Philly hip hop history.

Sixty years of the culture in one city, decade by decade and year by year: the writers, the DJs, the records, the rooms and the people who made them. Every chapter lists its sources, and every photo is credited. Researched and written by Malachi Atkinson of MAVE Design.

Philly Hip Hop History1965 to 2026

Six decades.

  1. First WordsThe 1970sBefore rap had a name, Philadelphia had the writers, the records, the rhyming radio DJs and the party DJs, and in 1979 it put its first rap on wax.Read the 1970s
  2. City of DJsThe 1980sPhiladelphia's DJs, independent labels and one radio show made the city hip hop's second capital, from P.S.K. to the first rap Grammy.Read the 1980s
  3. The Live ElementThe 1990sA band from the South Street sidewalk, a Philly office behind three No. 1 albums, and the rooms that made neo-soul.Read the 1990s
  4. State PropertyThe 2000sState Property and Roc-A-Fella's Philly wing, Tuesdays at the Black Lily, an independent underground, and the Roots on network TV.Read the 2000s
  5. Dream ChasersThe 2010sMixtape circuits to No. 1 albums, an intro with no chorus that became the city's anthem, and #FreeMeek.Read the 2010s
  6. The New WaveThe 2020sA pandemic, a record wave of violence and a rebound: Philly club on the charts, an Oscar, hip hop's 50th and the archive years.Read the 2020s
NowNext GenerationThe timeline ends in the present. Meet the independent Philly artists making the culture right now, and hear their music.Meet the artists

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