1986: Year of the Crack Raps
August 16, 2026
In 1986, the rap underground teemed with warnings about the drug’s disastrous effects on the Black community.
ALL: Hip-Hop 1986
Best Rap Singles: Class of 1986
August 16, 2026
Amid a year marked by the rise of hardcore hip-hop, new voices like Jay-Z and Ice Cube heralded a promising future.
The 75 Best Rap Singles of 1986
August 16, 2026
Thanks to Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C., rap finally went mainstream. But decoding the freshest Black sound in decades would take much longer.