““SMELLS LIKE TEEN SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT”SPIRIT”

HIP-HOP, “ALTERNATIVE” HIP-HOP, “ALTERNATIVE” MUSIC, AND THE MUSIC, AND THE

ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESSENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

Hip-Hop Breaks Out Hip-Hop Breaks Out (1980s–1990s)(1980s–1990s)

In the mid-1980s, rap moved into the popular In the mid-1980s, rap moved into the popular mainstream.mainstream.

1986 saw the release of the first two 1986 saw the release of the first two multiplatinum rap albumsmultiplatinum rap albums– Raising HellRaising Hell by Run-D.M.C. by Run-D.M.C.

Number Three on Number Three on Billboard’Billboard’s pop albums chart s pop albums chart Over three million copies sold Over three million copies sold

– Licensed to IllLicensed to Ill by the Beastie Boys by the Beastie Boys Number One for seven weeksNumber One for seven weeks Over seven million copies soldOver seven million copies sold

Expansion of the audience for hip-hop music was Expansion of the audience for hip-hop music was the key to the commercial success of these the key to the commercial success of these albums. albums. – Included millions of young white fans, attracted by the Included millions of young white fans, attracted by the

rebelliousness of the genre rebelliousness of the genre

Def JamDef Jam

Both Both Raising HellRaising Hell and and Licensed to IllLicensed to Ill were released on a new independent were released on a new independent label called Def Jam.label called Def Jam.– Co-founded in 1984 by the hip-hop Co-founded in 1984 by the hip-hop

promoter Russell Simmons and the promoter Russell Simmons and the musician-producer Rick Rubinmusician-producer Rick Rubin

– Cross-promoting a new generation of Cross-promoting a new generation of artistsartists

Run-D.M.C.Run-D.M.C.

Trio:Trio:– MCs Run (Joseph Simmons, b. 1964) and MCs Run (Joseph Simmons, b. 1964) and

D.M.C. (Darryl McDaniels, b. 1964)D.M.C. (Darryl McDaniels, b. 1964)– DJ Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell, b. 1965)DJ Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell, b. 1965)

Adidas Corporation and Run-D.M.C. Adidas Corporation and Run-D.M.C. signed a $1.5 million promotional signed a $1.5 million promotional dealdeal

The Beastie BoysThe Beastie Boys

In 1985, the Beastie Boys were In 1985, the Beastie Boys were signed by Def Jam Records.signed by Def Jam Records.

Appeared in Appeared in Krush GrooveKrush Groove—one of —one of the first films to deal with hip-hop the first films to deal with hip-hop cultureculture

Toured as the opening act for both Toured as the opening act for both Madonna and Run-D.M.CMadonna and Run-D.M.C

Public EnemyPublic Enemy Founded in 1982Founded in 1982 Core members met as college studentsCore members met as college students

– Drawn together by their interest in hip hop culture and Drawn together by their interest in hip hop culture and political activismpolitical activism

– Two MCs—Chuck D (a.k.a. Carlton Ridenhour, b. 1960) Two MCs—Chuck D (a.k.a. Carlton Ridenhour, b. 1960) and Flavor Flav (William Drayton, b. 1959)and Flavor Flav (William Drayton, b. 1959)

– Plus a DJ—Terminator X (Norman Lee Rogers, b. 1966)Plus a DJ—Terminator X (Norman Lee Rogers, b. 1966)– ““Minister of Information” (Professor Griff, a.k.a. Richard Minister of Information” (Professor Griff, a.k.a. Richard

Griffin) Griffin) – Security of the First World (S1W) Security of the First World (S1W)

Dancers who dressed in paramilitary uniforms, carried Uzi Dancers who dressed in paramilitary uniforms, carried Uzi submachine guns, and performed martial arts–inspired submachine guns, and performed martial arts–inspired choreographychoreography

M. C. HammerM. C. Hammer

Stanley Kirk Burrell, b. 1962Stanley Kirk Burrell, b. 1962 Rapper from Oakland, CaliforniaRapper from Oakland, California Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’EmPlease Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em

– Held the Number One position for Held the Number One position for twenty-one weeks and sold over ten twenty-one weeks and sold over ten million copiesmillion copies

Bestselling rap album of all timeBestselling rap album of all time

Vanilla IceVanilla Ice

Robert Van Winkle, b. 1968 in FloridaRobert Van Winkle, b. 1968 in Florida To the ExtremeTo the Extreme,, 19901990

– Ice’s first albumIce’s first album– Number One for sixteen weeks in early 1991Number One for sixteen weeks in early 1991– Sold seven million copiesSold seven million copies

Many fans turned their backs on him when Many fans turned their backs on him when it was discovered that Van Winkle, raised it was discovered that Van Winkle, raised in comfortable circumstances in a middle-in comfortable circumstances in a middle-class neighborhood, had invented a class neighborhood, had invented a gangster persona for himself.gangster persona for himself.

N.W.A. (Niggaz with N.W.A. (Niggaz with Attitude)Attitude)

Recordings that expressed the gangsta Recordings that expressed the gangsta lifestyle, saturated with images of sex and lifestyle, saturated with images of sex and violence violence

Formed in 1986Formed in 1986 O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson (b. 1969), the O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson (b. 1969), the

product of a middle-class home in South product of a middle-class home in South Central Los Angeles Central Los Angeles

Andre “Dr. Dre” Young (b. 1965), a Andre “Dr. Dre” Young (b. 1965), a sometime member of a local funk group sometime member of a local funk group called the World Class Wreckin’ Crucalled the World Class Wreckin’ Cru

““Eazy-E” Wright (1973–95)Eazy-E” Wright (1973–95) Former drug dealer who was using the proceeds Former drug dealer who was using the proceeds

of his occupation to fund a record label, of his occupation to fund a record label, Ruthless RecordsRuthless Records

Eventually added D.J. Yella (Antoine Carraby) and M.C. Eventually added D.J. Yella (Antoine Carraby) and M.C. RenRen (Lorenzo Patterson) to the group(Lorenzo Patterson) to the group

Indebted to earlier rap recordings but in some Indebted to earlier rap recordings but in some ways unlike anything heard beforeways unlike anything heard before

– Tracks with titles like “F---the Police” and “Gangsta Tracks with titles like “F---the Police” and “Gangsta Gangsta”Gangsta”

– Mixed the sound of automatic weapon fire and police Mixed the sound of automatic weapon fire and police sirens with samples from funk masters such as George sirens with samples from funk masters such as George Clinton and James Brown, a bouncy drum machine-Clinton and James Brown, a bouncy drum machine-generated dance groove called new jack swing, and generated dance groove called new jack swing, and high-pitched, thin-sounding synthesizer lineshigh-pitched, thin-sounding synthesizer lines

Snoop Doggy DoggSnoop Doggy Dogg

Calvin Broadus, born in Long Beach Calvin Broadus, born in Long Beach in 1972in 1972

DoggystyleDoggystyle,, 19931993– Debuted at the top of the album chartsDebuted at the top of the album charts– Included gold single “What’s My Name?” Included gold single “What’s My Name?”

““What’s My Name?” What’s My Name?” Intended to cross over to the pop chartsIntended to cross over to the pop charts

– Released on the album in its original, unexpurgated version Released on the album in its original, unexpurgated version and in a “clean” version on a single designed for radio airplay and in a “clean” version on a single designed for radio airplay and mass distributionand mass distribution

Opens with a dense, scratchy sample reminiscent of a Opens with a dense, scratchy sample reminiscent of a Public Enemy/Bomb Squad recordingPublic Enemy/Bomb Squad recording

Texture shifts to a smoother, more dance-oriented soundTexture shifts to a smoother, more dance-oriented sound A relaxed, medium-tempo dance groove is established by A relaxed, medium-tempo dance groove is established by

drum machine and keyboard synthesizers. drum machine and keyboard synthesizers. The lyrics describe Snoop’s gangsta persona and establish The lyrics describe Snoop’s gangsta persona and establish

his street credibility.his street credibility. Despite its controversial verbal content, “What’s My Despite its controversial verbal content, “What’s My

Name?” is a quintessential pop record, carefully calibrated Name?” is a quintessential pop record, carefully calibrated for dance club consumption.for dance club consumption.

Hip-Hop Feuds and RivalriesHip-Hop Feuds and Rivalries

Between East Coast’s Bad Boy Between East Coast’s Bad Boy Records and West Coast’s Death Row Records and West Coast’s Death Row RecordsRecords

Tupac (2Pac) Shakur (1971–96)Tupac (2Pac) Shakur (1971–96)– Up-and-coming star with Los Angeles-Up-and-coming star with Los Angeles-

based Death Row Recordsbased Death Row Records– Victim of the conflicts between East and Victim of the conflicts between East and

West Coast factions within the hip-hop West Coast factions within the hip-hop businessbusiness

– Shot and killed in Las VegasShot and killed in Las Vegas

Hip-Hop Geuds and RivalriesHip-Hop Geuds and Rivalries

The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace, The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, 1972–97) a.k.a. Biggie Smalls, 1972–97) – Worked with producer and rapper Sean “Puffy” Worked with producer and rapper Sean “Puffy”

Combs (a.k.a. Puff Daddy, P. Diddy), CEO of the Combs (a.k.a. Puff Daddy, P. Diddy), CEO of the New York independent label Bad Boy RecordsNew York independent label Bad Boy Records

– Shot to death in Los Angeles in 1997Shot to death in Los Angeles in 1997 Both 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. had Both 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. had

recorded prophetic raps that ended with the recorded prophetic raps that ended with the narrator speaking from the grave rather narrator speaking from the grave rather than standing in bloody triumph over his than standing in bloody triumph over his victims. victims.

Gangsta Rap Gangsta Rap Chronicled the dilemmas faced by urban Chronicled the dilemmas faced by urban

communities from a first-person, present-communities from a first-person, present-tense viewpoint. tense viewpoint. – The recordings of artists like Ice-T, N.W.A., Snoop The recordings of artists like Ice-T, N.W.A., Snoop

Doggy Dogg, 2Pac Shakur, and the Notorious Doggy Dogg, 2Pac Shakur, and the Notorious B.I.G. combine a grim, survivalist outlook on life B.I.G. combine a grim, survivalist outlook on life with a gleeful celebration of the gangster lifestyle.with a gleeful celebration of the gangster lifestyle.

Provoked an understandable ambivalence Provoked an understandable ambivalence from observers genuinely sympathetic to the from observers genuinely sympathetic to the plight of people struggling for economic and plight of people struggling for economic and cultural survival in America’s citiescultural survival in America’s cities

TechnoTechno

Dance Music in the Digital Dance Music in the Digital AgeAge

Dance Music in the Digital Dance Music in the Digital AgeAge

Up-tempo, repetitive, electronic Up-tempo, repetitive, electronic dance musicdance music– Developed in the club scenes of cities Developed in the club scenes of cities

such as New York, Chicago, and Detroitsuch as New York, Chicago, and Detroit– Cross-fertilized with developments in Cross-fertilized with developments in

London, Düsseldorf, and other European London, Düsseldorf, and other European citiescities

Dozens of subcategories, each Dozens of subcategories, each patronized by a loyal cadre of fanspatronized by a loyal cadre of fans

TechnoTechno

Techno culture is focused on DJs and Techno culture is focused on DJs and producersproducers

DJs and producers often attempt to DJs and producers often attempt to remain anonymousremain anonymous

Most techno “groups” are in fact solo Most techno “groups” are in fact solo acts, or teams of two or three DJs: acts, or teams of two or three DJs: Orb, Orbital, Prodigy, and Moby.Orb, Orbital, Prodigy, and Moby.

TechnoTechno

The roots of techno are often traced to the The roots of techno are often traced to the Detroit area.Detroit area.

During the early 1980s, a group of young, During the early 1980s, a group of young, middle-class African American men living middle-class African American men living in the predominantly white suburban town in the predominantly white suburban town of Belleville developed a form of electronic of Belleville developed a form of electronic dance music. dance music.

Detroit techno was grounded in a different Detroit techno was grounded in a different cultural scene from that which had cultural scene from that which had spawned the Motown sound.spawned the Motown sound.

HouseHouse

At around the same time, a genre called At around the same time, a genre called house music (named after the Warehouse, a house music (named after the Warehouse, a popular gay dance club) was developing in popular gay dance club) was developing in Chicago.Chicago.

The Chicago house scene was pioneered by The Chicago house scene was pioneered by Frankie Knuckles, a DJ from New York who Frankie Knuckles, a DJ from New York who worked at the Warehouse from 1979 until worked at the Warehouse from 1979 until 1983.1983.

Many house recordings were purely Many house recordings were purely instrumental, with elements of European instrumental, with elements of European synth-pop, Latin soul, reggae, rap, and jazz synth-pop, Latin soul, reggae, rap, and jazz grafted over an insistent dance beat. grafted over an insistent dance beat.

Techno Techno

In the 1990s, techno music began to In the 1990s, techno music began to diversify into dozens of specialized diversify into dozens of specialized subcategories. subcategories. – Often distinguished by their relative “hardness,” Often distinguished by their relative “hardness,”

a quality connected with the tempo or b.p.m. a quality connected with the tempo or b.p.m. (beats per minute) of recordings. (beats per minute) of recordings.

– Forms of techno were influenced byForms of techno were influenced by punk rock,punk rock, experimental art music, andexperimental art music, and black popular music (funk and hip-hop).black popular music (funk and hip-hop).

TechnoTechno The sensual and emotional tone of the music The sensual and emotional tone of the music

also varied widely:also varied widely:– Stark, futuristic sound of Belgian gabba Stark, futuristic sound of Belgian gabba – Energetic funkiness of jungleEnergetic funkiness of jungle– World music influences of tribalWorld music influences of tribal– Otherworldly sonic atmospheres of ambientOtherworldly sonic atmospheres of ambient

Techno produced only a few commercial hits Techno produced only a few commercial hits throughout its history.throughout its history.

The recordings of musicians like Prodigy, Orbital, and The recordings of musicians like Prodigy, Orbital, and Moby did make inroads into the charts during the late Moby did make inroads into the charts during the late 1990s.1990s.

Techno recordings have been licensed as the Techno recordings have been licensed as the soundtracks for technologically oriented soundtracks for technologically oriented television commercials and films.television commercials and films.