We have a special Golden Age Thursday to kick off the last month of 2024. With what is arguably one of the most unpredictable and tense years Hip-hop has seen in a long time, reflecting on how the genre arrived at its current position in pop culture is vital to understanding and appreciating its journey. While diving through the depths of YouTube for a proper video to usher in the year’s final chapter, a magical and mystifying video came across our feed. A blurry scene of a busy stage slowly enters the frame before being distorted, and the full picture is unveiled. What is beneath the 90’s camera quality is a legendary moment that might’ve been lost forever if it wasn’t for this one camera angel and YouTube.
The year is 1995, and KRS-One had just dropped his second official solo album. Just around the corner was Ol’ Dirty Bastard, who released his proper solo debut that same year. The two juxtaposing styles reached new heights of success after these respective releases, ushering in a new era for each artist’s now-historic career. For this Golden Age Thursday, we find these two titans of the genre sharing a stage, butting heads in a freestyle battle. Through the fuzzy distortion, you can hear the twinkling keys of Biggie’s “Who Shot Ya?” begin to echo before KRS-One launches into his verse. The difference between their two styles is fully displayed as this archival footage shows a beautiful unity in Hip-hop. You can watch the footage below.
