The Hip Hop Lineage Tree

[ClassicRecords100]

I'd say Chuck D as well.

[ClassicRecords100]

They are right, look at Jay, Kanye, Wayne, Em, J Cole, Drake - all of these have elements of most of the 6.

Jay is the greatest because he improved on everything the 6 did.

[bigjshort06]

so who would pac be a decendent of ?

[iremixdakicks2]

is this there college class?

[TheKidGotRacks]

where the fuck is de la soul and a tribe called quest

[kingd4781]

I'm from the south, born and raised in the peach state, GA. But in all fairness hip hop was started up north. Yall getting mad that the original 6 are from NY, the home of hip hop?

[kingd4781]

People he aint saying all there's artist are sons of the original 6, he said there are elements of the original 6 in them.

[Everyone1o1]

i think this good but something is messing hear for me...

[Edrice91]

Interesting

[femiboy34]

What about ODB?

[straydupshemzy]

@femiboy34 Hes from a classic hip hop group called THE FORGOTTEN CRACK HEADS.

[SpitefulLetters]

@2illdacrack ....fair point but im pretty sure slick rick did the singing and raping first.

them or de la soul....or sugar hill gang.

[SpitefulLetters]

@2illdacrack ....fair point but im pretty sure slick rick did the singing and raping first.



[BrooklynJEW7]

So what if they just discovered this. Im glad they put it out there. Many people dont realize who the founding fathers of rap are and they need to be educated and taught about why they matter. Add A tribe Called quest into that too.

[Illmatic1988]

"If you speak conscious or there's any kind of consciousness in your lyrics that's KRS One"

Ya, tell that to Melle Mel, who was rapping about social issues and world politics before KRS One had a record to his name.

Also Kool Keith is from the same era and is as influential as any of these rappers. Especially in underground/indie rap.

[FliBoiTV1]

LL Cool j-Nas- lil Slick rick=50 cent

[brianparran1]

scarface has the down to earth shit going

[Infow1433]

does he ever go into scarface being # 7? 

[Infow1433]

idk dude could b right lol

[Infow1433]

so he sayin if someone come out they shirt they RAP STYLE is like cool j? im not buyin it. some ppl busy out they shirt cuz they ready to take it there but they aint rappin like cool j

[2illdacrack]

Bone Thugs N Harmony is 1 of them 2 nobody was singing and rapping at the same time b4 them so Drake,Kanye,and many others have bit that even I have.The most under rated ever Bone Thugs one of the best.

[TheRealMrSuperstar08]

@2illdacrack Queen Latifah was the first rapper/singer

[yunghueyp]

why they talk about big sean so much he is not that great

[RIPKILORECKBIGB]

Kappa Gamma>Big Pun>Kool G Rap

[RIPKILORECKBIGB]

Gucci got slick rick swag kool g rap mentality and ...idk sum finish

[RIPKILORECKBIGB]

nigga wit da dreds got me tight!!!!!!!! 

[southcakc23]

and where the hell is CHUCK D??????????? 

[southcakc23]

how is scarface NOT in that group? Andre 3000 is a descendant of NAS? C'MON SON! 3000 and Nas came out in the same year; glad you fixed that. The closest relation you can say about 3000 is cross between Rakim and Slick Rick 3000 is not a descendant of KRS.

3000 and slick rick are in the same lane.

Not having Scarface in the original hip hop fathers is a flat out slap in the face

[woodytraore]

Honestly I think you got it a little wrong I think people like jay may have defended from the upper rappers but then other rappers came from jay nas busta wutang ect. Until it trickles down if that makes sense. To judge someone like drake or wale to those older rappers would be like comparing michael Jordan to wilt.....but you could say doctor jay and mike....feel me?

[chyna20tha88doll]

i like these guys 

[rocstarskinnyjeans]

Yawn!

[zmke3]

ok then .... where do the Digable Planets, souls of mischief, the Pharcyde, and a tribe called quest fit in???

[vinion2000]

@zmke3 they would be KRS ONE. Jungle bros gave tribe the jump off and this led to the whole native tongues movement. Tribe has an influenced on the entire alternative rap genre. so they would have been 2nd generation while krs one would have been first.

[Mcelroy]

@zmke3 They are a mixture of KRS One and Nas

[MsBklynStyle]

Chuck D the rev of hip hop is not even on the list. Major error there!

[20YearSoul]

I'd like to see 2000s rappers placed on the tree (aside from Drake and Big Sean) I'm pretty sure I like most rappers from the Slick Rick and LL Cool J tree, and Rakim...because of 2pac. It's not saying 2pac isn't directly more influential but that other rappers styles/contents influenced him and 2pac himself has named who those rappers are.

[lauliisoldier]

yes those 6 named in the video were influential, but PAC is the most influential, yes PAC was influenced by those rappers named in the video, but PAC made the most impact and was on another level, then anyone in the hip/hop game. remebering PACs career only lasting 5yrs and still regarded as the best of all time, no disrespect to biggie but he had nothing on PAC , if you look at it OVERALL, also look up at the interview from kool G rap where he says PAC is the MARVIN GAYE OF HIP/HOP

[Mcelroy]

@lauliisoldier Will no disrespect Pac is eh, he's good but he's son of KRS One Kool G Rap and LL

[TheSpokenPoet]

What about NAS??? How you 4get NAS???

[HoodStyles2]

@TheSpokenPoet Nas is a direct descendent of Kool G Rap and Rakim.

[TheEaglesfanindc]

i guess cause 2PAC came out in the 90s and not the 80s but rappers out now try to be pac so damn much

[TheEaglesfanindc]

this bitch bringing up shitty ass rappers like gucci mane and big sean and comparing them too legends smh!!!!JUST NAMING ARTIST OUT NOW U LAUGH THATS HOW TERRIBLE RAP IS NOW IM SHOCKED THEY DIDNT SAY WAKA FLOCKA SHITTY ASS OR RICK ROSS SMH!!

[breathoffreshair360]

You forgot someone, guys! Check it...Doug E Fresh + Kid 'N Play + MC Hammer + Ying Yang Twins + Black Eyed Peas + Pitbull = Kurtis Blow!!! Kurtis Blow was the party MC that made it cool to have fun on the mic, word! ~ Phurdrick

[tibiasuckness]

Honestly I have never seen how Nas is the new Rakim or how he´s even similar to Rakim. Nas is way more of a Kool G Rap-type rapper than a Rakim rapper.

[tibiasuckness]

Ice Cube is easily one of the most influential MC´s.

[ViciousMiller]

Camera man sounds like he's strruggling a bit. That or he's texting.

[gbthrilla]

U forgot Ice T, Too $hort, Ice Cube, and 2Lve Crew

[daflyyondawall]

I def wanna know where Em falls into this lineage

[fungkey1]

J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA J DILA

[fungkey1]

J DILLA J DILLA J DILLA!!

[fungkey1]

J DILLA!

[fungkey1]

You should have kept this so called "tree" to yourself! Its a bunch of CRAP and i can't stand it! GODDAMN! You assholes need to listen to some real fucking shit like DILLA! But I guess these will be the type of blogs you from TONE DEAF people.

J DILLA IS KING! DILLA'S MUSIC WILL LIVE FOREVER!

[EViLENTTV]

then where do artists like eminem royce da five nine and odd future fit in to that?

[Wgivens93]

but what about soulja boy what is he Rapper's Delight ,,but i agree with this

[951hXc]

replace KRS one with Public Enemy...sorry, i respect the teacher alot.but other than the bridge is over track what else has he done big to be on a list or tree like that? i like krs but im just being realistic. public enemy is more of a bigger influence bc i think they brought more to hip hop than krs

[ITHINKIMBRUCEWAYNE]

This makes a lot of sense

[tha1princ3]

Yo fuck everybody else. That shit was smart as hell. Nobody ever done that shit so I gotta give it up to Mecca.

@ItCantBeDash

[lauliisoldier]

FUCK U FAGGOTS PAC IS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL, NO ONE IN THE GAME HAD THE HIP/HOP GAME HAD THE HEART & BALLZ THAT PAC HAD

[termanology85]

I would add Chuck D with the others

[JEASTification]

Man This Shit Is Dumb!!!! Will Somebody Tell This Dumb Azz Nigga With The Dreads To Shut The Fuck Up!!! 

[Rondell8000]

N.W.A, Eazy- E?

[Rondell8000]

Tupac, Notorious B.I.G, Wu Tang, Andre 3000, Where they at???

[dsjj251]

PUT THIS SHIT ON PAPER!!

[lrbofficial]

What the fuck happened to TUPAC OR BIGGIE!!!!!

[MrAloo14]

@lrbofficial pac biggie are infuleced by the older gen but me personally pac son of malcom matin

n his mum n the ghetto ofcourse which influence pac

biggie kooji rap n cane infulence

[IbrahimPrince]

nice idea but theres problems: 1 if drake is a mixture of nas and slick then my girl looks like beyonce. ppl like wayne shouldnt be mentioned in the same lane as those six he mentioned.. i understand if u say they were influenced by them, fair enough.. but to call them the "son of.." is disrespectful cuz weezy is shit. two, more importantly, if your gonna do this tree thing, then why stop at rap? fucking shakespeare must have influenced these 6, and some next dude must of influenced him etc etc

[ErzulShadowmoon]

rosted chicken haha lol

[johnkeem103]

lil wayne.. and kool g rap in the same sentence?! this dude is tripping yo!

[johnnytijeras]

thats the most retarded shit ive ever heard and i grew up on those mcs from the late 80s like krs rakim ll cool j kool g rap and slick rick but they did not influenced every rap style you idiot! there was rappers way before them and way after who got there influence from modern rappers just like eminem got his influence from treach and the next generation might get there influence from present rappers

[m00sicman89]

it feels like the people in this video are just now discovering music...

[SFREEMUSIC1]

who the hell is the camera man?

[StelioStelioStelio]

im sorry i just dont feel this at all...it has some truth in it but come on there is no final THEORIE where you can trace back rappers to krs and such...everyone is unique

[jimfox123sse]

the british guy should apply this to the UK rappers like grime and road rap. every single road rapper is influenced by styles p i believe

[MrAloo14]

how u gonna forgey dylan top 5 rappers of all time

[MrAloo14]

they neva mention snoop e40 or ice cube okay ice cube got chuck d thang like i dont give a fuck

[MrAloo14]

pac is a son of martin jr and malcom x with black panters

AND PAC BEING PAC

[recordpusher]

@MrAloo14 Pac is the son of Digital Underground. And they wanted to be public enemy before Public Enemy #RealTalk

[MrAloo14]

@recordpusher he anit the son of Digital Underground his style the things he spoke on real life from the uplifting shit to gangsta shit to woman shit

he was infulended by pain by freedom fighters thats what made him pac

at same time pac was inspired by his mother ofcourse the ghetto

and that helped back become pac

do if his anyones son his black panter maclom matin son (adopted son)

[recordpusher]

@MrAloo14 I said that because that is who put Tupac on. Shock G. did. And listening to Shock speak on it, they all had that mindset of the black panthers, maclom, ect... they wanted to be a group like that. PE broke out on that same vibe before they did so they fell back on it. But they are the ones that launched Pac...

[termanology85]

@MrAloo14 Pac is a mix of Chuck D and Kane

[KangMunir]

The theory is somewhat accurate. It is easier too defend if you stick to rapping itself and not content or dress styles. 3rd generation emcess KRS, Kane, G Rap, Slick Rick and Rakim invented most of the basis of modern rap. The great 4th generation East Coast rappers, are different combinations of them and also highly influential on other rappers. Mecca wanted to include a great southern rapper to be unbiased but really who raps like Face. Not many people picked that style up.

[termanology85]

@KangMunir excellent post. I would add Chuck D to Mekka's list

[KangMunir]

First generation emcees could be better described by rappers like Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz, Kurtis Blow, Spoonie Gee, Schooly D and Kool Moe Dee. Afrika Bambatta is a rapper? hmmmm. Fab Five Freddy had a couple verses but is not what you would call a great first generation emcee.

[KangMunir]

Too Short and E-40 are big influences on Bay Area rappers. Too Short's influences extends to the South directly and also through Pimp C who influenced a plethora of Southern rappers (Webbie, Boosie, Krit, Gucci, T.I.,etc). Pimp C's self described influences are Too Short and Run. Chuck D rap style is influential to Ice Cube and 2pac who in turn influenced many rappers. You cannot forget Chuck D if you're talking about social consciousness in rap. It was not just KRS-ONE.

[DUCETEAM2D]

dumb ppl won't get this shout out 2 mecca man i wanted 2 hear more

[rodeo0808]

Great job and instagram is dope

[Trinston]

this is tight, this should be done again

[juanjaykilla]

yo your mic is hitting something fam . . . . 

[MusiQKisLiPHe]

that's why i listen to kayne so much!!

[bronxborn243]

Drake- nas and slick rick? get the fuck outta here!!!!

[DUCETEAM2D]

@bronxborn243 you obviously didn't get what he was sayin'

[bronxborn243]

@DUCETEAM2D i get what hes trying to say and it does not make ANY fucking sense. DRAKE is no where near a DIRECT decent of nas and a touch of Ricky D thats a insult to both MC's if you were going to say something like that lupe fiasco would be a perfect fit! HIP HOP has had many artist who all influenced different people different ways and for him to try and narrow it down to just SIX people is retarded and you trying to justify it makes you retarded as well

[bronxborn243]

@DUCETEAM2D how can you make up some bullshit tree with branches instead of roots and tell ppl ohh you were inspired by this person and this person.? if you wanna make up a real hip hop tree ask these ppl who they were inspired from and fill it out that way! if you wanna state some founders gooo all the way back to curtis blow and other grand master caz etc...

[DUCETEAM2D]

@bronxborn243 like i said you obviously didn't get what he was sayin' open your ears he said nothin' bout inspiration don't you think run dmc would have definitely been on this list pay attention

[vathechosen1]

@bronxborn243 rakim and slick.

[MikMarvelous]

So what artist does lil b fall under

[termanology85]

@MikMarvelous they need to add Biz Markie so we can file all the comedian/non-serious type rappers under that category.

[Tariq6886]

This was dope. It’s funny that people are actually getting mad that the 6 that he named were from NY. Mecca named L.L.Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, K.R.S One, Slick Rick and Kool G Rap, and people are upset at that…people remember where the Rap Music started…

[recordpusher]

@Tariq6886 The' MC's in the South and Midwest all looked up to those guys. Thats facts.  The South was influenced by all NY Hip Hop. They just took it and developed their own style

[ericrwayne]

@Tariq6886 what does remembering where it started have to do with anything???? those 6 artist had nothing to do with the beginning of hip hop.....by the time LL & Big Daddy Kane dropped there was already rappers from other regions rapping......so miss me with that NY bias, thats all I hear.....I understand the whole tree idea, but you would have to have AT LEAST 15-20 starting branches......there was WAY too much individuality in hip-hop during the golden age to force people in one of these 6

[Tariq6886]

@ericrwayne Ok so Michael Jordan wasn't first person to play Basketball does that exclude him from being one of the most influential players of all time? Should we take that away from Dr. Jay as well? No! The 7 that he named were some of the most influential artist. There's no way you can prove that other wise. Maybe there should be more branches but it's Mecca's opinion, same reason there is no Official "G.O.A.T" list. That's the beauty of opinions bruh. Still can't knock the 6 (7) artist tho

[xxxMellowRebelxxx]

What about PAC!!!!!

[problemincent]

@xxxMellowRebelxxx pac was actually influenced by rakim

[Dzf34r]

Write this shit DOWN.I would LOVE to see the whole dam tree.

[ericrwayne]

This Is Bullshit.......Like Nobody Outside Of NY Had Any Influence On Hip Hop.......That Tree Should Have WAY More Branches!!!!! Where's UGK/ 8 ball MJG, Ice Cube, Run DMC, Bone Thugs/Twista/Tech N9ne, Wu Tang, Scarface/ Geto Boys, etc.....and I could go on......most people nowadays don't know who those 6 he named are.....you can't be influenced by someone you have NO knowledge of....if you're inspired by Jay-Z that doesn't mean you have to sound or be like him...the greats have their OWN SOUND

[johnnytijeras]

@ericrwayne thats what im saying and im from the bronx but people get inspired and influenced by different mcs new and old i just wanna know if flava flave influenced lil b and soulja boy lol

[kayyce]

@ericrwayne they said it TRICKLED DOWN..not DIRECTLY INFLUENCED. TechN9ne, Twista and Bone are from the Big Daddy kane/Kool G Rap branch.. WuTang from the KRSONE/RAKIM & Slick Rick... it actually makes a lot of sense

[ericrwayne]

@kayyce you can try to make as much sense out of as you can......but to me it's Bullshit still......to try to say all major rappers derived their style from 1 out 6 people is BULLSHIT!!! maybe because you liked those 6 rappers you find similarities between them and others who came out afterwards.....so where would Run DMC fit????? Where would the Fat Boys????? Where would The Beastie Boys???? Nowhere because this obviously can't apply to them, thus meaning All rap styles can't come from these 6

[kayyce]

@ericrwayne Man listen to what dude said..he didnt say ALL rap styles he said the most successful and POPULAR...and it does make sense..Lil Wayne was influenced by Jay-Z who was influenced by Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap who were influenced by Grandmaster Caz... Eminem was influenced by LL Cool J who was influenced by Tla Rock and Spoonie Gee and Nas who was influenced by Rakim...Wiz Khalifa has a Snoop Dog influence who was influenced by Slick Rick.

[ericrwayne]

@kayyce Eminen and LL Cool J???? I've heard Em say on many occasions that his uncle reggie & Trech of Naughty By Nature were his first influences....

[kayyce]

@ericrwayne Em said he was a fan of Treach cause of his flow and Redman cuz of his punchlines..But dudes also said he started off trying to rap like LL cool J in those Rock the Bells days and if you listen to Infinite you can hear that Nas influence all day...

[DRESthaBeatnik]

I cover this topic in My Lecture Series. Hip Hop Culture and it's Global Responsibility. I cover Heritage from a different perspective as it relates to Artists ability to get Put on. I've been conducting this Lecture Series since 2006 outside of the US. Mainly in China, Japan, Australia & Germany!!! AWESOME VID!! Keep Up the GREAT WORK!! After nearly 38 Years of Culture we should be able to talk about it in an Educational Manner!! KUDOS!!

#FOLLOWTHEHAT

[EastEZ82]

I often thought about this and agree

[beenbenson]

50 and Nelly definitely LL Cool j.



[Nonthing2Loose011]

okay so 2PAC = RAKIM, LL AND KRS ONE

[ahmedgunner15]

what bout Nas? he is the g.o.a.t

[readytomlin]

Hell. The. Fuck. No. how the fuck you yankee niggas leave out Eazy E? is gangsta rap no longer a influence? none of them niggas that they named ever create a sub genre of hip hop, minus krs one's wack ass.

[mosicdef]

u ugly for that beard mecca

[yourtuber8541]

Damn! Way too much mic noise.

[reigns001]

Jas, loves Jay Z

[iiMS0FLYY]

Or mind fuck each other, really.

[TheCoolmandingo]

whats WRONG with his chin hair? smh your vottom lip should never touch your chin hair. they need to discuss that isht! cut that crap off your face bwoy! ya look like a fool!

[Priestshooby]

RUN DMC???

[staj]

Mecc's Theory is utterly believable, gonna get everyone researching now. I just wonder how the "Bone Thugs" will be classified cos they're so so different.

[SIRHENNY1]

@staj Your going to have to listen to a lot of music to make that connect

[masterl14]

loooool the passion!!

[ribsandgreens]

What About M.C. Hammer

[jaekilla919]

Jas get off jay dick

[karamel187]

I have to say the 6 mentioned are a big influence but do not forget nwa too short ice t ect all mentioned are east coast rapper best he makes that number larger wiz khalifa n other new cats have been influenced by the above ..how can he not include scarface ...

[brina2254]

what about female rappers? where would lauyrn hill or lil kim be.......

[ybMillionaire]

That had to be one of tha best episodes of Jumpoff ever.... Great topic and makes perfect sense

[ameeraj09]

PREACH MECCA!

[GuruEdward]

"I need love"

that was funny

[anubis2787]

I research this a few years ago its the same correlation with female rappers... U forgot 2 major influences...BUSY BEE = wack rap with style KOOL MOE DEE = battle rap/ mainstream

[anubis2787]

Finally yall have a revalent hiphop topic that open up people lil minds...MECCA WRITE THA NEXT show TOPIc ....

[NormenBatez]

Rakim is fucking SICK

[MaxSR19]

dope

[yoKevinyoo]

Melle Mel > Chuck D > KRS-One

there are multiple inconsistencies with this though because even these 6 "most influential" were influenced at some point. You also need to acknowledge De La Soul.

[TRNCakaprodigy]

how to love is NOT conscious lmfao that shit is straight bitch material

[blaze2690]

Why wouldn't Scarface be the 7th, godfather of the South

[atlga40us]

You know what..everybody thats in NY sounds like a bunch of salty kids...Just because nobody plays any NY music no more you all say hip hop is dead..or (NY made hip hop) nobody cares.. its called evolving thats why NY cats are in a rut they want to go back to the early 90's. Im not saying everybody from the south is good there is alot of s**t i dont like but i respect that its evolving. Its just like when LL or Slick Rick just started..everybody before them all they did was hate! think about it!

[MrBrownskin07]

Kool Moe Dee ..Grand Master Caz ..and Melle Mel are the real seeds to BDK...Kool G Rap..Rakim..Krs One and Slick Rick....

[jayjayt135]

Even Eminem said LL Cool J had a big influence on him

[Northwest208]

MECC YOU JUST FUCKIN KILLED IT!!!! Big ups!!!

[slashguitargod17]

Eminem? Category of his own.

[STIFFHOOKZ]

He hit the nail on the head when he said Scarface.

[FliBoiTV1]

no that was John Legend @ 4:08

[7SAINTSCANSPIT]

West Coast Dudes respected Ice Cube & Ice T...Any West Coast dudes please tell me who else ya'll respected cause I know for sure NWA and Ice T helped influence ya'll

[STIFFHOOKZ]

@7SAINTSCANSPIT E-40,Dj Quik,Too Short,Wc,Dogg Pound.

[7SAINTSCANSPIT]

@STIFFHOOKZ Take off the Dogg Pound...they came under NWA, remember Dre and Death Row...The rest yeah I can respect the rest of who you said

[STIFFHOOKZ]

@7SAINTSCANSPIT Its not that we don't respect Dre but alot of the dpg members have been around since the nwa days contributing alot to his sound. Rbx,Warren g, and Daz.

[7SAINTSCANSPIT]

Scarface, UGK and 8 Ball & MJG for us southern cats 

[Jewsafa1408]

you forgot dylan, HE WAS THE FIRST TO SPIT HOT FIRE!!!!

[kratosgow2]

@Jewsafa1408 Word.LOL

[cubs62]

@Jewsafa1408 who are the 5 best rappers of all time think about it

DYLAN, DYLAN, DYLAN, DYLAN AND DYLAN I SPIT HOT FIRE!

[HandsomeDee92]

@Nonthing2Loose011 All the rappers he named came before Big and Pac.. There probably in the second generation though

[FliBoiTV1]

i hat to see this again this is the 3rd time

[siwooot]

what about Chuck D, GrandMaster Flash & the Furious 5

[Nonthing2Loose011]

WHERE IS 2PAC??? OR BIG?

[dlpaul345]

@Nonthing2Loose011 u werent listening

[7SAINTSCANSPIT]

@Nonthing2Loose011 Pac = Kool G Rap, Rakim & KRS....Biggie = Big Daddy Kane & Slick Rick with some Kool G Rap...Think about it

[jordan5sallday]

He's right

[threex1]

too short really needs to be there not scarface