I would say that 1979s Rapper’s Delight by The Sugar Hill Gang was the beginning of the Rap movement. I’m sure its not the first song to feature rapping, but it was the first song to bring the genre known as Hip Hop into the mainstream. The rapping in the song is very rudimentary with an almost laughably simplistic rhyme structure by today’s standard. But still, at the time it was cutting edge and pivotal to the progression of Rap.
I think the next important evolutionary jump in Hip Hop came with the release of Eric B and Rakim’s Paid In Full. This was the first time we would see a much more complex rhyme structure that has influenced the brunt of emcee styles today. Definitely a classic. This would cement Rakim as one of the best emcees rap has to offer.
The next ten years would see a slew of acts that would influence and cultivate Hip Hop as the terrific art form it is today. Everything from Eminem, Wu Tang Clan, Notorious B.I.G, Nas, Jay-Z, Big L, 2Pac and many more.
Now its almost 2010 and Hip Hop has been on one hell of a journey. Now you have countless types of Hip Hop sub genres. Just to name a few you have Gangster Rap, Backpack Rap, Conscious Rap, Crunk, Horrorcore, Grime, Gospel Rap and Heavy Metal Rap. All featuring their own unique instrumental influences and lyrical subject matter.
Here are some links to a few examples of these genres.
Gangster Rap Backpack Rap Conscious Rap Crunk Horrorcore Grime Gospel Rap Heavy Metal Rap
