1980s
In the 1980s, hip hop music was still in its early stages, and drug references were relatively rare. However, some early hip hop artists, such as Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa, did reference drugs in their music, often in a positive light. For example, Kool Herc's 1980 song "The Message" includes the lyrics "I'm livin' real, livin' rough, on the streets I'm hustlin'."
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Kool Herc, rapper
1990s
The 1990s saw a significant increase in drug references in hip hop music. This was due in part to the rise of gangsta rap, a subgenre of hip hop that often dealt with themes of violence, drugs, and poverty. Some of the most popular gangsta rappers of the 1990s, such as Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., frequently rapped about their use of drugs, such as cocaine, crack, and heroin.
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Tupac Shakur, rapper
2000s
The 2000s saw a continuation of the trend of drug references in hip hop music. However, there was also a growing awareness of the negative consequences of drug use, and some hip hop artists began to rap about their experiences with addiction and recovery. For example, Eminem's 2002 song "Cleaning Out My Closet" is a candid account of his struggles with drug addiction.
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