B. Cox looks back at the year that was 1998. As the United States and the world had the new millennium within eye sight, there were uncertain times in the world politically and socially. Admist all the turmoil and uncertainty, the year delivered one of the best combined critical and commercial years for both hip-hop and R&B. Musically, the year succeed on many fronts as far as radio hits and explosive sales numbers as well as underground success and notoriety beyond the fringes. It also marked a year of balance that hardcore and rugged rap, feel good and luxury rap, and soulful and thought rendering rap all excelled and were recognized. In R&B, industry veterans coupled with promising upstarts marked a banner year for the genre and as a number of classic and essential albums would shape its direction going into the turn of the century. Visit The Vault Classic Music Reviews Online www.vaultclassicpod.com Support The Vault Classic Music Review on Buy Me A Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vaultclassicpod Build Your Own Amazing Podcast Website In Less Than 5 Minutes! https://www.podpage.com/?via=ivecre8 Show Notes Billboard: Why 1998 Was The Greatest Year of My Hip-Hop Lifetime https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/1998-greatest-year-hip-hop-essay-datwon-thomas-8458855/ Medium: Revisiting the Hip-Hop Class of '98 https://medium.com/the-passion-of-christopher-pierznik-books-rhymes/revisiting-the-hip-hop-class-of-1998-1955b6e974e3 OkayPlayer: September 29, 1998 was Rap Music's Last Greatest Release Date https://www.okayplayer.com/originals/september-29th-1998-greastest-day-rap-music-outkast-jay-z-black-star.html SoulInStereo: Why 1998 Was A Game Changing Year for Hip-Hop and R&B http://www.soulinstereo.com/2018/04/why-1998-was-a-game-changing-year-for-hip-hop-rb.html Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vault-classic-music-reviews-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy