Chapter 14

NWA

*****z With Attitude, recordings of the gangsta life style. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, etc. Formed in Compton.

Beastie Boys

Appeared in Krush Groove (first film to deal with hip hop culture). Toured as opening act for Madonna and Run DMC

Alternative Currents

By 1990's most major genre had an alternative sub genre.

Snoop Doggy Dogg

Calvin Broadus, album Doggystyle debuted at the top of the album charts.

House

Chicago House scene pioneered by Frankie Knuckles, many house recordings were purely instrumental with elements of European synth pop, reggae, rap, latin music, and more for a dance beat.

Gangsta Rap

Chronicled the dilemmas faced by urban communities from a first person present tense viewpoint, a grim survivalist outlook with a mix of gleeful celebration for the gangster lifestyle, gave black males something to express control over, though the images were sometimes exploited into stereotypes.

Nirvana

Commercial break through for alternative rock. Released two multiplatinum records between 1992 and 1994. Moved alternative rock's blend from hardcore and heavy metal into commercial mainstream. Debut album Bleach.

Dance Music

Developed in club scenes of cities like New York, Detroit, and Chicago, cross fertilized with influence from London and other European cities.

Hardcore

Developed in clubs of the West Coast, was an extreme variation of punk. Grew out of the surfing culture (surf punks) and into the skating culture. Ex: the Dead Kennedy's, The Germs, Suicidal Tendencies.

Techno

Focused on DJs and producers that attempted to remain anonymous, most techno "groups" were solo acts or duos/trios

Ani Defranco

Folk singer dressed in punk clothing, always avoided lure of corporate music business. Made own record label (Righteous Babe). Mainstream media noticed her music, wasn't on billboard charts until 1996 with Dilate, eventually had a gold album Living Clip.

KD Lang

Had a more honky tonk sound, image didn't fit in with Nashville, announced homosexuality.

Lauryn Hill

Hip-hop artist who is a self-conscious alternative to the sexism of rappers, GIRL POWER, distinct voice, started with the Fugees (hip-hop group) .

Def Jam

New independent label, co-founded by Russel Simons and Rick Rubin. Promoted a new genre of artists (Run DMC and the Beastie Boys).

Nevermind

Nirvana signed with a major label DGC, reached number 1, quickly sold out, remained on the charts for almost 5 years.

Hip Hop

Rap moved to popular mainstream and in 1986, the first multiplatinum rap albums were released.

R.E.M

Reinterpreted punk rock. Gave it catchy melodic hooks and a folk rock aspect.

Grunge

Seattle Sound! Mid 80's through mid 90's, sub genre of alternative rock that mixed punk, alternative, and heavy metal, angsty lyrics, heavily distorted electric guitars and contrasting song dynamics. Around record label Sub Pop.

Alternative Rock

Strong underground rock scene, bands like REM, and Sonic Youth,

Run DMC

Trio of MC's Run and DMC and DJ Jam Master Jay. Album "Raising Hell" Signed with adidas.

Detroit Techno

Young middle class African Americans in 1980's from a predominantly white town created dancing music, grounded in a different cultural sound that was rooted in motown