golden age
what it is
Hip hop's "golden age" (or "golden era") is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop—usually cited as being a period varying in time frames during the 1980s and 1990s said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence . There were strong themes of Afrocentricity and political militancy, while the music was experimental and the sampling, eclectic. The artists most often associated with the phrase are Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make golden age a playlist
turn these 21 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is golden age?
Hip hop's "golden age" (or "golden era") is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop—usually cited as being a period varying in time frames during the 1980s and 1990s said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence . There were strong themes of Afrocentricity and political militancy, while the music was experimental and the sampling, eclectic. The artists most often associated with the phrase are Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B.
What are good golden age albums to start with?
Try The Great Adventures of Slick Rick by Slick Rick, Raising Hell by Run–D.M.C., It Takes Two by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, and Dead Serious by Das EFX.
Who are some women making golden age?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/golden-age/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making golden age, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-21