1979:
-Sugar Hill Gang releases Rappers Delight
1982:
-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five release "The Message"
1983:
-Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons form Def Jam Recordings
1984:
-Run-D.M.C. releases debut album, Run-D.M.C
1985:
-Def Jam Records releases first full length album, LL Cool J's Radio
1986:
-Run-D.M.C. releases third studio album, Raising Hell
1986:
-Beastie Boys release debut album, Licensed to Ill
1987:
-Public Enemy releases debut album, Yo! Bum Rush The Show
1987:
-Eric B. and Rakim release debut album, Paid in Full
1988:
-N.W.A releases their debut album, Straight Outta Compton
1989:
-Ice Cube leaves N.W.A
1990:
- Ice Cube releases solo debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
1991:
- N.W.A releases second album and final album, EFIL4ZAGGIN
- Dr. Dre leaves N.W.A, launches d**h Row Records with the a**istance of Suge Knight, The D.O.C., & Dick Griffey
- 2Pac releases debut album, 2Pacalypse Now
1992:
- MC Ren releases solo debut, Kizz My Black Azz EP
- Ice-T and Body Count release "Cop k**er"
- Dr. Dre releases solo debut, The Chronic
1993:
-Snoop Dogg releases debut album, Doggystyle
- Wutang releases their cla**ic debut Enter the Wutang
1994:
- The Notorious B.I.G. releases debut album, Ready to Die
- 2Pac is robbed and shot 5 times in New York recording studio
- Nas releases his highly influential debut, Illmatic
1995:
- 2Pac releases third studio album, Me Against the World
- Eazy E dies of AIDS-related complications
- Snoop Dogg calls out East Coast at 1995 Source Awards
- Mobb Deep Releases cla**ic album The Infamous
- Raekwon Releases cla**ic album OB4CL
- GZA releases cla**ic album Liquid Swords
1996:
- Dr. Dre leaves d**h Row Records, forms Aftermath Entertainment
- Snoop Dogg cleared of murder charges
- Jay Z releases debut album, Reasonable Doubt
- 2Pac murdered in drive-by shooting in Las Vegas
1997:
- Notorious B.I.G. murdered in drive-by shooting in LA
- Notorious B.I.G.'s 2nd album and 1st posthumous album, Ready To Die, is released
1999:
- Big L k**ed in drive-by shooting in Harlem
- Eminem releases major label debut, The Slim Shady LP
- Dr. Dre releases long-awaited second album, The Chronic 2001
2000:
- 50 Cent is shot 9 times
- Eminem releases The Marshall Mathers LP
2001:
- Eminem performs "Stan" with Elton John at 2001 Grammy Awards
- Jay Z-Nas feud officially commences
- Jay-Z releases The Blueprint
2002:
- Eminem releases The Eminem Show and stars in 8 Mile
- Eminem releases "Lose Yourself"
- Jam Master Jay murdered in New York recording studio
2003: 50 Cent releases major-label debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'
2004: Eminem releases Encore
2005:
-The Game releases debut album, The Documentary
- 50 Cent's The Ma**acre sells 1.14 million copies in its first week of release
- 50 Cent drops Game from G-Unit Records, and Game leaves Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment
2006: Rapper Proof is fatally shot in Detroit nightclub
2007:
- Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- 50 Cent's Curtis sales battle with Kanye West's Graduation
- Eminem overdoses on methadone, collapses in bathroom
2008: Lil Wayne releases Tha Carter III
2009:
- Eminem releases Relapse, his first album since Encore
- Drake releases his third official mixtape, So Far Gone
- Run D.M.C. inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2010:
- Drake releases debut studio album, Thank Me Later
- Eminem releases Recovery
2011:
- Nate Dogg dies
- Drake releases Take Care
2012:
- Beastie Boys inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Kendrick Lamar releases major-label debut, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
2013:
- Public Enemy inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Eminem releases The Marshall Mathers LP 2
2014: G-Unit reunite at Hot97 Summer Jam 2014