Krush Groovin 80s
By: Tamyara Brown
Tags: The Eighties, Music, Music History, Tamyara Brown, Hip Hop

Krush Groovin 80s

By Tamyara Brown

Dartanyawilliams and I decided to take a nostalgic ride down memory. He took over the 70s and I took over the 80s. Let me take you back to the days of Kangol hats, boom boxes, Marvin Gaye's sexual healing, being caught up in the sounds from Michael, Janet, Prince, Luther, Anita and let us not forget the rap music that stole my soul. The 80s were all about black music and culture kicking down the door to the mainstream and capture every ethnic group's sound of music. Are you ready to Krush and Groove into the 80s?

One word describes black music and our culture of the yester years and that’s innovative. Dartanya A.Williams took you on a nostalgic ride of the 70s and enlightened millennials of a time when music made you dance. Sitting in front of the television watching classics created a moment of family time. When fighting the power wasn’t for likes and social media prestige but true social change. Join me as I collaborate and expand the journey of what the 80s bought, and that is a fearless mindset to go mainstream in the music industry. The 80s opened the door for black artists to stake their claim and mark in history. From Michael Jackson becoming the King of Pop and being the first black artist to feature his video for Billie Jean on MTV.

Michael’s little sister Janet Jackson was the first to empower women to take control of their lives and bodied woman empowerment. Whitney Houston’s iconic voice blew the door open of national and international airwaves. Talent kicked open the doors and with music videos to match our favorite song there was no stopping us now. Black music was going mainstream no matter, but the black music culture created unforgettable sounds and a new era of music.

The Power of Funk equaled a Groove of music like no other. Rick James music was upbeat, raw, raunchy and the signature sound of bass guitars, percussion, keyboards, and drums to funk bought it to another level. The Buffalo native was the first to be nominated for a Grammy as best male rock vocal. Let me not forget George Clinton’s Atomic Dog is still a music staple and anthem. The Gap Band Outstanding is still one of my favorites. Cameo’s Word up took funk to another level with the signature hairdo and clothing. Each artist became innovative to open mainstream doors allowing music from black artists to have no limits. Then the legend itself

Prince brought an eclectic soul, a mixture of rock, and making his guitar cry Purple rain of hypnotic tunes and sexual innuendos. Yes, the music was excellent but going to a concert in the 80s was an absolute experience. Everything from the band to production was worth every penny. One thing for certain and two things for sure you were going to have a damn good time. George Clinton’s mothership, outrageous costumes, Ric James leather costumes, and that is where you danced your press and curl out, dripped jheri curl juice all over the floor. The experience of a concert is guaranteed that they turned this mother out.

Do you want to know what love sounds like? Put on an 80s slow jam and just let it pump through your veins. Whether it is getting caught up in the rapture of love crooned by Anita Baker, Rufus and Chaka Khan asking you to tell them something good or Luther Vandross reminding you a house is not a home. Patti LaBelle went solo and sang her face off on every record. Marvin Gaye made everyone desire to have some sexual healing. Stephanie Mills and Teddy Pendergrass made us feel the fire with their beautiful voices. Lionel Richie All night long, Stephanie Mills I never knew love like this before is still a favorite. New Edition’s Candy Girl, Cool it Now, and Mr.Telephone Man had me sweeping hallways for my landlord to buy their album.

Sade’s smooth voice brought the sounds of jazz and warmth to the soul. I could go on and on about RnB but there was another sound that brings me back to Kangol, Adidas sneakers, boom boxes, beatbox, scratching, and mixing. None other than rap music now known as the hip hop culture.

Hip hop emerged in 1979 but exploded in the eighties with Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC. Roxanne Shante, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Eric B & Rakim, NWA, Ice T, Salt and Pepa, McLyte, The Fat Boys, Dougie E. Fresh, and a host of rappers. Every Friday night on Hot 97 the airwaves filled with scratching, mixing, hard beats,and a sound like no other. The youth danced, rap and every teenage boy had the desire to be the next big rapper. Rap music speaks innovation and brings creativity and poetry to music. The rappers back then had to fight for a place and it wasn’t until hits like Rapper’s delight by the Sugar Hill gang kicked open the door. Also, another hit was The Wheels of Steel by GrandMaster Flash. Run DMC, NWA, and the rest gave fearless energy of making damn good music and letting the world know that rap was here to stay.

The eighties were the birth of fearless music, creativity, and everlasting trend that has been duplicated throughout music today. The musicians of today need the 70s and 80s sound because it has set the master-plan of glorious music. The music of yesterday was about being original, fighting for a place in the mainstream but also leaving a mark in history. The innovation of music and its sound opened the door to today’s music.