New York is where hip hop was born. For decades, New York single-handedly dominated the rap game. However, in the late 1980s, the West Coast took over the game. New York hip hop suffered until the 1994 emergence of The Notorious B.I.G. and Bad Boy Records.
Following the feud between the East and West Coast, New York hip hop continued to dominate. However, in the 2000s, Southern hip hop emerged and took over the game. For well over ten years, the South has dominated because of their unity.
The problems in the New York hip hop scene have been magnified, but the West Coast was also struggling, until recently. Aside from the veterans, no New York rappers are having success. Papoose, Mims, and Saigon have been among the names picked to revive the mecca.
Papoose and Saigon both met their downfalls when they could not secure release dates. Mims, on the other hand, had a fast start, but quickly evaporated. Currently, New York hip hop is being held up by Nicki Minaj, best-known as a part of Young Money. Recently, Papoose returned to the headlines when he proclaimed himself as the king of New York.
Bad Boy rapper, Red Cafe, rebuffed those claims, saying Papoose does not have enough buzz to even be considered in the running for king of New York. While Red Cafe is signed to Bad Boy Records and has such stars as Akon, among others, in his corner, he does not have much buzz, either. French Montana, on the other hand, is making the most buzz, both in and out of New York.
Currently in talks of signing with Maybach Music, French Montana has taken several flights back and forth to the city of Miami to speak with Rick Ross. Even if he does not sign with Maybach Music, French Montana is working with the top DJs, producers, and executives in the game. If being the king of New York is simply based off buzz and popularity, French Montana is easily the king of New York.
