of the mic, with verses alternating in delivery between members Opio, A-Plus, Tajai and Phesto. Groovy bass and drum samples complement the track brilliantly, providing the perfect beat for each member’s expert rhyming abilities.
7. A Tribe Called Quest: “The Chase, Part II”
Easily my favorite hip-hop act of all time, A Tribe Called Quest consistently produced songs with incredible production and lyrics. Rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg shared unparalleled chemistry, able to deliver masterful humor together. This is evident as soon as the first verse hits, as Q-Tip raps “Damn, Phife, you got fat,” to which Phife Dawg responds, “Yeah, I know it looks pathetic, Ali Shaheed Muhammad got me doing calisthenics.”
Though they would not reach the peak of their popularity until the late ’90s and early 2000s, Outkast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmusik (1994) established Southern hip-hop’s credibility and unique sound. “Player’s Ball,” a Christmas-themed song complete with sleigh bells, shows off the immense vocal talents Andre 3000 and Big Boi held when they were only 18 years old.
9. Mobb Deep: “Shook Ones, Part II”
“Shook Ones, Part II” has left its mark on the hip-hop world in countless ways; two such examples include the use of its instrumental track in the final rap battle of 8 Mile (2002) and Lin Manuel-Miranda’s use of the song’s lyric “I’m only nineteen, but my mind is older” in the musical Hamilton (2016). Prodigy and Havoc provide perfect performances over Havoc’s hauntingly beautiful beat.
10. Gang Starr: “Code of the Streets”
Guru’s smooth, monotone rapping provides a compelling contrast to DJ Premier’s relatively complex and layered production. Throughout the song, Guru discusses how institutional problems force people in impoverished areas to resort to a life of crime to survive.
The Fugees, comprising rappers Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, successfully blended elements of reggae and R&B into their music, as evident throughout “Zealots.” Though both Wyclef Jean and Pras deliver solid verses, Lauryn Hill steals the show with beautiful use of singing and rapping that only scratches the surface of her talent.
Though easily the least influential group on the list, Camp Lo earned a spot on this list for releasing one of my favorite hip-hop songs of all time. “Coolie High” features the marriage of a mesmerizingly groovy backing track and the impressive flows of rappers Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede.
You can find the playlist here.
‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community. It runs every Monday.
Matthew Rentezelas is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at mmr255@cornell.edu.
