What's your style?

Anyone who truly knows Hip-Hop, knows that it comes in different styles and sub-genres. Most MC's tend to make to the same kind of music throughout their careers. This is the same for time periods. Hip-Hop changes from year to year, decade to decade. If you asked me, I would say that my favorite time in Hip-Hop history is the 1990's. And my favorite sub-genre would have to be Up-town beat-street.

Like I said before, Hip-Hop has sub-genres.

• Up-town beat-street; Nas, Jay-Z Biggie Smalls, KRS1, Method Man, Wu Tang Clan, 50 cent, Square Off, Diggy, Mac Miller, etc.

• West Coast; Snoop Dogg, NWA, Wiz Khalifa, Nate Dog, Ice Cube, Kid Ink, 2Pac, Tyga, E-40, etc.

• Down South; Lil John, Ludacris, Travis Porter, Lil Wayne, B.o.B, Big K.R.I.T., UGK, OutKast, Paul Wall, Ying Yang Twins, Waka Flocka, Gucci Mane etc.

Everyone was music that they listen to because it reflects their life. For instance, if someone likes to party, get drunk and fight a lot, they might listen to Waka Flocka. If someone likes the hang out, smoke weed, and have fun, they might listen to Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, or Mac Miller. If someone likes to breakdown life, talk about the world and how we can change it, they might listen to KRS1, Common, Nas, or Biggie.


I challenge you to pick your favorite sub-genre of Hip-Hop. Figure out what songs speak to you. Which ones can you truly relate to. If you pay close attention, we can see that Hip-Hop is not just for blacks or urban people. Hip-Hop is for the world. It is the voice of the people.