The New Jack Hip Hop Awards Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is reserved for those Hip Hop artists who have been phat above and beyond the call of Hip Hop. These are the artists who have defined and changed Hip Hop and stood the test of time. Like all awards in the New Jack Hip Hop Awards, artists are not nominated by committee, but by the voters, who also induct them in. See also The Album Hall of Fame.

1991 Public Enemy Public Enemy, as we should all know, is an institution. They are made up of Chuck D The Rhyme Animal, Flavor Flav The Sparkplug, Terminator X The Cut Xecutioner, The Security of the First World and The Interrogators.
It was their second album--1988's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back--that cemented their place in legend and history. Nation is widely regarded to be the best hip-hop album of all time. The album and the group have attracted a diverse group of music fans, including hard rock fans. Public Enemy has helped to brought Real Hip Hop(tm) to the larger mainstream without watering themselves down.
Although it became fashionable to dis PE as time went on, they continue to make music and to make waves, experimenting with their styles and message. Chuck D, in particular, has expanded his range as a Hip Hop Nation spokesman, becoming a writer and correspondent for network television. In any case, they remain Public Enemy. They may have changed, but they have never compromised; the are still louder than a bomb.

1992 Run-DMC Although we think of them as old school now, Run-DMC were the first real members of the New School. With their first album Run-DMC they essentially "saved" Hip Hop from mainstream fad status, making the first really popular crossover hit, "Rock Box". Like all the best artists, they appealed to a cross section of listeners, but remained true to their vision.
Many of the songs on their 1983 debut are considered classics of the period, including "Hard Times," "It's Like That," "Jam-Master Jay," and "Sucker M.C.'s". They continued their hit-making trend for many years and many albums and remain active in the community. For example, Run--now known as the Reverend Run--appears frequently on New York's Hot 97 (where Hip Hop rules the world, baby).

1993 KRS-ONE/Boogie Down Productions KRS-ONE, of course, is the center of Boogie Down Productions, one of the first big powers in Hip Hop. BDP began its major recording career with Criminal Minded, which was released in 1987. With Scott La Rock by his side, Kris produced a hip hop standard by any measure.
Since then, KRS-ONE and BDP have released several albums: including 1988's By All Means Necessary, and 1993's Return of the Boom Bap (KRS-ONE's first "solo" album). What's most impressive about all this is that, of this 1997 writing, he's still releasing popular albums and singles. He's been a steadfast presence for well over ten years, which has to be something of a record in a business that has few elder statesmen.

1994 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five represent hip hop history as well as hip hop greatness. Like most of the first big hip hop groups of the late 1970s and early 80s, they were definitely a group that wanted to make your butt bounce; however, GF5 also had a politcal vision, producing such classic singles as "New York, New York", "White Lines", and "The Message". They were regularly speaking as voices of their streets and neighborhoods ten years before Public Enemy made it fashionable to be self-aware. While what seems danceable may change from year to year, many of their messages remain fiercely relevant even today.
Grandmaster Flash remains active and can be seen on The Chris Rock Show, as of this writing.

1995 Eric B and Rakim Eric B and Rakim have released many albums and Rakim is still releasing material here and there. But you see, that doesn't matter; if they did nothing after 1987 they would still deserve their place here for two reasons.
First, they produced 1987's Paid In Full, one of those important albums from one of the most important times in Hip Hop. Perhaps only It Takes A Nation to Hold Us Back garners more props from that era.
Second, Rakim is widely regarded as one of the best lyricists to ever grace Hip Hop. I certainly cannot dispute this claim.

1996 EMPD EPMD. Eric and Parrish Makin' Dollars. In terms of historical importance, their impact is obvious: Strictly Business was the first Hip Hop Album to go to #1 on the R&B charts. Further, the EPMD production style influenced and still influences a whole slew of artists.
Although they split up over creative difference, E & P both remained active, each releasing solo efforts. Eric Sermon, in particular enjoyed a successful role as producer. In 1997, they reunited with Back in Business.

1997 A Tribe Called Quest A Tribe Called Quest is Q-Tip the Abstract, Phife-Dawg. Ali Shaeed Muhammad, and Jarobi. I've never been able to figure out exactly what Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi do, but whatever they do they should probably keep on doing it. After all, it works.
In particular, it has helped to create the distinctive Quest sound. Members of the Native Tongue family, including The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul, Quest led the way in popularizing laid back rhymes over jazzy backbeats.
Of all their many albums, it is probably their second, The Low End Theory, that has proved the most influential (so much so that it is in the Album Hall of Fame). And they managed all that while remaining true to their own distinctive style... and as of this writing they're still going strong.

1998 De La Soul De La Soul began as Plug One, Plug Two and Plug Three. They've changed their stage names every week since then but they've remained the same group of hip hop artists. Trugouy The Dove, Posdnuos and P.A. Pasemaster Mase, hit it big with 3 Feet High and Rising in 1988, helping to usher in the Daisy Age of Hip Hop. Along with Native Tongue fellows A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers, these LI cats out of or around Amityville ushered in the early progressive and jazz movements in hip hop.
De La found early crossover success while still remaing innovative and true to the game. Ten years later and they are still hard hitters, most recently scoring points with the edgy Stakes Is High.

Charles Isbell

isbell@isbell.org

Some of you are homeboys, but only I am The Homeboy From hell

1991	Public Enemy	Public Enemy, as we should all know, is an institution. They are made up of Chuck D The Rhyme Animal, Flavor Flav The Sparkplug, Terminator X The Cut Xecutioner, The Security of the First World and The Interrogators. It was their second album--1988's It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back--that cemented their place in legend and history. Nation is widely regarded to be the best hip-hop album of all time. The album and the group have attracted a diverse group of music fans, including hard rock fans. Public Enemy has helped to brought Real Hip Hop(tm) to the larger mainstream without watering themselves down. Although it became fashionable to dis PE as time went on, they continue to make music and to make waves, experimenting with their styles and message. Chuck D, in particular, has expanded his range as a Hip Hop Nation spokesman, becoming a writer and correspondent for network television. In any case, they remain Public Enemy. They may have changed, but they have never compromised; the are still louder than a bomb.
1992	Run-DMC	Although we think of them as old school now, Run-DMC were the first real members of the New School. With their first album Run-DMC they essentially "saved" Hip Hop from mainstream fad status, making the first really popular crossover hit, "Rock Box". Like all the best artists, they appealed to a cross section of listeners, but remained true to their vision. Many of the songs on their 1983 debut are considered classics of the period, including "Hard Times," "It's Like That," "Jam-Master Jay," and "Sucker M.C.'s". They continued their hit-making trend for many years and many albums and remain active in the community. For example, Run--now known as the Reverend Run--appears frequently on New York's Hot 97 (where Hip Hop rules the world, baby).
1993	KRS-ONE/Boogie Down Productions	KRS-ONE, of course, is the center of Boogie Down Productions, one of the first big powers in Hip Hop. BDP began its major recording career with Criminal Minded, which was released in 1987. With Scott La Rock by his side, Kris produced a hip hop standard by any measure. Since then, KRS-ONE and BDP have released several albums: including 1988's By All Means Necessary, and 1993's Return of the Boom Bap (KRS-ONE's first "solo" album). What's most impressive about all this is that, of this 1997 writing, he's still releasing popular albums and singles. He's been a steadfast presence for well over ten years, which has to be something of a record in a business that has few elder statesmen.
1994	Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five	Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five represent hip hop history as well as hip hop greatness. Like most of the first big hip hop groups of the late 1970s and early 80s, they were definitely a group that wanted to make your butt bounce; however, GF5 also had a politcal vision, producing such classic singles as "New York, New York", "White Lines", and "The Message". They were regularly speaking as voices of their streets and neighborhoods ten years before Public Enemy made it fashionable to be self-aware. While what seems danceable may change from year to year, many of their messages remain fiercely relevant even today. Grandmaster Flash remains active and can be seen on The Chris Rock Show, as of this writing.
1995	Eric B and Rakim	Eric B and Rakim have released many albums and Rakim is still releasing material here and there. But you see, that doesn't matter; if they did nothing after 1987 they would still deserve their place here for two reasons. First, they produced 1987's Paid In Full, one of those important albums from one of the most important times in Hip Hop. Perhaps only It Takes A Nation to Hold Us Back garners more props from that era. Second, Rakim is widely regarded as one of the best lyricists to ever grace Hip Hop. I certainly cannot dispute this claim.
1996	EMPD	EPMD. Eric and Parrish Makin' Dollars. In terms of historical importance, their impact is obvious: Strictly Business was the first Hip Hop Album to go to #1 on the R&B charts. Further, the EPMD production style influenced and still influences a whole slew of artists. Although they split up over creative difference, E & P both remained active, each releasing solo efforts. Eric Sermon, in particular enjoyed a successful role as producer. In 1997, they reunited with Back in Business.
1997	A Tribe Called Quest	A Tribe Called Quest is Q-Tip the Abstract, Phife-Dawg. Ali Shaeed Muhammad, and Jarobi. I've never been able to figure out exactly what Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Jarobi do, but whatever they do they should probably keep on doing it. After all, it works. In particular, it has helped to create the distinctive Quest sound. Members of the Native Tongue family, including The Jungle Brothers and De La Soul, Quest led the way in popularizing laid back rhymes over jazzy backbeats. Of all their many albums, it is probably their second, The Low End Theory, that has proved the most influential (so much so that it is in the Album Hall of Fame). And they managed all that while remaining true to their own distinctive style... and as of this writing they're still going strong.
1998	De La Soul	De La Soul began as Plug One, Plug Two and Plug Three. They've changed their stage names every week since then but they've remained the same group of hip hop artists. Trugouy The Dove, Posdnuos and P.A. Pasemaster Mase, hit it big with 3 Feet High and Rising in 1988, helping to usher in the Daisy Age of Hip Hop. Along with Native Tongue fellows A Tribe Called Quest and the Jungle Brothers, these LI cats out of or around Amityville ushered in the early progressive and jazz movements in hip hop. De La found early crossover success while still remaing innovative and true to the game. Ten years later and they are still hard hitters, most recently scoring points with the edgy Stakes Is High.