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Only A True Hip-Hop Head Can Ace This Rap History Quiz

That's right! Although Tupac lived in [all of these cities](https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/what-tupac-brought-to-the-bay-area/) at different points in his short life, West Coast hip-hop's (arguably) biggest star was [born in Harlem](https://www.biography.com/people/tupac-shakur-206528).

New York City

Biggie [sampled this song](https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.2562/title.10-crucial-facts-about-biggies-ready-to-die) on his smash hit "Big Poppa." The single went [certified platinum](https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?ar=Notorious+B.I.G.&tab_active=default-award&ti=Big+Poppa#search_section) in 1995, selling over 1 million copies.

"Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers

Sugarhill Gang released ["Rapper's Delight" in 1979](http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/encyclopedia/entries/hip-hop.html). Much controversy exists around its status as first hip-hop single, as many believe that honor belongs to ["Kim Tim III (Personality Jock)"](https://books.google.com/books?ct=result&dq=king+tim+iii+beginning+hip+hop&hl=en&id=S1DWkKJlB4MC&lpg=PA44&oi=book_result&ots=Oz4-ypEXnl&pg=PA44&resnum=4&sa=X&sig=7Li9QKDbtzYyLDvOZGRKn2Ocpd0&source=web#v=onepage&q=king%20tim%20iii%20beginning%20hip%20hop&f=false) by the Fatback Band, which was released just a few months earlier.

1979

Formed on [Long Island](https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/music-popular-and-jazz-biographies/de-la-soul#F) in the mid-'80s, De La Soul would go on to be one of the genre's most popular groups.

Long Island

Female artists have been an influential part of the hip-hop scene from its inception, but it wasn't until 1998 that [Lauryn Hill](http://fortune.com/2018/07/02/cardi-b-i-like-it-first-female-rapper-number-no-1-single/) became the first female rapper to score a No. 1 hit with her single "Doo Wop (That Thing)."

Lauryn Hill

For thousands of years in modern-day West Africa, storytellers — called "griots" — were responsible for passing tribal history down to younger generations. They would play instruments and talk over the music, preserving traditions and important family history. The [griot tradition](http://www.iamhiphopmagazine.com/thegriottradition/) came to America when Africans were brought here as slaves. This tradition of storytelling became a stepping-stone on the way to hip-hop as we know it today.

Griot tradition

Formed in 1979, [The Sequence](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-sequence-the-funked-up-legacy-of-hip-hops-first-ladies-118369/) was the first female hip-hop group. The band blazed a new trail in the industry by mixing rapping and singing, paving the way for artists such as Drake, Future, and Lauryn Hill.

The Sequence

Thanks to an appearance on _Soul Train_, [Kurtis Blow](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/13/kurtis-blow-soul-train) became the first rapper to appear on national television in 1980, performing the song "The Breaks."

Kurtis Blow

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007, [Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five](https://www.complex.com/music/2014/03/this-day-in-rap-history-grandmaster-flash-furious-five-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-march) are hip-hop innovators. Seen as trailblazers, early rappers such as Grandmaster Flash helped blaze a trail for the industry.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Dirty Money were a duo consisting of Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper. When performing together with Sean Combs, the trio went by [Diddy - Dirty Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/p-diddy-name-change-puff-daddy-sean-combs-love-aka-brother-love-a8041136.html).

Diddy - Dirty Money

There's a good possibility today is the first time you've heard the words "hip" and "hop" in this context. Don't worry — we'll let you know when we make a bluegrass history quiz.

You need to hit the books.

Hey, you did pretty well! Keep stockpiling your knowledge and you'll be a hip-hop head yourself someday.

You're new to the game.

You have a solid foundation in hip-hop. Keep up your research and you'll be competing with the best of them in no time.

You're a budding historian.

Wow, you did it. You've proven that no one can challenge you. You're a true hip-hop head. Congratulations!

You're a true hip-hop head.

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Only A True Hip-Hop Head Can Ace This Rap History Quiz

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