Context Essay

The 1980's was a period in which music began to progress further throughout society and pop culture. The variations of music genres being birthed out of the 80s varied, with pop and dance music amongst the most popular. Genres like smooth Jazz and Rock music were also becoming more dominant. Pop culture was taking the world by storm, networks such as MTV started to become super powers in television. 1981 was the debut for their first music video launch, it was by "The Buggles".

In 1982, Sony and Phillips released the new modernisation of the CD system.  Soon after that, the first CD was released onto the market. Billy Joel's "52nd street". The advanced movement to change to CDs left cassettes and vinyl on a downward trail of unpopularity. Fashion was also highly influenced in the 1980s.  important icons such as Madonna and David Bowie led the industry in and started lots of iconic trends such as baggy trousers and crimped hair.

Michael Jackson-
Michael’s music that was released during this decade was a major influence on 80’s music and style. 
He has also had lots of different major global influences, from the moon walk in his performances to the gloves and jackets that he wore. It was during the 80’s that The Jackson Five started to separate and the performers started to focus on their solo careers. Michael Jackson decided to emerge with a bad boy persona that became notoriously popular.  especially throughout this decade. It can be seen in his album titled “Bad” which included songs such as “Bad” and “Smooth Criminal”. 

Run-DMC – The group that really brought hip-hop to the forefront was Run-DMC. Iconic Rhymes known for including humour such as “Peter Piper,” “My Adidas” made it hip-hop more family friendly. They also took Michael Jackson and Prince’s foray into hard rock and applied it to hip-hop. Their huge smash hit “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith in 1986 paved the way for The Beastie Boys, Eminem, and the nu metal movement of the 1990s. 


Michael Jackson has influenced my musical style because he is a pioneering artist. He was majorly involved in fusing genres in his music which is used more often now. producers such as Kanye west took influence from him. he used many techniques in his music from vocal harmonies to breaks. he was a very energetic performer as well, his audience loved seeing him do iconic dance moves such as the moonwalk or the gravity lean. i would also like to have this same level of energy when performing on stage to interact with my audience.


The 90's decade heavily inspired me because that was a time in which hip hop grew a lot more developed and a lot of iconic artists and concepts were created. Many famous acts who influence hip hop were birthed from this decade for example "A Tribe Called Quest", "Public Enemy", "Jay-Z". Some of the most infamous artists such as Biggie Smalls and Tupac where probably the most famous artists from this genre and influenced me as a producer and as an artist. they're music is still heavily sampled today. Biggie smalls' flow has definitely not only influenced me but a lot of other rappers as well.