The second wave of rap music emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, ushering in a new sound and era for hip hop. This period saw rap transition from the relatively simple old school hip hop sounds of the 1970s and early 80s to a more complex, sample-heavy production style with an emphasis on lyricism. Several rap acts and musicians were instrumental in shaping and pioneering this second wave of rap music.
Rise of the Second Wave
The origins of rap’s second wave can be traced to the mid-to-late 1980s with artists like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys incorporating rock and metal influences into their production. However, things really started to change around 1988 when Public Enemy released their landmark album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Public Enemy’s dense production and politically charged lyrics made them leaders in what became known as “golden age” hip hop. Other influential rappers and groups from this pioneering time included N.W.A, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B. & Rakim, and more.
Compared to old school hip hop, the second wave was characterized by:
- More complex production with dense, multilayered samples
- Increased use of loops, breakbeats, and drum machines like the SP-1200
- Experimentation with jazz, funk, and soul samples
- Lyrical themes became more diverse, conscious, and Afrocentric
- Rise of gangsta rap on the West Coast
- Higher standards for rhyme schemes and lyrical dexterity
Below are some of the most influential rappers, producers, and acts that led rap’s progression into the second wave era.
Public Enemy
When discussing pioneers of the second wave, Public Enemy is one of the first groups mentioned. Formed in Long Island, New York in 1982, Public Enemy burst onto the scene in 1987 with their debut Yo! Bum Rush the Show. However, it was their sophomore album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in 1988 that cemented their legacy. The Bomb Squad production team gave the album a dense, chaotic, and revolutionary sound that matched Public Enemy’s confrontational lyrics and political messaging. Songs like “Bring the Noise,” “Don’t Believe the Hype,” and “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” were sonically advanced with dozens of layered samples and complex, collage-like production that felt like organized noise. Frontman Chuck D’s powerful baritone delivery and the comic hypeman antics of Flavor Flav complemented the Bomb Squad’s production. Public Enemy’s seminal albums Nation of Millions and 1990’s Fear of a Black Planet were architecturally monumental for rap’s second wave evolution.
N.W.A
At the same time Public Enemy was making waves on the East Coast, N.W.A was establishing gangsta rap out West. Formed in Compton, California, N.W.A (short for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) released their incendiary and influential debut album Straight Outta Compton in 1988. Anchored by Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube, Straight Outta Compton brought the harsh realities of West Coast street life into rap with graphic lyrics about crime, drugs, and violence. Sonically, Dr. Dre and DJ Yella’s production drew inspiration from old school funk records by artists like George Clinton. The album’s breakout hit “F*** tha Police” became an anthem of resistance against police brutality. Along with subsequent albums like Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990) and Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (1992), N.W.A pioneered gangsta rap and G-funk while pushing rap’s second wave into harder-edged street territory.
De La Soul
While N.W.A amped up rap’s aggression, the Long Island trio De La Soul steered things in a more eclectic and light-hearted direction. De La Soul – Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove, and Pasemaster Mase – debuted in 1989 with 3 Feet High and Rising. Produced by Prince Paul, the album sampled everything from funk and soul to rock, pop, jazz, and children’s records, ultimately creating a psychedelic, kaleidoscopic collage of sounds. De La Soul’s lyrics about individuality, relationships, and positivity were a far cry from gangsta rap. Singles like “Me Myself and I” and “Potholes in My Lawn” were playful and quirky. Sonically and lyrically, De La Soul offered an alternative creative vision for rap’s second wave.
A Tribe Called Quest
Following the path blazed by De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest also heavily impacted rap’s second wave with their unique brand of conscious, jazz-laced hip hop. Formed in Queens, the group consisted of rappers Q-Tip and Phife Dawg, along with DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Tribe debuted in 1990 with People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. However, it was their next album, 1991’s The Low End Theory, that revolutionized rap and alternative hip hop. Sampling jazz legends like Ron Carter and Art Blakey, and collaborating with acclaimed bassist Ron Carter himself on the title track, Tribe delivered a cerebral and revolutionary album fusing rap and jazz. Singles like “Check the Rhime,” “Jazz (We’ve Got),” and “Scenario” opened listeners’ minds to new sonic possibilities in hip hop. Along with subsequent albums like Midnight Marauders, A Tribe Called Quest’s jazz-rap innovations made them pioneers of rap’s second wave.
Dr. Dre
After his visionary work with N.W.A, Dr. Dre embarked on a massively successful solo career as a producer/rapper that continued advancing rap’s second wave. His first solo single, 1992’s “Deep Cover” with Snoop Dogg, introduced the G-funk sound. Dre expanded on this with his proper debut The Chronic in 1992, which took the G-funk template to greater heights. Featuring Parliament-Funkadelic samples, live bass, mellow grooves, and synthesizers, The Chronic established a west coast rap sound that dominated for years after. Singles like “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” and “Let Me Ride” were laidback anthems showcasing Dre’s beats along with his star-making collaborations with Snoop. After The Chronic, Dre remained a highly sought-after producer, working on classic records for 2Pac, Eminem, The Game, and many more. Both solo and behind the boards, Dr. Dre was an integral force in rap’s evolution through the 1990s and beyond.
Eric B. & Rakim
The duo of MC Rakim and DJ/producer Eric B. are considered by many to be one of the most influential groups in the history of hip hop. Based out of Long Island, the pair debuted in 1987 with the album Paid in Full. Rakim’s complex rhyme schemes, alliteration, and internal rhymes paired with Eric B.’s innovative sampling raised the bar for lyricism and production in rap’s second wave. Singles like “I Ain’t No Joke,” “Paid in Full,” and “Eric B. Is President” stunned listeners with Rakim’s intricate rhyme skills and Eric B.’s funky, yet minimalist beats. Their pioneering use of single bar loops and syncopated drum patterns served as a blueprint for beatmakers in the 90s. Both their debut album along with their sophisticated 1988 follow-up Follow the Leader were hugely influential in rap’s progression into a more technical artform in areas of production and rapping.
Gang Starr
Brooklyn duo Gang Starr, comprised of the late Guru and DJ Premier, made massive contributions to rap’s second wave primarily due to DJ Premier’s hugely influential production style. From the group’s 1989 debut No More Mr. Nice Guy through albums like Step in the Arena (1991) and Daily Operation (1992), DJ Premier crafted a raw hip hop sound dense with chopped samples, punchy drums, and scratched hooks. His signature incorporation of brief jazz, funk, and soul samples became a hallmark of east coast hip hop. Premier’s tracks for Gang Starr along with his acclaimed production for Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Jeru the Damaja, and many more cemented his status as one of the most important architects of rap’s second wave sound.
Wu-Tang Clan
Emerging from Staten Island, New York, the Wu-Tang Clan exploded onto the rap scene in 1993 with their classic debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). The album introduced New York street rap’s grittiest sound and slang since the early days of pioneers like Schoolly D. Anchored by producer/rapper RZA, Wu-Tang blended Kung Fu film samples with stripped-down, raw beats and battle-ready rhymes about street life. Singles like “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Protect Ya Neck” were underground hits, while Wu-Tang’s roster of distinct MCs like GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard made them a phenomenon. Their unique presentation influenced mafioso rap, maintaining New York’s street rap presence amid the rise of G-funk. Enter the Wu-Tang made the group core architects of rap’s 90s progression.
The Pharcyde
Based out of South Central Los Angeles, The Pharcyde often gets overlooked when discussing rap’s second wave pioneers. However, their debut album Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde in 1992 was an incredibly influential record merging west coast sensibilities with playful lyrics and jazzy, sample-heavy production. Skateboard culture and Looney Tunes references permeated their songs like “Passin’ Me By” and “Ya Mama.” Producer J-Swift’s creative manipulation of jazz, funk, and soul samples made Bizarre Ride an overlooked treasure of alternative hip hop. Along with their self-deprecating humor and everyman themes, The Pharcyde offered an experimental west coast sound that pushed rap’s second wave into new directions.
Snoop Dogg
Following up his guest appearance on Dr. Dre’s seminal single “Deep Cover” in 1992, Snoop Dogg (then known as Snoop Doggy Dogg) cemented his fame with Dre’s The Chronic release later that year. Snoop’s melodic, laidback flow sounded effortless yet revolutionary paired with Dre’s G-funk production. His contributions were essential to The Chronic becoming a landmark album. Snoop’s solo debut Doggystyle built on that G-funk foundation in 1993 with singles like “Gin and Juice,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Doggy Dogg World.” Snoop’s languid, gangsta party-ready style defined west coast rap for years and represented the pinnacle of the G-funk era from a rapping standpoint. From his collaborations with Dre to his solo success, Snoop was undeniably critical to rap’s progression in the 1990s through his mainstream popularization of gangsta/G-funk sounds.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Although his success was tragically cut short when he was murdered in 1997 at just 24 years old, The Notorious B.I.G. made an enormous impact on rap’s progression in the 90s. With only two studio albums released before his death, his singles dominated radio and clubs, making him one of the most prominent rappers of rap’s second wave. His 1994 debut Ready To Die produced classics like “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and the title track that brought acinematic street edge reminiscent of Kool G Rap to mainstream consciousness. His quintessential New York flow, vivid lyricism and narratives were augmented by production from DJ Premier, Easy Mo Bee, Diddy, and others. The Notorious B.I.G.’s music and flashy, yet ruthless persona epitomized the excesses of east coast rap’s second wave before his shocking murder at the peak of his fame.
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Emerging from Cleveland in the mid-90s, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony pioneered a rapid-fire, harmonizing vocal style that added a new wrinkle to rap’s second wave. Their sophomore album E. 1999 Eternal was a major hit in 1995, generating classics like “1st of tha Month” and “Tha Crossroads” that spotlighted their melodic, otherworldly rapping and singing. Produced by DJ U-Neek, Bone drew from G-funk but ended up with a style all their own – ominous, chant-like, and strangely hypnotic. The group’s melodic hooks, dense rapping, and dark subject matter influenced later styles like horrorcore and emo rap. Bone brought a new twist to rap’s sound right at the height of its 90s renaissance.
2Pac
Although his success was also cut short by tragedy with his murder in 1996, 2Pac stands as one of the most influential rappers of the 1990s who continued pushing rap’s second wave forward. Originally a protege of Digital Underground in the early 90s, 2Pac went solo and dropped his strict hip hop mold with albums blending rap with soul, funk, and political activism. His third album, Me Against the World, generated classic singles like “Dear Mama” and “Temptations” in 1995 before he was jailed. Upon his release, he tapped into West Coast rap momentum and signed with Death Row Records. Fueled by his legendary feud with Biggie, 2Pac’s fourth album All Eyez On Me found him in outsized rap superstar mode with singles like “California Love” and “How Do U Want It” fusing G-funk and old school rap bravado. Although brief, 2Pac’s commercial peak made him a central rap voice of the mid-90s while pushing the West Coast into greater national prominence before his shocking murder.
Conclusion
Many legendary musicians worked together to build rap up from its simple beginnings into the complex, world-conquering genre it became by the 1990s. Public Enemy, N.W.A, De La Soul, Dr. Dre, Gang Starr, Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, and other luminaries mentioned above all played pivotal roles in shaping the diverse sounds and styles that came to define rap’s second wave. Their monumental albums, production techniques, lyrical styles, musical fusion, and mainstream popularity built the foundation for rap music to blossom into the global force it is today. Without these pioneers from rap’s golden age, hip hop would have taken very different directions or possibly faded from prominence. Their creative brilliance and shared contributions during rap’s late 80s/early 90s renaissance period drove hip hop’s evolution and solidified its permanence in popular music forever.
