As rappers explored themes like violence, poverty and racism through their music, rap saw an artistic renaissance. Artists like Eminem pushed musical boundaries further while Jay-Z became a cultural icon.
In the 2000s, regional rap scenes such as crunk, snap, and hyphy flourished, as OutKast’s album Stankonia proved both commercial and critical success, while UGK and Chamillionaire introduced unique sounds into the genre.
Gangsta rap
Gangsta rap music depicts street life and urban poverty through aggressive, violent sounds and lyrics that often include offensive material like homophobic or misogynist references. While its depictions of ghetto life has generated controversy and protest from moral guardians, fans find gangsta rap an outlet to express themselves freely while giving voice to oppressed groups.
Gangsta rap can be traced back to Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D, often considered the father of this style of music. His song, “PSK,” serves as an early example of its aggressive, violent style. Though generally associated with West Coast acts such as Boogie Down Productions, New York City acts such as Boogie Down Productions helped develop it further. Despite its often controversial lyrics and images depicting violence or murderous tendencies among its high-profile artists such as Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G
At the turn of the 21st Century, gangsta rap had undergone a dramatic evolution influenced by regional scenes and rising rappers with large budgets. Memphis collective Hypnotize Minds used menacing beats and explicit lyricism to attract an audience; others, such as Three 6 Mafia used more subdued sounds while still including themes related to street life and violence into their music.
Gangsta rap music has long been controversial since its creation and has received criticism from both critics and listeners. Due to this contentiousness, numerous lawsuits were filed and criminalization efforts initiated. Yet despite its controversiality, gangsta rap music still retains an audience that appreciates its raw authenticity and unfiltered storytelling style.
This genre has had a lasting influence beyond music, influencing fashion, language and popular culture as a whole. Critics have criticized its violent lyrics while others see them as creating awareness of inner city crime and offering young people an outlet to vent their frustrations. Some have even defended this form of expression saying it does not glorify violence but instead offers real life scenarios with which individuals can connect to find solidarity with those they may feel marginalized in society.
Regional rap scenes
Y2K marked a new dawn for hip hop music. Raw, gritty production was replaced with more polished production which showcased the technical skills of its artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Kanye West who all rose to become cultural icons through groundbreaking lyrics and albums that challenged boundaries.
Atlanta was an epicenter for regional rap scenes during the early 2000s. Artists like Lil Jon and the Eastside Boys pioneered crunk music there. Meanwhile DJ Screw (RIP), from Texas brought his signature sound known as screw music into play; this style featured slow artistry along with melodic samples from classical and jazz music that added his unique stamp.
As the decade progressed, hits began dominating charts and radio stations and new superstars emerged to lead them. New York City-based DMX led with dancehall-style music while Philadelphian Schoolly D made history by creating the first gangsta rap record: “P.S.K. ‘What Does It Mean'”.
Memphis franchise group Three-6-Mafia and Chicago artist LL Cool J were just two examples of artists riding this wave of boom-bap. Additionally, rock and R&B music blended easily with hip-hop during this period.
Roots’ 2000 album Phrenology was an outstanding milestone in terms of musical diversity; breaking away from hip hop’s boundaries. Producers such as The Neptunes and Timbaland seamlessly blended multiple styles together into genre-defying production that became iconic of early 2000’s culture.
Other notable regional releases included Ludacris’ smash hit “Stand Up,” as well as T.I.’s grungier, trunk-rattling album Trap Muzik – the precursor of today’s popular trap music genre that is dominated by Atlanta-based artists such as Gucci Mane and Future. Although its sound may have been gritty, Trap Muzik showcased T.I.’s smooth lyrical delivery as well as his versatility with various producers like Kanye West.
Collaborations
In the 2000s, rap-sung collaborations became an integral part of music production, as rappers worked alongside singers to produce catchy tracks. While New York City remained the epicenter of rap music production, regional scenes also flourished nationwide – Atlanta, Houston and Chicago played key roles. Artists from these cities experimented with different styles blending funk with soul into hip-hop to produce unique sounds; these genre-bending experiments expanded rap’s audience and helped further evolve it.
This era also saw the emergence of superstar producers, like Dr. Dre and Timbaland, who began emerging from behind the mic and taking center stage. Their prolific output of beats and tracks for various rappers made them household names in no time at all. Furthermore, this decade marked a musical renaissance; wherein rougher sounds from earlier decades combined with more polished electronic-infused productions to create something completely new and fresh.
As R&B and rap began to blend, we saw many collaborations between rappers and singers. This trend continued into the 2000s with artists like Mariah Carey collaborating with rappers on hits like “Fantasy.” Collaborations like these help diversify rap music’s sound while reaching wider audiences.
The 2000s was also an era of rap-rock hybridization, with artists exploring genres outside their comfort zones. Jay-Z’s track “Eternal Sunshine,” for instance, which combined Nina Simone classic music with lyrics about depression and hopelessness from rap lyrics is a prime example of creative genius which defined rap during this decade.
Eminem’s storytelling reached its zenith with “Stan,” his classic track featuring an obsessive fan. This one of Eminem’s most celebrated rap songs of this decade. Outkast also excelled with their rendition of “Ms. Jackson,” an elegant exploration of an unstable relationship layered atop an engaging beat which solidified their status as one of rap music’s top creative teams.
Commercial success
Rappers of the early 2000s enjoyed commercial success commensurate with their artistic output. The decade saw numerous high-profile crossover hits, such as Eminem and 50 Cent’s sales of over one million albums each. While regional scenes remained dominant, niche acts such as Oxnard producer Madlib, New York rapper MF DOOM, and Los Angeles duo People Under the Stairs managed to cultivate dedicated fan bases that paid dividends.
Hip-hop’s commercial success allowed artists to realize their artistic goals and connect with a broader audience, while investment spurred an impressive variety of rap subgenres (crunk, snap, hyphy and Dirty South among them) which symbolized its continued development while appealing to different regional and cultural identities.
The 2000s also gave birth to some of the most iconic female rappers ever. Missy Elliott became the face of modern female rap, with her powerful lyrics being one of the most influential artists during this era. Additionally, her ability to crossover into pop music set her apart from other rappers while helping shape future female rappers.
Rappers of the early 2000s were also able to transcend gangsta rap with music that fused pop and R&B influences into it, creating an approachable style that resonated among middle-class audiences while broadening its fan base. Not only were Billboard charts broken, but many artists also developed distinct musical styles which helped define this era’s music.
While some rappers were content to simply boast about their luxury goods, others used lyrics and storytelling techniques to paint an engaging picture of their struggles. Based on real experiences and often inspired by real events, these stories could be powerfully emotive; an iconic example being The Game and 50 Cent’s “Hate It or Love It”, with soulful beats by The Game and Dido’s haunting vocals by Dido adding further weight and meaning to their song.