1990: The Conscious Rap Boom
1990 saw a spate of conscious rap releases that would influence the lyricism of the next 5 years but is sadly missing from the majority of modern hip hop. Imagine if the biggest artists of the day were rhyming about Allah, black empowerment and Egyptian history instead of whips, tricks and shine and you can catch a glimpse of the conscious rap movements heyday. The majority of artists releasing conscious albums were either members of the Nation of Islam, Nation of Earths and Gods (Five percenters) or closely affiliated with these groups that were considered extremely radical at the time.
Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
When Public Enemy dropped their 3rd album they were undoubtedly the biggest hip hop group on the planet and this record sold accordingly in all corners of the globe. The godfathers of conscious rap were on fine form again with an insatiable appetite for finding previously unchartered ground both musically and lyrically. The Bomb Squad returned with a more diverse attitude to sampling and Chuck was determined to meet every controversy P.E had courted head on. Proffesor Griffs anti semitism and departure from the group to white americas treatment of black stars through to the pronouncement of Elvis Presley as a racist Public Enemy was once again provided food for though and ammo for the army of media detractors they had picked up in the 80′s.
911 is a Joke
Welcome to the Terrordome
http://www.dailymotion.com/videox15s62Fight the Power
Brothers gonna work it out
Can’t do nuttin for ya man
Ice Cube – Amerikkka’s Most Wanted/Kill at Will
NWA were at the peak of their popularity when Ice Cube departed the group on the solo tip and to add awe to the shock hooked up with the East coast production powerhouse the Bomb Squad for his first album. Hank Shocklee’s Bomb Squad were the team responsible for Public Enemys first 3 albums but many were uncertain of how Ice Cubes gangster rap style would sit on top of Bomb Squads funky high energy beats. It turned out to be a match made in heaven as Cubes proximity to Public Enemy had given him a new found political conscious and whilst he was still saying Fuck tha police he was now willing and able to explain why and where that statement came from. Even the title with the obvious kkk conotations was a middle finger to racist white america but the breadth of targets for Cubes ire was breathtaking; commercial radio stations, golddiggers, police brutality, scandalous women, wannabe gangsters and preachy rappers are all given the verbal treatment.
Dead Homiez
Jackin’ For Beats
Who’s the Mack
BDP – Edutainment
By 1990 Boogie Down Productions had been reduced from 3 to 1 by the death of Scott La Rock and the departure of D-Nice leaving just KRS-One to continue the legacy. Krs had been deeply affected by the murder of La Rock and had long departed from the gritty street life tales of Criminal Minded to concentrate on socially and politically conscious themes. Edutainment is the Teacha at his best preaching his sermon to the masses. Historical innaccuracies, materialism and ignorance are all tackled in typical Krs style and theres also plenty of disses for the philosophyless MC’s who are just after fame and cash that could apply to the majority of todays rappers. Edutainment was an absolutley classic album full of knowledge, rhetoric and even a diss for Bush and Thatcher.
Love is Gonna Get’cha
Brand Nubian – One for All
Brand Nubian fronted by Grand Puba, Lord Jamar and Derek X (Sadat X) who were all prominent members of the Nation of Gods and Earths burst into the rap game amidst a cloud of controversy. Heavy criticism of the Five percenter doctrine that was at the centre of their lyricism and media hysteria that surrounded MTV’s decision to ban the video for Wake Up gave Brand Nubian instant notoriety. The video (below) which was directed by the legendary Fab 5 Freddy depicted a black man with his face painted white which was enough to offend the MTV hierachy but the exposure it gave Brand Nubian only insured extra record sales for the group meaning more people were exposed the ideas of the Nation of Gods and Earths.
Wake Up
One for All
Slow Down
X Clan – To the East Blackwards
The X Clan were one of the most innovative and exciting groups in the conscious movement combining black power messages of the blackwatch movement with afrocentrism and jovial wordplay. The blackwatch movement was an organisation set up to influence and guide young black rap artists as X Clans Brother J explains;
The Blackwatch Movement was originally put together for Hip-Hop artists that felt like they had to get off the ego for a little bit and get back into learning knowledge of self and understanding what it’s like in the higher realms of manhood. So Blackwatch combined Black nationalist aspects and Hip-Hop knowledge into one house.
They will be forever remembered for the word ‘vanglorious’ and their frequent use of the word ‘sissy’. This their debut album is a classic which invokes visions of a ‘Warriors’ style gang focused on the positive.
Funkin Lesson
Heed the word of the brother
Poor Righteous Teachers – Holy Intellect
Another Fiver Percenter’s inspired group PRT, were proud to be part of the conscious movement, even their individual names Wise Intelligent, Culture Freedom and Father Shaheed were statements of black power and enlightenment. Their debut album coins many God’s and Earths sayings like ‘I self lord and master’ (I.S.L.A.M) that would later become common themes in hip hop through the Wu down to Lil Wayne (so I’m told I usually nod off when he’s “rhyming”). Holy Intellect is not the pinnacle of the groups work by any means but is fast funky and fluid throughout and the beats are very much of the time though the knowledge imparted is timeless.
Rock Dis Funky Joint
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Posted: July 23rd, 2009 under 90's wiki, Music.
Tags: 1990, 90s, Afrocentric, BDP, Brand Nubian, Conscious rap, Fiver percenters, Gods and the Earths, Ice Cube, Krs One, Nation of Islam, Poor Righteous Teachers, Public Enemy, X Clan