OK Computer, big beat, teen pop and another hip-hop tragedy
1997 captured the decade at a crossroads. Radiohead released OK Computer, electronic acts such as The Prodigy reached mass audiences, teen pop accelerated and The Notorious B.I.G.’s death shocked hip-hop.
OK Computer
Radiohead pushed alternative rock toward more fragmented production, technological anxiety and art-rock ambition, setting a new critical benchmark.
Electronic music breaks wider
The Prodigy, Chemical Brothers and other acts helped move rave and big beat into mainstream rock and pop audiences.
Hip-hop loss
The murder of The Notorious B.I.G. in March 1997 marked another devastating loss during hip-hop’s rapid commercial ascent.
Why 1997 matters
The year brought alternative rock, electronic music, hip-hop and emerging teen pop into direct competition for the cultural center.