Golden age hip hop

Golden age hip hop is mainstream hip hop music created from the mid-1980s[1][2][3][4] to the early-mid 1990s,[1][2][3][4] particularly by artists and musicians originating from the New York metropolitan area.[5] A precursor to the new school hip hop movement, it is characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence on hip hop after the genre's emergence and establishment in the old-school era,[6][7][8][9][10] and is associated with the development and eventual mainstream success of hip hop.[11] There were various types of subject matter, while the music was experimental and the sampling from old records was eclectic.[12]

The artists most often associated with the period are LL Cool J, Slick Rick, Ultramagnetic MC's,[13] the Jungle Brothers,[14] Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, KRS-One, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Biz Markie,[11] Salt-N-Pepa,[11] Queen Latifah,[11] Gang Starr, and A Tribe Called Quest. Releases by these acts co-existed in this period with early gangsta rap artists such as Schoolly D, Ice-T, Geto Boys, N.W.A, the sex raps of 2 Live Crew and Too Short, and party-oriented music by acts such as the Fat Boys, MC Hammer, and Vanilla Ice.[15][16]