for my 10th to 12th grade High School era (it ended with me in NJ for 11th and 12th).

10th Grade Bkyln NY, 1986 to 87, eh, hip hop was about Eric B. and Rakim, BDP, Salt and Pepa, Kool G Rap and Polo, Biz Markie, Public Enemy. R&B was aiight. I remember really feeling "watch out" by Patrice Rushen. Dance music was hot. I remember "Gotta see you tonight" by Barbara Roy pretty vividly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjrWItLV6nI


11th Grade NJ 87-88 (suburbia) eh. Public Enemy and EPMD were pretty big. Eric B and Rakim, BDP, etc.. I started getting into punk and what was still called New Wave, PIL "the body":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56RICywExfw


The Godfathers "birth, school, work, death":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO5dcW0P75M&ob=av2e


Flesh for Lulu - "postcards from paradise"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOGV-mgVdBg


REM with their "it's the end of the world as we know it" was pretty big. On the pop side, Tiffany and Debbie Gibson were big, etc.

Belinda Carlisle was big

"Heaven is a place on earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGEyBeoBGM&ob=av2n

I used to hate that song......but not anymore...I always liked "Circle in the sand" though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ9NDRYguoA


The Dirty Dancing soundtrack was pretty big. "I had the time of my life" - heard that on the school bus over a lot.


12th grade NJ suburbia 88-89 rap: Big Daddy Kane, The Jungle Brothers, Audio Two, MC Lyte, Supa Lova Cee and Cassanova Rud, etc. I was really getting into Hardcore Punk, going to lot's of shows on Sundays at CBGB's in NYC (traveling back and forth from NJ was nothing):

NYHC the way it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cswdy4euWUk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmIkkTzlmtA&feature=related


I saw Token Entry quite a bit around then in NYC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UAyoMrRXEI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpRiYGN61iA


New Jack swing was pretty big around this time Keith Sweat, Al B Sure, Johnny Kemp. I still kinda liked R&B


Aleese Simmons - "I want to be your lover"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzvnJZv35Go