Final answer:
The Cool Kids and other hip-hop artists have contributed to the genre's retrospective aspect primarily through nostalgic lyrics, reflecting on the themes of past subcultures while maintaining a contemporary edge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hip-hop artists like The Cool Kids have influenced the genre by taking a retrospective view of the characteristically forward-looking music through b) Nostalgic lyrics. The cultural impact of hip-hop can be traced back to its roots from the inner cities and its development from 1970s funk, combining beats and honest, intense lyrics. Pioneers like The Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron offered raw insights into inner-city life, while artists like Public Enemy used their music as a form of activism to confront issues like racism, with their forward-looking ethos. However, as the genre evolved, some artists looked back and reflected the experiences, attitudes, and aesthetics of past subcultures within their music, leading to a sense of nostalgia intertwined with their contemporary sound.
The concept of countercultures rebelling against mainstream conventions is not exclusive to hip-hop but is a recurrent theme across various movements. From the hepcats of jazz, Beats of the 1950s, the hippies, and the modern hipsters, each group had a shared nonconformity ethos and often explored alternative forms of expression. This characteristic of defying mainstream norms and establishing new trends is inherent within the hip-hop culture as well, with some groups like The Cool Kids infusing their music with nostalgic elements.