Hip hop's "golden age" is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop, usually cited as being a period varying in time frames during the 1980s and 1990s said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence.

The Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”; “Body Moving”

Run-DMC - “It’s Tricky”; “Walk This Way”

Public Enemy – “Harder Than You Think”

The golden age is noted for its innovation – a time "when it seemed that every new single reinvented the genre”

Nothing in this era was contrived.

The most definitive feature of Hip-Hop from the golden age was how heavy sampling was used.

As we just heard a very versatile range of samples, and backing tracks were used.

Another characteristic of the golden age is the innovative and creative advances in rapping technique.

The golden age came to being after the commercial success of Run-DMC.

The 1983 release of their single “It’s Like That”/”Sucker MCs” was well received by the public and critics, and soon after other Hip-Hop acts followed in the trio’s success by being more creative with their tracks.

The gangsta rap explosion brought about the end of the golden age in 1993.

The golden years – Pt. 1

The golden years – Pt. 2