What would you consider old school rap?

Question

Do you consider it as rap made between 1979 - 1986, 1979 - 1994, or 1979 - 1997? I think of it as 1979 - 1994, because the old school flavor lasted into the mid 1990's, but that's my opinion. What's yours?

Answer 1

Kool Moe Dee
BigDaddyKane

MCLyte

Queen Latifah

Dr. Dre

Kid n Play

Special Ed

Old School is just an expression of what you think back on as "back in the day" I don't think there's any set time frame for "Old School"

Oah Baby , you, got what I NEEEEEED!
Bizmarkie(sp?)

Answer 2

I agree with you. I consider anything that comes before the predominance of "gangsta rap" old school. 1986 seems too early, even though in the Wikipedia article on gangsta rap, the period of 1986-1990 is considered "early gangsta rap" (for example, LL Cool J's "I Can't Live Without My Radio"). But gangsta rap didn't predominate until the mid-1990's. Think of how many cds The Fresh Prince & DJ Jazzy Jeff sold in the late '80's/early '90's. Given the same criteria, 1997 seems too late to me as the cutoff point - Tupac died in 1996 and Biggie died in March 1997, and I would not consider either of them "old school".

....yes, I am thinking too much about this answer!

Answer 3

Sugar Hill Gang

Answer 4

i think it's anything older than 10 years so i'd say 1979-1997

Answer 5

Run DMC, Public Enemy, Sugar Hill Gang, the Beastie Boys

Answer 6

I would say the same, old school lasted into the mid 90s in my opinion aswell.

Answer 7

All the way up until the mid 90's.

Answer 8

Same as you. Wow, Kurtis Blow, Sugar Hill Gang, that is OLD school!

Answer 9

i agree with you...it did kind of end in the mid 90's

Answer 10

Same as yours! :-)