Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggressive sounds and confrontational lyricism reflecting the urban black male experience. Following a breakthrough in the early 1990s, hardcore hip hop became a popular crossover style during the mid-1990s.