It’s always difficult to decipher who or what can be considered the best, especially when discussing all-time best — hip-hop/rap music is definitely one of the most difficult topics.
Usually when the best decade of hip-hop is discussed or debated, knowledge of the history of rap has to be taken into consideration, which is an issue with people today trying to have these debates. For example, if I grew up watching Kobe Bryant play in the NBA and made a statement that he’s the greatest player ever to play in the NBA, somewhere a 7-year-old would be telling me I’m nuts because the greatest player is definitely LeBron James. At the same time, my 49-year-old father would say we neither of us know what we're talking about because the greatest NBA player of all time is Michael Jordan, by a long shot.
When I think of hip-hop, like many people, the rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur come to mind. Unlike others (depending on when you were born and many other factors) some rappers that people may also think of are Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C. and KRS-One, which are all from different decades of rap. There's really no sure answer to the question about which decade is the best because it depends on when you grew up and which song(s) speak to your life.
A rapper by the name of Vince Staples, 22, who happens to be the same age as me, was criticized on social media for implying that the '90s decade of hip-hop gets too much credit because of Biggie and Tupac (who are considered to be the untouchables of rap music) in an interview with Time magazine.
After looking at the interview I can see why he was attacked for his comments, but it's important to understand his point of view. He can come off as a bit ignorant and as a rapper who doesn’t give respect to those who came before him. As I mentioned in my example earlier, he doesn’t identify with '90s rap because he didn’t grow up listening to it. When he took the discussion to Twitter, it was obvious he still respects the '90s and listens to it.
Lauryn Hill https://t.co/ZLUVoVJ2U5
— Vince Staples (@vincestaples) October 28, 2015
I'm just really hurt because we talking all this 90s shit but nobody mentioned Suga Free. Where is the respect ?
— Vince Staples (@vincestaples) October 29, 2015
There really is no true answer to what is the best decade of hip-hop because everyone identifies with the music differently. Staples mentioned that “Bounce With Me” by Lil Bow Wow was one of the first songs he listened to and that he is one of Staples' favorite rappers.The only rap concert I’ve ever been to was to see Bow Wow so he and I are on the same page in regards to that. My favorite rappers were Kanye West and Ludacris growing up, who both came into the spotlight in the 2000s and it wasn’t until I got older and in my late teens that I grew interest in the decades before me.
With that said, I do believe Illmatic by Nas was the greatest hip-hop album of all time, and that came out in 1994. So when Staples mentioned that the 2000s was the best decade, I can’t exactly disagree but I can’t agree totally either.
These various decades of hip-hop had different messages also. Depending on what message identified with you the most, that was most likely your favorite. Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” was for the '80s, illustrating through his music things happening in the African-American communities. Tupac’s “California Love” and Biggie’s “Hypnotize” of the '90s depicted rap music in a fun kind of way. And 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” and Kanye West’s “Good Life” of the 2000s were an extension of the '90s with a wide range of different styles or “flow” of rapping. All were excellent decades of music, and the debate going forward will likely be if hip-hop is actually getting worse or not because we always believe a generation after will never be as good as ours.
Related Links:
Hip-hop's Universal Zulu Nation celebrates 40-year anniversary
Hip-hop artist Common draws hundreds to MU lecture
Reach the columnist at adonis.dees@asu.edu or follow @Don_D24 on Twitter.
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Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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