- Considered the "Father of Hip Hop."
- Founded the Bronx-based hip hop collective Universal Zulu Nation in 1973.
- Played a pivotal role in organizing block parties and promoting hip hop culture throughout the '70s, which laid the groundwork for hip hop's rise in the mainstream.
Run-DMC:
- Pioneering rap group formed in Queens, New York, in 1983.
- Their self-titled debut album from 1984 became the first hip hop album to go platinum.
- Brought hip hop to MTV with the popularity of their hit songs "It's Tricky" and "Walk This Way".
- Known for iconic Adidas partnership, introducing hip hop fashion on a commercial scale.
The Beastie Boys
- Formed in the late '70s as a hardcore punk band but gradually shifted towards hip hop.
- Their 1986 album "Licensed to Ill" was the first hip hop album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 10 million copies in the U.S.
- Credited with breaking down racial barriers in the genre and helped to bridge the gap between hip hop and rock music.