Rapper's Delight: Group Hip Hop

posted in: Reviews & Playlists • Urban

Hip hop groups have long had a major impact on the evolution of the genre. The Sugar Hill Gang, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and Run DMC were some of the earlier influences later followed by the Wu Tang Clan, NWA and A Tribe Called Quest”just to name a few. But what is it about certain groups that we find so appealing? Some collaborating emcees have the ability to feed off of and compliment each other to create something that’s bigger than themselves.

Take a look at Wu Tang, for example:  they have nine members (if you include ODB) with nine distinctive personalities, and each with a distinctly different flow, voice and lyrical style.  What’s impressive is how, when combined, they still have one distinctive Wu Tang sound that is not defined by any single member¦ and of course their amazing depth of talent. Some of them have launched successful solo careers as well, but none have come close to surpassing the combined Wu Tang Clan clout.  They do, however, frequently feature one another on their solo albums.

That being said, we’ve compiled a playlist for you that highlights some hip hop groups here at OurStage. These tracks all feature multiple rappers, so pay attention to their contrasting styles and let us know what you think!