East Coast Hip Hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City during the 1970s. It is considered one of the most influential subgenres of hip hop and has played an instrumental role in hip hop’s growth into a global phenomenon.
Early innovators of East Coast Hip Hop include Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, and DJ Kool Herc, who are often credited with creating the genre’s distinctive sound and style. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, East Coast Hip Hop was dominated by artists from New York City, such as Run DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys.
The genre is known for its complex lyrics and serious themes, including social issues, politics, and urban life. East Coast Hip Hop often features samples from funk, soul, and jazz records, and its production tends to emphasize sharp drum beats and intricate sampling techniques.
In the mid to late 1990s, a feud between East Coast and West Coast hip hop, centered around artists and fans associated with Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records, resulted in what was sometimes referred to as a “coastal rap war”.
Key subgenres and styles of East Coast Hip Hop include hardcore rap (Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan), conscious hip hop (Mos Def, Talib Kweli), and alternative hip hop (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul).
For more comprehensive information, visit the East Coast Hip Hop page on Wikipedia.