50 Years of hip-hop - in pictures

The Sugarhill Gang, from left, Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Big Bank on stage in the late 1970s in New York. Getty Images
The Sugarhill Gang, from left, Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Big Bank on stage in the late 1970s in New York. Getty Images
Grandmaster Flash circa 1980. Getty Images
Grandmaster Flash circa 1980. Getty Images
NWA's Dr Dre, Laylaw from Above The Law, The DOC, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella during their Straight Outta Compton tour in 1989. Getty Images
NWA's Dr Dre, Laylaw from Above The Law, The DOC, Ice Cube, Eazy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella during their Straight Outta Compton tour in 1989. Getty Images
Flavor Flav, with rapper Tupac Shakur, at the 1989 American Music Awards. Getty Images
Flavor Flav, with rapper Tupac Shakur, at the 1989 American Music Awards. Getty Images
Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife Dawg and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest in New York, 1990. Getty Images
Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife Dawg and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest in New York, 1990. Getty Images
Lauryn Hill, circa 1990. Getty Images
Lauryn Hill, circa 1990. Getty Images
Nas at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, 1996. Getty Images
Nas at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, 1996. Getty Images
Missy Elliott is one of hip-hop's most innovative artists. Getty Images
Missy Elliott is one of hip-hop's most innovative artists. Getty Images
Eminem brought a literal quality to hip-hop with his 2000 hit 'Stan'. Redferns
Eminem brought a literal quality to hip-hop with his 2000 hit 'Stan'. Redferns
Kanye West at the 2003 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Conference Award ceremony in Florida. AFP
Kanye West at the 2003 Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Conference Award ceremony in Florida. AFP
Kid Cudi at the Highline Ballroom in New York City in 2008. Getty Images
Kid Cudi at the Highline Ballroom in New York City in 2008. Getty Images
Rapper Kendrick Lamar at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California. AFP
Rapper Kendrick Lamar at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in California. AFP

Most popular today

1

'Troublemaker' Israel is a greater regional threat than Iran, says Prince Turki Al Faisal

2

Cartoon for December 5, 2025

3

Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou: Fight card, time and how to watch 'Battle of the Baddest'

4

Qatar updates Hayya features for GCC residents visa to support tourism sector

5

Abu Dhabi F1 review: Benson Boone meets the high bar for a modern pop performance

6

New Year 2026 fireworks in the UAE: Where to watch the biggest displays

7

Register now for The National’s award-winning journalism – free and tailored to you

8

IMF welcomes recalibration of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 spending

9

Revealed: 16 venues that will host World Cup 2026 in US, Canada and Mexico - in pictures

10

My Dubai Salary: ‘From earning Dh8,000 in my first job, I now draw Dh40,000 as a start-up founder’