A Brief History Of Yelling In Hip-Hop

Today, rappers like Ski Mask the Slump God, Sheck Wes, and 6ix9ine are known for their boisterous flows. Hip-hop has always been loud, however, and yelling has been an outlet for MCs to express their emotions on wax since its early days. Run-D.M.C. and Beastie Boys took the style to another level, setting the table for artists like Public Enemy, LL Cool J, and N.W.A.

Several years later, Queens trio Onyx came out of the gate swinging with their 1993 debut album, Bacdafucup. They landed a major hit with “Slam,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other loud acts in the ‘90s include the Brooklyn duo M.O.P., Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan, and New Orleans rapper Mystikal.

Shortly after, highly influential Yonkers MC DMX made his own mark on the game, racking up 15 hits in the Hot 100. To this day, he remains a household name in hip-hop. The ‘90s also brought Three 6 Mafia, which has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. The Memphis group’s flow is frequently emulated, and many producers continue to sample Three 6’s old beats.

Master P, Busta Rhymes, and Ja Rule are just a few names from the late ‘90s and early 2000s who carried on the tradition of being loud in hip-hop. Meanwhile, Lil Jon’s rambunctious ad-libs helped popularize crunk music during that era. The Atlanta native scored 21 entries in the Hot 100 and eight Top 10 hits.

As the aughts came to a close, rappers such as Waka Flocka Flame and Chief Keef stepped in with styles which continue to inspire rappers today. OG Maco and O.T. Genasis followed by yelling on their trap anthems, with XXXTentacion, City Morgue, Denzel Curry, and Rico Nasty all pushing forward another wave of yelling.

Of course, this isn’t nearly a comprehensive rundown. Whether rappers are yelling out of anger or wanting to be heard, it’s clear that hip-hop won’t be quiet anytime soon.

Watch the video above to learn more.