Breaking It Down: The 7 Most "Essential" Hip Hop Artists of the 1980’s

Can you believe it? Hip Hop, the little fad that was only given a few years to live in the early 80’s just turned 50! At Triple Nikel Headquarters we often debate over who the most influential MC’s (Masters of Ceremony, Mic Controllers, etc..), or groups, were during each previous decade. After pondering what to write in the coming weeks, I decided to put one of our many arguments on paper and create a list of the most essential MC’s/Groups during the 1980’s.

This should be a lot of fun as we get to celebrate the 50-year milestone by taking a trip down memory lane to the era that birthed some of the most influential artists in the history of the game! Before I begin, I feel it prudent to define what essential means. Essential, for the sake of this opinion article, means that if that group, or artist, never existed then the trajectory of Hip Hop would not be what it is today. Also, the legacy of anyone on this list is still contributing to the culture heavily today. High Stakes right?

To increase the ante, I am going to rank order this list from bottom to top. So with that being said, grab your Kangols, lace up your shell-toe Adidas, and let's explore who the most essential MC/Group of 1980’s Hip Hop are!

Hip Hop persona collage (courtesy of, https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/the-5-most-important-developments-in-hip-hop-production.html)

#7 Beastie Boys - The Wild Ones

First of all Rest In Peace, Adam Yauch... These three white boys from New York City brought a whole new level of audacity to the hip hop scene. Mixing hip hop with punk rock and a dash of humor, the Beastie Boys became a force to be reckoned with. Tracks like "Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" gave a rebellious edge to the genre and opened the world of Hip Hop to white audiences.

Beastie Boys in the 1980’s (courtesy of NPR, https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2012/05/04/152027157/adam-yauch-co-founder-of-the-beastie-boys-dies)

While they are not on this list for their lyrical acumen - the trio brought a different energy to the young artform that was genuine and authentic. It can be stated that one of their key legacy anchors are that they understood the culture and were not here to be vultures of it.

# 6 N.W.A - The Gangsta Pioneers

Now, let's take a walk on the wild side with N.W.A. These Compton-based brothers shook the hip hop world to its core with their raw and unfiltered “Reality Story Raps”. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella brought the gritty reality of street life to the forefront of hip hop. Their debut album, "Straight Outta Compton," pushed boundaries and shocked the world with its explicit content and unapologetic portrayal of gangster culture. Love them or hate them, N.W.A redefined the genre and paved the way for future gangsta rap artists.

What makes N.W.A.’s legacy stand head and shoulders above other groups and MC’s in the gangster hip hop genre is their influence of others after the breakup of the group.  For example; Ice Cube left and began classic work with Chuck D, Public Enemy and the Bomb Squad; plus became a mogul in Hollywood.  Dr. Dre went on to Death Row Records, signed Snoop, Eminem, 50-Cent, The Game, Anderson PAC; promoted Beats Headphones and so on.  Before passing away from HIV/AIDS, Eazy-E signed Bone-Thugs.  Bottom line, N.W.A. is still impacting Hip Hop and Pop Culture today.

#5 Public Enemy - The hip hop Revolutionaries

When it comes to politically charged hip hop, nobody did it better than Public Enemy.  Armed with a powerful message and an unmistakable sound, Chuck D and Flavor Flav became the voice of a generation. Songs like "Fight the Power" and "Don't Believe the Hype" challenged societal norms and shed light on the struggles faced by marginalized communities. Public Enemy made it clear that hip hop wasn't just about beats and rhymes; it was a platform for change.

Listen, when Triple Nikel had their 1st year anniversary party we wore clocks on our gold chains because we knew what time it was.  When Spike Lee needed an anthem for his classic movie, “Do The Right Thing” he called on Chuck D to deliver what is easily one of the top 5 Hip Hop tracks period - “Fight The Power”.  I feel like I don’t even need to sing their praises any further because they are just those guys! 

Triple Nikel Founders at their 1st year anniversary party looking mighty fly (the theme was 80’s and 90’s Hip Hop - courtesy of Triple Nikel) 

#4 LL Cool J - Ladies Love Him, and We Do Too

Ah, LL (Ladies Love) Cool J (James), the smooth-talking heartthrob of the '80s hip hop scene. Ladies couldn't resist his charm, and the fellas just wanted his swag.  This may be debatable, but I would venture to say that LL was the first bona-fide world wide Hip Hop superstar - next to Kurtis Blow and Whodini - respectively.

LL Cool J looking for a beat! (image courtesy of https://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/top-15-ll-cool-j-songs/)

Not only was he the first solo act signed to Def Jam, but one of the first hip hop artists to be featured in a major film - 1985’s Krush Groove.  With his signature Kangol hat and mesmerizing smile, LL Cool J delivered hit after hit.  From "I Can't Live Without My Radio" to "I Need Love," he showed us that rap could be both tough and tender.  Plus, the brother is still touring with the F.O.R.C.E. Tour (alongside the legendary Roots), looking great and still acting on NCIS!

#3 Run-D.M.C. - The Kings of Rock

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Run-D.M.C. brought hip hop to the mainstream like nobody else. With their iconic Adidas tracksuits and fedora hats, these guys set the new standard for Hip Hop Fashion and culture.  Their fusion of rock and rap in hits like "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith broke barriers and opened doors for future collaborations between different musical genres. They were the kings of the rap game, and they knew it!