Is Classic HIp Hop Becoming The New Classic Rock?

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Back in October of last year, I made a post on how classic rock stations in and around the country are becoming repetitive.. It's been almost a year and it has begged me to explore one big question - is classic hip-hop becoming the new classic rock?

A Brief Background:

 Way back in the late 1980s/early 90s when grunge and thrash metal (a la Metalica, Nirvana, Soundgarten, etc.) was becoming popular, there were many then 25-year-olds who said those bands were crap compared to what they were listening to growing up. It was such commentary that fueled the creation of oldies and classic rock stations as we know it. Classic rock, believe it or not, is a fairly NEW format being around since the mid to late 1980s. Oldies have had success playing 1959-1975ish hits, but by now, most of these stations have morphed into classic hits and feature a 60s-late 70s/early80s playlist.

Classic hip hop has its origins in the 21st Century. It all started back in 2004 when 93.5, then airing a Christian radio format, adopted a Rhythmic AC format with emphasis on old school hip-hop. The station toyed with formats for a while, but returned to the classic hip hop in 2009 with a touch of RnB. After sales prompted a "Save KDAY" campaign by Dr. Dre in 2013, the station was yet again repopularized. In 2014, Radio One flipped KROI in Houston, to classic hip hop after its news/talk format was poor. Throughout 2015 and beyond, many stations adapted the classic hip hop format though some only temporary (such as for the holiday season).

What is Classic Hip-Hop All About?

 Classic hip-hop focuses on hip hop music made from the 1980s to about the mid to late 2000s. Just as how there are several branches of classic rock (prog, metal, sometimes new wave, alternative, neo-progressive, etc.), there are several branches of classic hip hop.


Freestyle/Old School: This less paid attention to branch includes the originals Sugarhill Gang and Kurtis Blow, Afrika Bambaata, and sometimes even Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Run D.M.C.
Golden Age Hip-Hop: This branch is concerned with mid 1980s to about early 1990s (think 1985-92ish). Artists included here are: Beastie Boys, Run D.M.C., Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince, Young MC, and Public Enemy. Some even consider N.W.A. to be part of this branch.
Gangster Rap: There are many subgenres of gangsta rap, but in reality these are your big names a la Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Warren G., I could go on forever!
Hardcore Hip-Hop: This hip-hop came into prominence in the late 1990s and was around through about 2003ish (though it was still made to a lesser extent thereafter). This branch includes: Eminem, DMX, sometimes Nas, D12, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, and sometimes 50 Cent.
Crunk: Perhaps the last popular genre of hip hop. Crunk, as it was so named by Southern rapper Lil' Jon, consists of dub-steppy beats and generally is meant to make you crazy and drunk at the same time (hence crunk).

Why Is This so Damn Popular:

 Hip hop has highly evolved. The hip hop from the aforementioned era explores popular topics and issues of the day such as drugs, crime, unemployment, teenage pregnancies, and police brutaility. According to iHeart Radio Sr. Vice President, Doc Wynter, explained that, and I quote "Hip hop back then was about telling a story about your struggle and your family's struggle. Now today the reigning hip-hop star is a multiracial from Toronto who did not struggle."

There is more evidence to this. Edisson Research Sean Ross has compared the growth of classic hip hop to the growth of classic rock thirty years ago. It is believed that the classic hip-hop format appeals to those who enjoyed hip hop from years growing up (myself included), akin to how people whimped out at bands like Metalica in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

So, I suppose The Chronic is the new Dark Side of The Moon.

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