1973: DJ Kool Herc deejays his first block party (his sister's birthday) at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY. Herc would often buy two copies of a record and stretch the break parts by using two turntables and mixing in both records before the break ends. The Zulu Nation is officially formed by a student of Stevenson High school named Kevin Donovan. Donovan later changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim in honor of an ancient Zulu chief.1974: After seeing DJ Kool Herc perform at block parties, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa start playing at parties all over the Bronx neighborhoods. Around this time, DJ/MC/Crowd Pleaser Lovebug Starski starts referring to this culture as "hip-hop."1975:Herc is hired as a DJ at the Hevalo Club.
He later gets Coke La Rock to utter crowd-pleasing rhymes at parties (e.g."DJ Riz is in the house and he'll turn it out without a doubt"). Coke La Rock and Clark Kent form the first emcee team known as Kool Herc & The Herculoids.
DJ Grand Wizard Theodore accidentally invents 'the scratch.' While trying to hold a spinning record in place in order to listen to his mom, who was yelling at him, Grand Wizard accidentally caused the record to produce the “shigi-shigi†sound that is now known as the scratch. Scratch is the crux of modern deejaying.1976: DJ Afrika Bambaataa performs at the Bronx River Center. Bambaataa’s first battle against Disco King Mario sparks off the DJ battling that is now embedded in the culture.1977:The Rock Steady Crew (the most respected b-boy crew in history) is formed by the original four members: JoJo, Jimmy Dee, Easy Mike, and P-Body.
DJ Kool Herc is nearly stabbed to death at one of his parties. Although the assault placed a permanent dent on Herc's career, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Disco Wiz (the first Latino DJ), and Disco King Mario kept performing around town.1978:
Kurtis Blow, who was being managed by Russell Simmons, decides to hire Simmons’ brother, Run, as his DJ.
Run was so-called because he could cut so fast between two turntables.
Kurtis would later become the first rapper to be signed to a major record deal.
Music industry coins the term "rap music," and shifts its focus toward emcees.
Grandmaster Caz (aka Cassanova Fly) and Bambaataa engage in a battle at the Police Athletic League.1979:
Grandmaster Flash forms one of the most influential rap groups ever, The Furious 5: Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler), Melle Mel (Melvin Glover), Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover), Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Raheim (Guy Williams), and Mr. Ness (Eddie Morris).
Around the same time, another great rap crew – The Cold Crush Four – was formed, comprising of Charlie Chase, Tony Tone, Grand Master Caz, Easy Ad, JDL, and Almighty KG.
The first rap record by a non-rap group “King Tim III†is recorded by the Fatback Band.
Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper's Delight†would go on to become the first known rap hit, reaching 36 on Billboard.
Various obscure rap singles were also released: Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5’s “Super-rappin†and Spoonie Gee’s “Spoonin’ Rap†both on Enjoy Records, Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rappin†on Mercury Records, and Jimmy Spicer’s 13-minute long storytelling track “Adventures of Super Rhymes†on Dazz Records.
Mr. Magic’s ‘Rap Attack’ becomes the first hip-hop radio show on WHBI.1980:
Afrika Bambaata and the Zulu Nation release their first 12" called Zulu Nation Throwdown Pt. 1 on Paul Winley Records.
Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to appear on national television (Soul Train), releases "The Breaks" on Mercury Records. The record goes on to sell more than a million copies. Hip-hop gradually evolves into big business.
After meeting Fab 5 Freddy and others, Blonde releases "Rapture" featuring rap vocals by lead singer Debbie Harry.1981:
Grandmaster Flash releases “The Adventures of Grand Master Flash on the Wheels of Steel," the first record to ultimately capture the sounds of live DJ scratching on wax.
On February 14th, The Funky 4 plus One More perform their classic hit, “That's The Joint†on NBC's Saturday Night Live becoming the first hip hop group to appear on national television.
The Beastie Boys are formed. The group consists of Adam Horovitz (King Ad-Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA), Michael Diamon (Mike D).1982:
Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force release the techno-heavy “Planet Rock†on Tommy Boy Records. The record samples portions of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express."
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5 release “The Message†on Sugarhill Records.
Kool Moe Dee humiliates Busy Bee in a spontaneous rap battle. Since then, emcee battling has become an inseparable part of hip-hop.
Fab 5 Freddy and Charlie Ahearn co-produce Wild Style, a hip-hop film featuring Cold Crush Brothers, Grandmaster Flash, Grandwizard Theodore, DJ AJ, Grandmixer D.S.T, graf writers Lee, Zephyr, Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink, Crash, Daze, Dondi, and members of the Rock Steady Crew. Wild Style has since inspired several other hip-hop-themed movies.1983:
Ice T helps pioneer gangsta rap in the west coast with his rapcore singles “Body Rock" and "Killers."
Grand Master Flash and Melle Mel (Furious 5) record the anti-cocaine single “White Lines (Don't Do It)," which becomes a rap hit.
Grandmaster Flash later sues Sugarhill Records for $5 million in royalties. The dispute causes the group to break up, signaling the looming danger of corporate control in hip-hop.
Run DMC releases “It's Like That" b/w "Sucker MC's."1984
Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin team up to launch one of the most important record labels ever, Def Jam Records. Def Jam releases its first record, “It’s Yours†by T La Rock, followed by LL Cool J’s “I Need A Beat."
Hip-hop discovers that touring is a great way to generate income, as the Fresh Fest concert featuring Whodini, Kurtis Blow, Fat Boys, and Run DMC, reels in $3.5 million for 27 dates.
Battle rap assumes the spotlight in hip-hop, as UTFO’s “Roxanne Roxanne†diss song attracts over 100 responses.
The most popular response came from a 14-year old female named Roxanne Shante. Shante’s “Roxanne’s Revenge†allegedly recorded in Marley Marl’s living room sold more than 250,000 copies.
Dougie Fresh (aka The Entertainer) releases The Original Human Beat Box (Vindertainment Records).
Michael Jackson does 'the moonwalk' at the Grammys, borrowing b-boy dance elements from LA breakers.1985
Sugarhill Records goes into bankruptcy and is forced out of business.
Salt ‘n’ Pepa make their first appearance on Super Nature’s “The Show Stopper."1986The Beastie Boys release Licensed To Ill on Def Jam (executive-produced by Rick Rubin).
James Smith, a native of Houston, Texas, assembles The Geto Boys. The original lineup consisted of MCs Raheim, Jukebox, DJ Ready Red, and Sir Rap-A-Lot.
The group also featured Little Billy, a dancing dwarf who later picked up the microphone as Bushwick Bill.
Following a short break-up in 1988, Smith invited local emcee Willie D and multi-instrumentalist Akshun (later known as Scarface) to complete the lineup.
The Geto Boys (now made up of Scarface, Willie D, and Bushwick Bill) was a driving force in the evolution of southern rap.1987
Following the release of Boogie Down Productions’ Criminal Minded LP, Scott LaRock is shot and killed in the South Bronx while attempting to settle a dispute.
Public Enemy stuns the world with their introductory album, Yo! Bum Rush The Show, signaling the genesis of politically-charged hip-hop.
The original members of the group include Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour), Flavor Flav (William Drayton), Professor Griff (Richard Griffin), and DJ Terminator X (Norman Rogers).1988
After years of being neglected by the mainstream media, hip-hop gets its own show on MTV, "Yo! MTV Raps."
N.W.A pioneers the gangsta rap movement with their gold album, Straight Outta Compton.
Def Jam founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin part ways; Simmons opts for distribution through CBS/Columbia Records, while Rubin goes on to found Def American.
Landmark album releases: Ultramagnetic MC’s – Critical Breakdown, and Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane.
