Hip Hop to Pop – Part II

This article is a follow-up to our first piece, “Hip Hop to Pop – Part I”, where we traced hip hop’s early rise—now, we pick up from the 2000s to explore how the genre continues to shape culture today.

Hip Hop has a rich cultural background in America that stems from inequality in many underprivileged communities, especially with low-income Black Americans. In our previous article, “Hip Hop to Pop – Part 1”, we explored how hip hop came to be in America and how it evolved from the 1970s to the 1990s. But as time progresses, so does the music genre and culture. In this continuation, we explore several key moments in hip hop from the 2000s up to where we are now in the 2020s. Disclaimer: there are many iconic moments to choose from, so this list is not strict or definitive! 

2000s

Eminem releases “8 Mile” and “Lose Yourself” (2002)

Before the 2000s, the hip hop genre didn’t feature many white artists – some of the few were the Beastie Boyz and Vanilla Ice, among others. However, Detroit native Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem, broke out onto the scene in the late 1990s. He found commercial success with his albums “The Slim Shady LP” and “The Marshal Mathers LP”, but it wasn’t until the release of the musical drama, “8 Mile” (2002) that he solidified his status as one of the greats in the industry.

He plays a dramatized version of himself in the movie, presenting his struggle to make it as a rapper, and the soundtrack of the film includes one of his five #1 hits: “Lose Yourself”. After this, Eminem’s influence helped popularize hip-hop in Middle America as well as being an example for the acceptance of white rappers in the music industry.

Kanye West debuts with “College Dropout” (2004)

Kanye West has become one of the most iconic and influential rappers of the century so far, from his extensive discography to his controversies in the media. But before his global success, he dropped out of school to pursue music, starting as a beatmaker. His rising profile led to him becoming a co-producer of Jay-Z’s album, “The Blueprint”.

West’s talent and drive pushed him to create his own debut album as a recording artist, “The College Dropout”, in 2004. The album skyrocketed West to fame almost immediately, with the album taking the No. 2 spot on the Billboard 200 and selling 441,000 copies its first week. This release marked the rise of Kanye’s career and influence in the hip hop industry, further propelling the genre into the mainstream spotlight.

Soulja Boy Releases “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” (2007)

Nowadays, everyone knows many songs that have gone viral on social media through TikTok and Instagram, but let’s go back in time to 2007 with one of the most popular songs that went viral on the newly-established platform, MySpace. 17-year-old DeAndre Way, more popularly known as Soulja Boy, dropped a homemade song with clipping vocals over a beat made from stock sounds called “Crank That (Soulja Boy), and pretty soon after, every kid in the country was bopping along to the tune with its viral dance moves.

This changed the hip hop scene, introducing a new DIY method for rappers to get their songs out to more ears. Social media was proving to be a new way for artists to promote their music, and internet virality became an important element for how well a song would perform. Soulja Boy’s homemade hit also inspired other rappers to create music on their own, influencing the generation who would later become “SoundCloud” rappers.

2010s

LL Cool J Hosted the Grammys for 5 Years (2012-2017)

Rap icon LL Cool J is known as a pioneer in the 1980s hip hop scene, the first rap artist to have ten consecutive platinum-selling albums, the first hip-hop artist to be acknowledged by the Kennedy Center Honors, and…for hosting the Grammys? You read that right! LL Cool J hosted the Grammys in 2012, and that kickstarted a 5-year run doing so. His presence during that time was a staple when anyone thought of the Grammys, and while it may not seem like one of the bigger accomplishments in the hip hop industry, it broke the barriers for what a lot of rappers could do.

The Grammys has been criticized over the years for not being inclusive enough, from overlooking female artists to underrepresentation of black artists and rappers. However, LL Cool J’s presence at the esteemed music award ceremony was a sign of how far hip hop and rap had come from their early start. It also showed how the artists of this genre have come to be more respected amongst their counterparts.

Kendrick Lamar Wins a Pulitzer Prize (2018)

Kendrick Lamar is considered one of modern hip hop’s greatest artists, with many iconic albums from his discography like “good kid, m.A.A.d. City” (2012), “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015), and “DAMN.” (2017). His music contains socially conscious concepts and storytelling, with raw, authentic lyrics that speak of the Black American experience. Kendrick won the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his 2017 album “DAMN.”, and the board wrote in 2018 that the album was “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.”

Receiving this award in any field is an honour, but Lamar’s award means much more culturally for hip-hop music and Black American art. This achievement advances hip hop’s image into an insightful literary craft, recognized and respected outside of its sphere, further progressing the genre’s reach.

Cardi B Becomes the Second Woman to Win the Grammy for “Best Rap Album” (2019)

In 2019, Cardi B made history, winning at the 61st Grammy Awards with her debut album, “Invasion of Privacy”. She won the category for Best Rap Album yle=”font-weight: 400;”>after beating out other iconic works like Travis Scott’s “Astroworld”, Mac Miller’s “Swimming”, Pusha T’s “Daytona”, and Nipsey Hussle’s “Victory Lap”.

Before Cardi, only one other woman had won in this category; Lauryn Hill in 1997 with her album “The Score” with The Fugees.“font-weight: 400;”> This historic victory was a big moment for women both in the hip hop industry and black female artists in America, showing them that boundaries can be broken and women have space in the rap scene.

2020s (So Far)

Bad Bunny Releases “Un Verano Sin Ti” (2022)

When you think “hip hop”, Bad Bunny might not be up there on the list of things that come to mind. However, his 2022 album, “Un Verano Sin Ti”, included a complex blend of reggaeton, hip hop, mambo, bachata, synth-pop and dembow, and it became the best-selling album of the year in any genre.

His complexity in music and lyricism made sure to honour his Puerto Rican roots, and while Bad Bunny does more than rap in these songs, this album expands upon the ever-evolving genre of hip hop and further promotes more inclusivity in the industry.

Drake vs. Kendrick Feud (2024)

2024 was one of the biggest years for rap beefs, with a whopping total of nine songs being released back and forth between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Feuds in the hip hop industry have been a common occurrence over the decades. However, the shock value and entertainment this battle brought about online made this one of the most-watched clashes in recent years. The pinnacle of the feud was when Kendrick dropped his fourth diss track, “Not Like Us”.

The song quickly became a viral hit for its catchy beat and scathing lyrics <span style=”font-weight: 400;”>accusing Drake and his team of being pedophiles, cementing it in hip hop history as one of the most brutal disses to be released. Lamar received critical acclaim and commercial success with the track – he later ended up winning five Grammys for “Not Like Us” at the 67th Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and the song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart at No. 1 on May 13, 2024.

Doechii Wins Grammy for “Best Rap Album” (2025)

The most recent hip hop moment we want to highlight is Doechii’s monumental Grammy win. Her album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, claimed the award for Best Rap Album this year at the 67th Grammy Awards, making her the third woman to win. Her emotional and tearful acceptance speech moved the millions who watched the ceremony as she thanked her mother, God, and her fans.

She also advised the Black girls and women watching, motivating them to ignore the stereotypes put on them and continue to be themselves. The rawness of Doechii’s speech spoke of how the influence of those who came before her reassured her when she needed it most, and that would not have been possible with the creation, expansion, and eventual acceptance of hip hop.

The New Century Sparked a New Era for Hip Hop…

Putting it further in the spotlight as more and more rappers and artists emerged to make their mark in the world. Now, hip hop has become one of the most popular genres across the world. It’s influenced other musical genres, cultures, and fashion like the streetwear style and aesthetic, and is ever-growing as more creators and fans enter this space.

After all, hip hop is not about fitting into a certain mould. It’s about challenging the boundaries you’re faced with and being able to express yourself through them – just like Kool Herc repurposing his record collection and turntables into a new instrument. Who knew that those old breakbeats and party rhymes would become one of the biggest movements in the world?