1. THE GOLDEN AGE OF RAP (1986-1996)

2. HIP-HOP and RAP GO MAINSTREAM
After hip-hop’s “old school era” (1979 to 1985), rap moved into the “golden age” (from 1986 to 1996).

3. HIP-HOP and RAP GO MAINSTREAM
The golden era of rap had many contradictions (political messages, gangsta’ rap, degrading to women, feminist, homophobic, materialistic).

4. HIP-HOP and RAP GO MAINSTREAM
The first women rappers to achieve success were Salt N’ Pepa who went double platinum (2 million sold) in 1986.

5. HIP-HOP and RAP GO MAINSTREAM
MTV initially refused to feature black artists, but began to broadcast rap music, including the show “Yo! MTV Raps!” in 1989.

6. HIP-HOP and RAP GO MAINSTREAM

7. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
Los Angeles joined New York City as a major source of rap.
Artists like N.W.A. (Niggaz Wit’ Attitude) and Run DMZ made records documenting life in the ‘hood and saw themselves as “underground reporters.”

8. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
West Coast rappers specialized in criminal-minded, violence, and woman-beating, earning the name of “gangsta’ rap.”
In 1986, Ice-T released "6 in the Mornin”, which is often regarded as the first gangsta rap song.

9. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
N.W.A released their debut studio album, Straight Outta Compton, in 1988.

10. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
Their songs "Straight Outta Compton,” “Fuck tha Police,” and “Gangsta Gangsta" painted the view of inner-city youth and protested against police brutality.

11. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
“Straight Outta’ Compton”

12. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
Movies about inner-city life in the ‘hood such as New Jack City, Boyz in the Hood, and Menace to Society appealed to black, Latino, and whites.

13. THE BIRTH of GANGSTA RAP
“Menace to Society”

14. THE DEATH of the GOLDEN AGE
In the mid-1990s, the competition between East Coast and West Coast rap turned violent with fights and murders.

15. THE DEATH of the GOLDEN AGE
The 1996 drive-by shooting death of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. in 1997, ended rap’s golden age.

16. THE DEATH of the GOLDEN AGE
As gangsta rap’s most influential star, Tupac symbolized the many contradictions of hip-hop culture (thug life, sexual abuse of women, and awareness to black issues).

17. THE DEATH of the GOLDEN AGE
Billboard Magazine found that since 2000, rap sales dropped 44%. Some argue that young people are fed up with the violence, degrading imagery and lyrics.