Over the years, there have been a number of vehicles that show the transformation of Hip-Hop from its inception to the present. The vast majority of these tend to be either hyper-kinetic mashups that showcase 2-3 second snippets of songs, or exhaustive documentaries that unfold over hours, showcasing years of research. Over the Summer, however, a different approach emerged which lies somewhere in the middle.

Hip-Hop Universe has launched a series that shows the evolution of Hip-Hop from 1979-2017, in 30 minutes. Thus far, the series has two parts. While neither portends to be comprehensive–there are glaring omissions in both, such as a lack of Kanye West material and zero presence for No Limit–both are fascinating in how well they show the shifts in sounds. Rather than a gradual change, the pivots in direction are sudden and extreme. There was a big jump in 1983 from the music that preceded it. Similar seismic shifts occurred in the late 80s, early 90s and mid-00s. Although the snippets of videos shown are typically 15-20 seconds long, the samples are long enough to get a true feel for the songs and be transported back to the relevant era. Take a look at both installments and their tracklists below:

The Evolution Of Hip-Hop [1979 – 2017] (Part 1)

Songs Used:
1979 – The Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight

1980 – Kurtis Blow – The Breaks

1981 – Kool Moe Dee Vs. Busy Bee – Live Battle

1982 – Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock |
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – The Message

1983 – Run-D.M.C. – It’s Like That

1984 – Fat Boys – Stick ‘Em

1985 – Doug E Fresh & Slick Rick – The Show

1986 – Salt-N-Pepa – Push It

1987 – LL Cool J – I’m Bad |
Boogie Down Productions – The Bridge Is Over |
Eric B. & Rakim – Paid In Full

1988 – Big Daddy Kane – Ain’t No Half Steppin’ |
Public Enemy – Rebel Without A Pause |
N.W.A. – Straight Outta Compton

1989 – Slick Rick – Children’s Story |
Kool G Rap – Road To The Riches |
De La Soul – Me, Myself & I

1990 – LL Coo J – Mama Said Knock You Out |
Too $hort – The Ghetto |
Public Enemy – Fight The Power

1991 – 2Pac – Brenda’s Got A Baby |
Naughty By Nature – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright |
A Tribe Called Quest – Check The Rhime

1992 – Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg – Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang |
Eric B. & Rakim – Know The Ledge |
Ice Cube – It Was A Good Day

1993 – Snoop Dogg – Who Am I? (What’s My Name?) |
Wu-Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M. |
Ice Cube – You Know How We Do It

1994 – NaS – It Ain’t Hard To Tell |
Warren G & Nate Dogg – Regulate |
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy

1995 – Mobb Deep – Shook Ones Part 2 |
2Pac – Dear Mama |
Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise

1996 – Xzibit – Paparazzi |
JAY-Z – D*ad Presidents |
2Pac – Hail Mary

1997 – The Notorious B.I.G. – Hypnotize |
LL Cool J (ft. Method Man, Redman, DMX & Canibus) – 4321 |
EPMD – Da Joint

1998 – Big Pun & Fat Joe – Twinz (Deep Cover 98) |
DMX – Ruff Ryder’s Anthem |
Canibus – Second Round K.O.

1999 – Method Man & Redman – Da Rockwilder |
EMINEM – My Name Is |
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg – Still D.R.E.

2000 – M.O.P. (ft. Busta Rhymes & Remy Ma) – Ante Up (Remix) |
Outkast – Ms. Jackson |
EMINEM – Stan

2001 – Method Man & Redman – Part II |
JAY-Z – Song Cry |
NaS – Got Ur Self A G*n

2002 – Scarface – On My Block |
Nelly – Hot In Herre |
EMINEM – Lose Yourself

2003 – 50 Cent – In Da Club |
DMX – X Gon’ Give It To Ya |
JAY-Z – 99 Problems

2004 – T*rr*r Squad – Lean Back |
Lloyd Banks – On Fire |
Jadakiss – Time’s Up

2005 – The Game – Hate It Or Love It |
Chamillionaire (ft. Krayzie Bone) – Ridin’ |
50 Cent (ft. Olivia) – Candy Shop

2006 – T.I. – What You Know |
Jibbs – Chain Hang Low |
Rick Ross – Hustlin’

2007 – Young Buck – Get Buck |
Souljah Boy – Crank That (Souljah Boy) |
Gucci Mane – Freaky Gurl

2008 – Lil Wayne – Lollipop |
Young Jeezy – Put On |
Birdman (ft. Lil Wayne) – I Run This

2009 – Lil Boosie – Better Believe It |
Drake, EMINEM, Lil Wayne & Kanye West – Forever |
Young Money – Every Girl

2010 – B.o.B. (ft. Bruno Mars) – Nothin’ On You |
Drake – Over |
Lil Wayne (ft. EMINEM) – Drop The World

2011 – Nicki Minaj – Super Bass |
P*tbull (ft. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer) – Give Me Everything |
Wiz Khalifa – Roll Up

2012 – 2 Chainz (ft. Drake) – No Lie |
Flo Rida – Whistle |
Chief Keef (ft. Lil Reese) – I Don’t Like

2013 – Rich Homie Quan – Type Of Way |
Migos – Versace |
Tyga (ft. Chris Brown) – For The Road

2014 – Rae Sremmurd – No Type |
Rich Gang (ft. Young Thug & Rich Homie Quan) – Lifestyle |
Lil John (ft. Tyga) – Bend Ova

2015 – Kendrick Lamar – Alright |
Young Thug – Best Friend |
Slim Jesus – Drill Time

2016 – Kodak Black – Like Dat |
Dram (ft. Lil Yachty) – Broccoli |
J. Cole – False Pr*phets

2017 – Ayo & Teo – Rolex |
Future – Mask Off |
Kendrick Lamar – Humble

The Evolution Of Hip-Hop [1979 – 2017] (Part 2)

Songs used:
1979 – Fatback Band – King Tim III (Personality Jock)

1980 – Kurtis Blow – Christmas Rappin’

1981 – The Sugarhill Gang – Apache

1982 – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five – It’s Nasty

1983 – Run D.M.C. – Sucker MC’s

1984 – The Treacherous Three – The Santa Claus Rap

1985 – LL Cool J – Rock The Bells

1986 – Beastie Boys – No Sleep Till Brooklyn

1987 – Eazy-E – Boyz-N-The Hood I
Eric B. & Rakim – I Ain’t No Joke I
Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now

1988 – Ice-T – I’m Your Pusher I
N.W.A. – Express Yourself I
EPMD – You Gots To Chill

1989 – MC Lyte – Cha Cha Cha I
Big Daddy Kane – Smooth Operator I
The D.O.C. – It’s Funky Enough

1990 – MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This I
Masta Ace – Me & The Biz I
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby

1991 – Cypress Hill – How I Coul Just K*ll A Man I
A Tribe Called Quest – The Scenario I
Geto Boys – Mind Playing Tricks On Me

1992 – House Of Pain – Jump Around I
Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg – Deep Cover I
Kriss Kross – Jump

1993 – Onyx – Slam I
Wu-Tang Clan – Da Mystery Of Chessboxin’ I
Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.

1994 – Gang Starr – Mass Appeal I
NaS – Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park) I
The Notorious B.I.G. – Flava In Ya Ear

1995 – Big L – Put It On I
2Pac & Dr. Dre – California Love I
Mobb Deep – Survival Of The Fittest

1996 – Busta Rhymes – Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check I
2Pac & Snoop Dogg – 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted I
Fugees – Ready Or Not

1997 – The Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems I
Wu-Tang Clan – Triumph I
Master P – Make ‘Em Say Uhh

1998 – Big Pun – John Blaze I
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) I
Black Star – Definition

1999 – Mobb Deep – Quiet Storm I
Pharoahe Monch – Simon Says I
MF Doom – Doomsday

2000 – Ice Cube – Until We Rich I
OutKast – B.O.B. I
Common – The Light

2001 – Ludacris – Move B*tch I
Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On I
Fat Joe – What’s Love

2002 – Nelly – Dilemma I
EMINEM – Without Me I
Ja Rule – The Reign

2003 – JAY-Z – Dirt Off Your Shoulders I
50 Cent – P.I.M.P. I
DMX – Get It On The Floor

2004 – Kanye West – Jesus Walks I
Usher – Yeah! I
Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Hot

2005 – Cassidy – I’m A Hustla I
The Game – Put You On The Game I
50 Cent – Just A Lil Bit

2006 – Akon & EMINEM – Smack That I
NaS – Hip-Hop Is D**d I
Yung Joc – It’s Goin Down

2007 – M.I.A. – Paper Planes I
Timbaland – Give It To Me I
T-Pain – Bartender

2008 – Flo Rida – Elevator I
Kid Cudi – Day ‘N’ Night I
Soulja Boy – Kiss Me Thru The Phone

2009 – Young Money – Bed Rock I
Gs Boyz – Stanky Legg I
Pitbull – I Know You Want Me

2010 – Lil Wayne – On Fire I
Canibus – Golden Terra Of Rap I
Hopsin – Sag My Pants

2011 – Dj Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – I’m On One I
Wiz Khalifa – Black & Yellow I
Canibus – Lyrical Noir

2012 – Tyga – Rack City I
Future – Turn On The Lights I
Joey Bada$$ – Survival Tactics

2013 – YG, Rich Homie Quan & Jeezy – My N*gg* I
EMINEM – Rap God I
Childish Gambino – 3005

2014 – Nicki Minaj – Anaconda I
Bobby Shmurda – Hot N*gg* I
Iggy Azalea – Fancy

2015 – Drake – Hotline Bling I
Kendrick Lamar – i I
Young Thug – Check

2016 – 21 Savage – No Heart I
Desiigner – Panda I
Lil Uzi Vert – You Was Right

2017 – Playboi Carti – Magnolia I
JAY-Z – 4:44 I
Logic – Take It Back