Old school hip hop

The very first hip hop to come out of the block parties of New York City in the 1970s and early 1980s is called old school hip hop. Compared to more modern, new school rap, old school has relatively simple rhythms and cadences that occur on the beat instead of wrapping around the rhythm, as has become common. Generally, subject matter was simple, good times, parties and friendship, with only a handful discussing political or social themes (Grandmaster Flash was a notable exception). Also compared with later hip hop, old school had a high amount of female artists, even though none reached quite the level of fame of their male counterparts. Rappers usually performed over disco or funk tracks.

The first recordings of old school hip hop were The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" and Fatback's "King Tim III". Sugarhill Records was particularly important in the early hip hop scene.

Sound samples:

• by Eric B. & Rakim (1988); note the rapid-fire delivery and the strength and clarity of the voice -- this duo, and this song, are often considered the peak of the Golden Age of Old School, which ended in approximately 1989
• by Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force (1982); note the strong P Funk influence, a precursor to the 90s G Funk sound, and its electro-inspired beat
• by The Beastie Boys (1986); note the crew's unique method of delivering rhymes in tandem with each other, where sentences and phrases may be uttered by two or more performers in sequence, as well as a strong breakbeat (characteristic of rock and roll)
• by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (1982; note the subject matter, which is addressing socio-political and economic issues, virtually unknown at the time of its release -- this was the first "message rap"

List of artists:

• Afrika Bambaataa
• The Beastie Boys
• Busy Bee
• Captain Rapp
• Casper
• Cold Crush Brothers
• Cowboy
• Darkstar
• Davy DMX
• Dee Dee King
• Dimples D
• Disco Daddy & Captain Rapp
• DJ Cheese
• DJ Dr. Shock
• DJ Flash
• DJ Hollywood
• DJ Kool
• DJ Kool Herc
• DJ Matrix
• DJ Red Alert
• Doctor Dre & Ed Lover
• Doctor Ice
• Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde
• Doug E. Fresh
• The Educated Rapper
• The Fat Boys
• Fresh Gordon
• Full Force
• Funkmaster Flex
• Funky Four Plus One
• The Furious Five
• The Future MC's
• Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
• Grandmaster Melle Mel
• Howie Tee
• Hurt 'Em Bad
• Ice-T
• Jimmy Spicer
• K Love
• The Kangol Kid
• Kaos & Mystro
• Kid Frost
• Kid Solo
• Kimberly Ball
• King M.C. & D.J. Flash
• Knights of the Turntables
• Kurtis Blow
• L.A. Dream Team
• Lightnin' Rod
• Madrok
• Mantronix
• Marley Marl
• M.C. Fosty & Lovin' C
• M.C. Ren
• M.C. Shan
• THE MEAN MACHINE
• The Moments
• Newcleus
• Next School
• Nice & Smooth
• Old School Players
• P.A.N.I.C
• Positive Force
• Pumpkin
• Rappers Rapp Group
• Red Alert
• Rock Master Scott & the Dyn
• Rocky Padilla
• Rodney O
• Ron Hudson
• Scor
• The Sequence
• Shawn Brown
• Skinny Boys
• Slamm Syndicate
• Spoonie Gee
• Spyder-D
• The Sugarhill Gang
• Super Nature
• Symbolic Three
• Timex Social Club
• Toddy Tee
• Treacherous Three
• Triple Threat Three
• Trouble Funk
• Two-Bigg M.C
• Whodini
• Word of Mouth