Arguably even more influential in artistic terms and certainly in commercial regards than N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton in 1988, the highly controversial supergroup that had represented the first time that Dre had revolutionised the genre, The Chronic left nobody in doubt that hip-hop was seriously big business. Characterised by Dre’s highly detailed and innovative production, his star-studded cast of guest rappers including a then-unknown Snoop Doggy Dogg, and fuelled by its MTV-dominating videos for ‘Let Me Ride’ and ‘Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang’, The Chronic soared past triple platinum status and into America’s popular consciousness.Īfterwards, nothing would be the same. However, the very end of 1992 brought a healing balm to soothe the wounds of that annus horribilis in the form of Dr. Even though the gang peace movements were finally beginning to pay off, police stepped up their largely arbitrary scrutiny and harassment of youths of colour, out of fear and revenge after the rioting. Over $1 billion in damage was caused to businesses and property, and the aftermath had everybody on edge for months following. erupted in violence for six days as authorities struggled to regain control of the situation, ceding control of vast areas to looting mobs at various points.
officers for usage of excessive force in the incident of Rodney King, whose savage beating at their hands had been captured on videotape and had been the backdrop of growing anger from black and Hispanic populations throughout the country. April 29 th had seen the astonishing acquittal of four L.A.P.D. Influenced by: James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone, George Clinton, Parliament / Funkadelic, Afrika Bambaataa, Boogie Down Productions, N.W.A.ġ992 was a traumatic year for Los Angeles. Influenced: Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Warren G, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., The Pharcyde, Blackstreet, Jay-Z, OutKast, Eminem, 50 Cent, Xzibit, T.I., YG, Travis Mills, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled