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THREAD: The History of the King of New York in Hip Hop
A new direction for me. Please support as much as you can and, most importantly, enjoy
A new direction for me. Please support as much as you can and, most importantly, enjoy
June 1994: Nas drops Illmatic and claims New York.
The revered Illmatic is New York in an album. The streets take to it as such, holding Nas as the rightful ruler with âN.Y. State Of Mindâ a microcosm of this. The street poet had the streets and was on untouchable form.
The revered Illmatic is New York in an album. The streets take to it as such, holding Nas as the rightful ruler with âN.Y. State Of Mindâ a microcosm of this. The street poet had the streets and was on untouchable form.
August/September 1994: Biggie drops âJuicyâ then âReady To Dieâ.
Hits mixed with the gritty, relatable appeal of Ready To Die allows Big to take over the streets and the radio waves. His king-like persona puts him in a king-like place. Aligned with the genius of Puff, inevitable.
Hits mixed with the gritty, relatable appeal of Ready To Die allows Big to take over the streets and the radio waves. His king-like persona puts him in a king-like place. Aligned with the genius of Puff, inevitable.
1995: Competition grows.
Big is still on top, with Ready To Die going double platinum and âJuicyâ and âBig Poppaâ killing the airwaves. Mobb Deep and Raekwonâs solo debuts are both undeniable and Raekwon and Ghost send subs at Big. Nas features on both, potentially taking sides.
Big is still on top, with Ready To Die going double platinum and âJuicyâ and âBig Poppaâ killing the airwaves. Mobb Deep and Raekwonâs solo debuts are both undeniable and Raekwon and Ghost send subs at Big. Nas features on both, potentially taking sides.
1996: The Dynasty begins.
Jay-Z emerges under the wing of Big, with goals of taking the crown one day, even if it means clashing. Nas steps up his commercial game, going double platinum. Big is still on top even after the Pac situation. Tupac passed away in 1996, Rest In Peace
Jay-Z emerges under the wing of Big, with goals of taking the crown one day, even if it means clashing. Nas steps up his commercial game, going double platinum. Big is still on top even after the Pac situation. Tupac passed away in 1996, Rest In Peace
March 1997: Passing The Torch.
Biggie tragically passes, Rest In Peace, and a few weeks later drops his classic sophomore âLife After Deathâ with features from The Lox, Ma$e and Jay-Z, who all want to take the throne. A big gap left by Big and Pac, with a few contenders to fill.
Biggie tragically passes, Rest In Peace, and a few weeks later drops his classic sophomore âLife After Deathâ with features from The Lox, Ma$e and Jay-Z, who all want to take the throne. A big gap left by Big and Pac, with a few contenders to fill.
November 1997: A New Era.
Jay-Z claims himself as the heir to the throne, dropping his sophomore âVol. 1â to over triple the sales of his debut. It includes the statement of âThe City Is Mineâ. Jay-Z is now the king of New York, with Nas waiting in the sidelines.
Jay-Z claims himself as the heir to the throne, dropping his sophomore âVol. 1â to over triple the sales of his debut. It includes the statement of âThe City Is Mineâ. Jay-Z is now the king of New York, with Nas waiting in the sidelines.
1998: DMX jumps to the front.
Hov has his biggest hit to date with âHard Knock Lifeâ but DMX was unstoppable. Dropping two classic, number 1 platinum albums in the same year with countless hits and all the respect from his peers, DMX ruled 1998 with Nasâ contentions fading.
Hov has his biggest hit to date with âHard Knock Lifeâ but DMX was unstoppable. Dropping two classic, number 1 platinum albums in the same year with countless hits and all the respect from his peers, DMX ruled 1998 with Nasâ contentions fading.
1999: Tensions Rise
Hov and Nas release âVol. 3â and âI Am...â respectively, Nas slightly outselling first week. Hov garners acclaim for his advancements, with Nas letting fans and critics down with a forgettable album. Jay-Z takes his first âshotsâ at Nas in âIs That Yo Bitch?â.
Hov and Nas release âVol. 3â and âI Am...â respectively, Nas slightly outselling first week. Hov garners acclaim for his advancements, with Nas letting fans and critics down with a forgettable album. Jay-Z takes his first âshotsâ at Nas in âIs That Yo Bitch?â.
2000: Roc-A-Fella are on top with Hov at the helm.
After the lack of success of Nasâ âThe Firmâ crew, Hov pushes his crew even more. The Dynasty album goes gold in a week, putting quality acts like Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek on display, with both dropping successful albums.
After the lack of success of Nasâ âThe Firmâ crew, Hov pushes his crew even more. The Dynasty album goes gold in a week, putting quality acts like Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek on display, with both dropping successful albums.
June 2001: The Takeover
Jay-Z takes stage at Summerjam and performs two verses of Takeover. Hov disses Mobb Deep, publicly showing Prodigy as a ballerina on stage. At the end of the verse, Hov calls out Nas: âHe donât want it with Hovâ. Nas responded with a direct freestyle.
Jay-Z takes stage at Summerjam and performs two verses of Takeover. Hov disses Mobb Deep, publicly showing Prodigy as a ballerina on stage. At the end of the verse, Hov calls out Nas: âHe donât want it with Hovâ. Nas responded with a direct freestyle.
September 2001: Overthrowing
After tensions had arisen and Nas had taken Hovâs bait, Hov completes the track on his classic album âThe Blueprintâ with a third verse completely directed at Nas, dissecting his career to diss him. Jay-Z has officially overthrown Nas and is now King.
After tensions had arisen and Nas had taken Hovâs bait, Hov completes the track on his classic album âThe Blueprintâ with a third verse completely directed at Nas, dissecting his career to diss him. Jay-Z has officially overthrown Nas and is now King.
December 2001: Ether
Many had doubted Nas, dropping albums that many thought were disappointing. His next effort, âStillmaticâ, includes the scathing âEtherâ. An uppercut with his back to the wall knocks down Hov and the streets side with Nas. Esco is back on the throne.
Many had doubted Nas, dropping albums that many thought were disappointing. His next effort, âStillmaticâ, includes the scathing âEtherâ. An uppercut with his back to the wall knocks down Hov and the streets side with Nas. Esco is back on the throne.
2002: A New King Emerges.
After Jay-Z affirms his defeat with the poor âSupa Uglyâ, Nas drops two phenomenal albums, including disses, while Jay drops the bloated âBlueprint 2â. A certain Queens MC floods the streets with his own group, later signing to none-other-than Eminem.
After Jay-Z affirms his defeat with the poor âSupa Uglyâ, Nas drops two phenomenal albums, including disses, while Jay drops the bloated âBlueprint 2â. A certain Queens MC floods the streets with his own group, later signing to none-other-than Eminem.
2003: The Ambush.
Jay-Z âretiresâ and leaves room for the new King. With a chokehold on the streets and the backing of Eminem and Dre, 50 Cent snatches the throne with a meteoric rise. His debut âGet Richâ sells almost 900k first week, eventually diamond and âIn Da Clubâ goes #1.
Jay-Z âretiresâ and leaves room for the new King. With a chokehold on the streets and the backing of Eminem and Dre, 50 Cent snatches the throne with a meteoric rise. His debut âGet Richâ sells almost 900k first week, eventually diamond and âIn Da Clubâ goes #1.
2004: G-Unit Follows 50.
After their quadruple platinum collab album on the back of â03, members Lloyd Banks and Young Buck both go platinum with their debut albums with 50 leading them. Jadakiss and Camâron Both drop successful albums, but have a fraction of 50âs impact.
After their quadruple platinum collab album on the back of â03, members Lloyd Banks and Young Buck both go platinum with their debut albums with 50 leading them. Jadakiss and Camâron Both drop successful albums, but have a fraction of 50âs impact.
2005: 50 Brings In Game
Early 2005 brings 50 Centâs âThe Massacreâ. A raging success, selling over a million units in the first week and spawning 3 top 3 singles but doesnât garner the acclaim of Get Rich. The Game drops his successful debut, with two huge singles lead by 50.
Early 2005 brings 50 Centâs âThe Massacreâ. A raging success, selling over a million units in the first week and spawning 3 top 3 singles but doesnât garner the acclaim of Get Rich. The Game drops his successful debut, with two huge singles lead by 50.
With Nas claiming âHip Hop Is Deadâ in 2006 while reuniting with Jay-Z and 50 Cent losing a sales battle to Kanye in 2007, the title diminished from then on. Iâll just add some minor details.
2011 & 2012: A New Hope
As Hip Hop continues to evolve, so does the New York sound. Promising MCs A$AP Rocky and Joey Bada$$ drop highly acclaimed debut mixtapes, showing potential which still hasnât been fully met.
As Hip Hop continues to evolve, so does the New York sound. Promising MCs A$AP Rocky and Joey Bada$$ drop highly acclaimed debut mixtapes, showing potential which still hasnât been fully met.
2013: Kendrick Rules Hip Hop
Kendrick boasts on his infamous âControlâ verse that he is âKing Of New Yorkâ while being from Compton. Many found it disrespectful, but Kendrick was paying homage to the greats before him. This shows the lack of coastal-division in Hip Hop.
Kendrick boasts on his infamous âControlâ verse that he is âKing Of New Yorkâ while being from Compton. Many found it disrespectful, but Kendrick was paying homage to the greats before him. This shows the lack of coastal-division in Hip Hop.
Thank you all for reading, of course this wasnât an original idea and I took inspiration from various articles and I donât take credit for that. I hope you enjoyed, feel free to check out my previous threads
