What Is The Era of The Fall Of Gangster Rap

The fall of the Gangsta Rap era began in the late 2000s1. Despite its widespread acceptance in the 1990s, Gangsta Rap started to fade in popularity due to its violent themes2. Critics of the genre argued that it promoted disorderly conduct and broad criminality, as well as misogyny, promiscuity, and materialism3. However, defenders of Gangsta Rap characterized it as artistic depictions but not literal endorsements of real life in American ghettos3.

From 1997 to 2007, artists like P-Diddy, Jay-Z, DMX, 50 Cent, and Eminem utilized some of the core principles of Gangsta Rap to spit honest, hard, and sometimes controversial verses1. However, by the late 2000s, Gangsta Rap officially gave way to alternative hip-hop1.

A significant event that marked this transition was the highly publicized feud between Kanye West and 50 Cent in 200745. Both artists were at turning points in their careers and were releasing their third albums5. 50 Cent was set to release “Curtis” on September 11, 2007, while Kanye West had initially planned to release “Graduation” a week later5. However, West moved his release date to coincide with 50 Cent’s, setting the stage for a contest to see who would achieve higher album sales5.

This event attracted major headlines and put hip-hop in the middle of the pop culture zeitgeist5. Ultimately, Kanye West’s “Graduation” won with a staggering 957,000 units sold in the first week, while 50 Cent’s “Curtis” sold 691,000 units6. This event is often cited as the day Gangsta Rap died4, marking a shift in the landscape of hip-hop music5.