Those who speak of it generally agree that it started around 1986 and ended some time in the early 1990’s. What there is very little disagreement about is what made the era golden. The diversity of style, subject matter and image of the artists during this time was definitely a contributing factor, but the sample-based production of this period was what set it apart from everything before and after it. Before rap records, D.J.’s and M.C.’s rhymed over the percussive heavy breakdown portions of records (called break beats) from various music genres, but primarily Funk, Disco, Jazz, Rock and Soul manipulated by a D.J. on two turntables.

When Rap appeared on records in late 1979 the music was supplied by bands mimicking the previously mentioned break beats. This era lasted until 1983 when the drum machine era was ushered in by Run-D.M.C.’s nearly drum-only release “Sucker M.C.’s/It’s Like That." The drum machine era lasted until 1986 or so, when two tools would change the face of rap production.

Affordable sampling technology and a breakbeat compilation titled The Ultimate Breaks & Beats gave birth to a new generation of bedroom producers and a new era of production. Digital sampling technology was available in 1969 and in use by artists like Herbie Hancock ten years later with the CMI Fairlight sampler. This technology was so expensive that only artists connected to major record labels had access to it (Mercury records recording artist Kurtis Blow says that he and Davy DMX used a Fairlight on “If I Ruled The World” in 1985 when they looped “Pump Me Up” by Trouble Funk.)

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