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**Batsu** · 01-31-2007, 11:20 PM

Traditionally:

anything before 1986 is called "Old School"
from 1986 to about 1992 = "New (or True) School"

and 1992-Present just is.

Though, judging by the intent of this post and its replies...
albums recorded earlier than 1996 might as well be considered "Old School".
To some people, albums recorded prior to 2000 are considered "Old School", but I can't really see that.

There's usually some artist at the dividing line of a stylistic era.
The borderline between the original Old and New Schools was Rakim.
Then again, when the class that birthed Nas and the like came of age, it was another turning point.

Since then, even though the music has progressed (and a lot of cases, regressed IMO) over the years, I can't quite find that one person that changed it for everyone.

The biggest events of the last 10 or so years in the genre has been moreso the deaths of significant figures (BIG, 2Pac) than anyone's entrance.

I also agree with Savior's assertion that "Gangsta Rap" as a genre didn't quite become permeated into the "mainstream" until after Dr. Dre's The Chronic.

NWA was very popular before then (and spawned a lot of other acts and even more imitators), but they were like very popular "contraband" in a genre that was very "contraband" to begin with.

It wasn't until after The Chronic did people even start talking about that type of rap music being "Gangsta", as hordes of imitators and those influenced by the album came about started coming out and selling records.

It really didn't become "mainstream" until pop rap became that type of music.

In the '80s and early '90s, "mainstream" defined the pop rap that was clean enough to be played on the radio unaltered, and found its way out of niche markets. That kind of music was generally regarded in a derisive manner from some of its more "edgy" acts like Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and even EPMD.

However, gradually as the years went by, more "explicit" and edgy music became the default to the genre, as it was the highest grossing, despite its content. A lot of this is what people label "Gangsta Rap".

This is why Eminem and 50 Cent correspond more closely to Vanilla Ice and Hammer in terms of market position (definitely not stylistically). In 1989-1990, Eminem and 50 Cent would be kept out of the "mainstream" spotlight due to their content. Also, why a Jay-Z is one of the more recognized faces in the genre.

Whoops... went off on a tangent.

01-31-2007, 11:20 PM	#28
Batsu Capcom's Corporate Champ Posts: 2,571	Traditionally: anything before 1986 is called "Old School" from 1986 to about 1992 = "New (or True) School" and 1992-Present just is. Though, judging by the intent of this post and its replies... albums recorded earlier than 1996 might as well be considered "Old School". To some people, albums recorded prior to 2000 are considered "Old School", but I can't really see that. There's usually some artist at the dividing line of a stylistic era. The borderline between the original Old and New Schools was Rakim. Then again, when the class that birthed Nas and the like came of age, it was another turning point. Since then, even though the music has progressed (and a lot of cases, regressed IMO) over the years, I can't quite find that one person that changed it for everyone. The biggest events of the last 10 or so years in the genre has been moreso the deaths of significant figures (BIG, 2Pac) than anyone's entrance. I also agree with Savior's assertion that "Gangsta Rap" as a genre didn't quite become permeated into the "mainstream" until after Dr. Dre's The Chronic. NWA was very popular before then (and spawned a lot of other acts and even more imitators), but they were like very popular "contraband" in a genre that was very "contraband" to begin with. It wasn't until after The Chronic did people even start talking about that type of rap music being "Gangsta", as hordes of imitators and those influenced by the album came about started coming out and selling records. It really didn't become "mainstream" until pop rap became that type of music. In the '80s and early '90s, "mainstream" defined the pop rap that was clean enough to be played on the radio unaltered, and found its way out of niche markets. That kind of music was generally regarded in a derisive manner from some of its more "edgy" acts like Ice Cube, Public Enemy, and even EPMD. However, gradually as the years went by, more "explicit" and edgy music became the default to the genre, as it was the highest grossing, despite its content. A lot of this is what people label "Gangsta Rap". This is why Eminem and 50 Cent correspond more closely to Vanilla Ice and Hammer in terms of market position (definitely not stylistically). In 1989-1990, Eminem and 50 Cent would be kept out of the "mainstream" spotlight due to their content. Also, why a Jay-Z is one of the more recognized faces in the genre. Whoops... went off on a tangent.