The Summer of ’88: When Rap Changed Forever

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Grown Man Bars: Remember the Rhyme, Respect the Era

with Chad and Big Absoloot - Gen X Talking Hip Hop

15 episodes

2 days ago

Grown Man Bars is where two Gen X MCs turned opinionated Uncs break down rap culture with no filter. Chad, your resident rap nerd, with Big Absoloot, your OG's OG dive into Golden Era storytelling, lyricism, GOAT debates, classic producers, and the moments that shaped hip hop. From Slick Rick to Scarface, Nas to J. Cole, DJ Premier to RZA. Old rap and new hip hop. If you came up on mixtapes, Tims, and bars that mattered, this is your spot for real hip hop talk. We'll bring you up-to-date on the new hip hop trends, the ones our gen cares about, and hit you with hip hop from the best era ever.

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The Summer of ’88: When Rap Changed Forever

Grown Man Bars: Remember the Rhyme, Respect the Era

45 minutes

1 month ago

The Summer of ’88: When Rap Changed Forever

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.