HIP-HOP

A Collector’s Guide Part 7: The Golden Age of the 90s by Dudley Jaynes.

As the 80s drew to a close, hip-hop was finally being recognised as an art form with longevity, and its diverse nature marked the genre as unique. As the desperate rush to purchase independent hip-hop imprints such as Def Jam and Cold Chillin’ subsided, major record labels became credible players and hip-hop moved from international fad to global going concern.

While the UK entered a period characterised by a lack of support but abundance of talent (see RC 359), rap music Stateside saw unprecedented growth and a crystallisation of borders between styles and scenes. It is at this point that we place our attention, focusing on 20 classic records, many of which are highly collectible pieces. Due to the large supply and relative ease in obtaining many of the memorable 90s hits, lots of the records examined here are those that never received a commercial release.

(All prices are approximate and based on original records in mint condition).

by Dudley Jaynes
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