Tulsa Hip Hop Through the Ages From old-school jams to trap bangers, we trace how hip hop in our city has evolved.
The Rhythm and Rhyme of the 918: Tulsa Hip Hop Through the Ages
Hip-hop culture exploded out of 1970s New York City to become a global force reshaping music, fashion, dance, visual arts, and more. Over decades the sound has fragmented into an array of diverse sub-genres while retaining its spirit as a vehicle for creative expression, consciousness-raising, insight, and pure entertainment. This ever-evolving artform has also taken firm root in Tulsa where a vibrant local scene has emerged.
Many historians cite Tulsa legend Elliot Wilson’s early radio broadcasts of RUN DMC, Public Enemy, N.W.A and other burgeoning New York, LA and Miami hip hop acts as igniting a buzz for the music locally. By the late 80s and early 90s groups like Proper Level Click and Fully Loaded Posse were solidifying Tulsa’s claim as an authentic hip-hop city. At venues like The Mabee Center, their music produced for Tulsa’s own Supreme Recordings appealed to increasingly diverse crowds. These pioneering artists set the stage for breakout stars like Ronnie Rich and Neeshia to carry the Tulsa hip hop banner to global audiences.
While commercial success stories are key markers, Tulsa’s scene has always nurtured “true school” hip hop that keeps it firmly rooted in underground sub-culture. Through the 2000s and beyond, Tulsa hip hop expanded from its Old School, Jazz, and Gangsta Rap origins to embrace the G-Funk vibe of emcees like Fat Tone to the experimental styles of The Nobodys or Treal Lee’s conscious messages.
Today sub-genres like horrorcore, nerdcore, cloud rap, and more manifest themselves in Tulsa’s ever-diversifying scene. New voices also enter the mix, with all-female hip-hop collective Pink Mafia Crew sparking praise for their feminist yet party-anthem energy. While established names like Prozak and Project Pat call Tulsa home between tours, youth collective the1O1 and breakthrough acts Niimari are what keep Tulsa hip hop evolving for the future.
Just as hip hop music continuously reinvents itself, dance like breaking, locking, popping and other urban-born styles retain currency through battles hosted by crews like Hype Factory. The same holds for the dynamic graffiti you’ll discover splashed across sanctioned spaces or around downtown.
For beats, rhymes or breaking – Tulsa hip hop is alive, eclectic, and here to stay. From the old-school legends that put us on the map to the up-and-coming MCs penning tomorrow’s classics, the 918 offers hip-hop flair for every taste. Local radio stations keep our rappers in rotation, venues spotlight talents, and real hip hop heads know that our scene stands up competitively to bigger markets. Wherever hip hop goes next, you can bet Tulsa will contribute its rhythms, rhymes, art, and authenticity.
