The summer of 1988 wasn’t just another season — it was the moment rap music grew into hip hop culture as we know it today. In just 90 days, the genre went from underground blocks to global stages.
Join Chad (the resident rap nerd) and Big Absoloot (the OG with first-hand knowledge) as they break down why ’88 is still called the greatest year in rap history.
We’re talking:
Rakim’s “Follow the Leader” and the new rules of lyricism
Public Enemy’s “It Takes a Nation of Millions” shaking up politics and sound
Slick Rick’s storytelling blueprint that every MC stole from
KRS-One’s Grammy protest vs. Will Smith’s big win
How these albums and moments created the foundation for 90s rap dominance
This isn’t nostalgia — this is the origin story of rap’s empire, told barbershop style, with laughs, debates, and raw respect for the craft.
💈 Grown Man Bars — Where hip hop history lives.
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