Hip-Hop Timeline

By taustin2

  • 1970s: The Birth of Hip-Hop

  • DJ Kool Herc throws a back-to-school party in the Bronx, introducing breakbeats and the foundation of hip-hop.

  • The Sugarhill Gang releases "Rapper's Delight", the first rap single to gain mainstream attention.

  • MTV debuts; hip-hop videos like Run-DMC’s "Rock Box" bring the genre to a wider audience.

  • Breakdancing becomes a global phenomenon with films like Breakin’ and Beat Street.

  • Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaborate on "Walk This Way", blending hip-hop with rock.

  • N.W.A releases Straight Outta Compton, spotlighting West Coast hip-hop and social issues.

  • Hip-hop officially surpasses rock in influence, according to a 2015 study by Queen Mary University and others.

  • Dr. Dre releases The Chronic, introducing G-funk and solidifying the West Coast's dominance.

  • Nas drops Illmatic, a landmark in lyrical and narrative depth.

  • Eminem’s The Slim Shady LP introduces hip-hop to new global audiences.

  • OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below wins Grammy for Album of the Year, showcasing hip-hop’s creative diversity.

  • The Black Eyed Peas’ "Boom Boom Pow" spends 12 weeks at #1, blending hip-hop with electronic beats.

  • Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Kendrick Lamar redefine modern hip-hop with personal storytelling and experimental sounds.

  • K-pop groups like BTS and BigBang cite hip-hop as a major influence in their music and choreography.

  • Kendrick Lamar wins the Pulitzer Prize for DAMN., a milestone for hip-hop as an art form.

  • Lil Nas X’s "Old Town Road" blends hip-hop and country, dominating charts for 19 weeks.

  • Hip-hop continues to influence R&B, jazz, and global genres like Afrobeat.

  • Celebrations of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary highlight its impact on music, culture, and society.