Although crack sales and addiction were ramping up in 1983, when Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel recorded this song, they’re referring to the pure cocaine of the 1970s.
“Dopeman,” N.W.A., 1988
Too Short, “The Ghetto,” 1990, which draws on conscious soul music of the 1960s:
Nas, “Represent,” 1994.
Jay Z, “Rap Game/ Crack Game,” 1997
The Clipse, “Virginia,” 2002
Kanye West, “Crack Music,” 2005: the well-known Trump supporter argues that Ronald Reagan cooked crack in order to destroy black radical politics.
Ghostface Killah, “Columbus Exchange (Skit) / Crack Spot,” 2006
Guccin Mane, “My Kitchen,” 2007
Jay-Z, “Blue Magic,” 2007: he takes up Kanye’s theme, above.
Ka, “Up Against Goliath,” 2012
Killer Mike, “Reagan,” 2012: Killer Mike charges that Reaganomics is the basis of the destructive whirlwind unleashed by crack, and that Reagan’s illegal Iran-Contra exchange brought crack into the black community.