Matt Diehl

Matt Diehl, a New York-based writer who has contributed to Rolling Stone, VIBE, Entertainment Weekly, and the New York Times, traces the rise of the less aggressive- and, not coincidentally, vastly more lucrative- brand of hip hop that came to be known as pop rap. Due to the success of the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel—Air and acts such as MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, both of whom were willing to incorporate pop musical styles (usually as samples) into their music, a more radio—friendly type of rap music began to dominate the rap music industry, much to the dismay of hip—hop purists.