Remember The Times
In honor of the 25 years that passed, take a stroll through 1995, a pivotal time in rap s golden era, filled with brewing beefs and shook ones, multiplatinum hits and rich regional diversity.
Words: Luke Fox
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now.
Smack in the middle of the 1990s the decade hip-hop accelerated from a walk to a sprint the year 1995 served as a monumental one for rap and its culture. A deluge of classic albums hit the shelves (some on the same day). The best selling rap singles of all-time reigned supreme on the charts and overpowered the radio waves. The allure of the hip-hop and R&B remix gave marketers a new weapon. The dusty mixtape graduated to the majors and got the digital treatment. And clans, posses, crews and cliques began to carve out regional territory and loyal subscribers.
Remember The Times
In honor of the 25 years that passed, take a stroll through 1995, a pivotal time in rap s golden era, filled with brewing beefs and shook ones, multiplatinum hits and rich regional diversity.
Words: Luke Fox
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of XXL Magazine, on stands now.
Smack in the middle of the 1990s the decade hip-hop accelerated from a walk to a sprint the year 1995 served as a monumental one for rap and its culture. A deluge of classic albums hit the shelves (some on the same day). The best selling rap singles of all-time reigned supreme on the charts and overpowered the radio waves. The allure of the hip-hop and R&B remix gave marketers a new weapon. The dusty mixtape graduated to the majors and got the digital treatment. And clans, posses, crews and cliques began to carve out regional territory and loyal subscribers.
Dah Shinin’ on the ultra-indie imprint, Wreck Records.
This was also the sophomore effort of the Boot Camp Clik, which exposed the skills of more of the artists that were heard on Black Moon’s debut project,
Enta Da Stage. Tracks such as “Cession at da Doghillee” and “Sound Bwoy Bureill” introduced members of Heltah Skeltah, the duo that included the late Sean Price, as well as the Originoo Gunn Clappaz(O.G.C.), which completed the epic Brooklyn rap collective.
With in-house production courtesy of Da Beatminerz, the Roy Ayers’ Ubiquity-Esque feel that was captured on the album’s cover can definitely be felt through the verses over the haunting tracks. Even though the album never reached gold status in terms of sales, Dah Shinin’ is undoubtedly one of the albums that define its era.