10 Music Genres That Died

During the mid 80s, artists like Schoolly D and Ice-T kicked off the gangsta rap scene with their violent, hard-hitting lyrics. The legendary West Coast rap group N.W.A. then burst onto the scene with their smash hit record, Straight Outta Compton, in 1988. Centred on the harsh and bloodthirsty nature of the gangster lifestyle in Los Angeles at the time, the album sparked a wave of similar work. Artists such as Snoop (Doggy) Dogg, Too Short, Tupac Shakur and Scarface all enjoyed great success as the 90s rolled in.

The genre’s lyrics frequently revolved around controversial topics such as crime, drug use, homophobia and misogyny. By the mid-noughties, a new generation of artists had arrived and with them, came a new direction also. The likes of Eminem and Kanye West often moved into more introspective lyrical themes. Artists such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar have moved even further away from the gangsta direction, focusing more on party anthems about wealth, success and relationships.

While there remain a good deal of tracks out there with thematic similarities, the genre of gangsta rap has become a popular bit of long gone nostalgia for many hip hop fans.