Hip Hop Music Genres Family Tree

Old School Hip Hop

The early period of hip hop, characterized by its raw and simple beats, and playful, party-oriented lyrics.

Bands: DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, Sugarhill Gang.

Hip Hop

Hip hop music, also known as rap music, is a genre of popular music developed in the United States by inner-city African Americans and Latino Americans in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s. It consists of stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted.

Bands: Run DMC, Wu-Ytang Clan, 2Pac, Ice-T

see also Wu-Tang Clan albums discography

Old School Rap

Old School Rap refers to the first hip-hop styles that originated from the East Coast of the USA in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is characterized by relatively simple raps and beats compared to later developments in the genre.

Bands: Public Enemy, Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaata

Golden Age Hip Hop

A period marked by diversity, innovation, and the emergence of complex lyrics addressing social issues.

Bands: Run-D.M.C. (featuring Eddy Martinez), Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest.

East Coast Hip Hop

Known for its complex lyrics and intricate wordplay, often with a gritty, street-oriented sound.

Bands: Nas, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan.

West Coast Hip Hop

Features funk-influenced beats and laid-back flows, often associated with the G-funk sound.

Bands: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube.

Alternative Hip Hop

Emphasizes innovative sounds and lyrical content, often diverging from mainstream themes.

Bands: De La Soul, The Roots, Kid Cudi.

Gangsta Rap

Focused on the violent lifestyle and harsh realities of inner-city life, often controversial for its explicit content.

Bands: N.W.A., Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G.

Southern Hip Hop

Includes sub-genres like crunk, trap, and bounce, known for its energetic beats and catchy hooks.

Bands: OutKast, Lil Wayne, T.I.