Hip hop
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Hip hop (also see hip-hop or hiphop) is both a music genre and a cultural movement developed in urban communities starting in the 1970s, predominantly by African Americans and Latinos – .[1] Coinage of the term hip hop is often credited to Keith Cowboy, a rapper with Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. Though Lovebug Starski, Keith Cowboy, and DJ Hollywood used the term when the music was known as disco rap, it is believed that Cowboy created the term while teasing a friend who had just joined the US Army, by scat singing the words "hip/hop/hip/hop" in a way that mimicked the rhythmic cadence of marching soldiers.[2] Cowboy later worked the "hip hop" cadence into a part of his stage performance, which was quickly copied by other artists; for example the opening of the song "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang.[2] Afrika Bambaataa is credited with first using the term to describe the subculture that hip hop music belongs to, although it is also suggested that the term was originally derisively used against the new type of music.[3]
Since first emerging in New York City in the 1970s, hip hop has grown to encompass an entire lifestyle that consistently incorporates diverse elements of ethnicity, technology, art and urban life. There are four fundamental elements in hip hop:
- Hip hop dance: Breakdance and various forms of street dance
- Hip hop art: Urban inspired art, often as graffiti
- Hip hop music: DJing, beats and beatmaking, and hip hop production
- Rapping: MCing and urban inspired poetry
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[edit] History of hip hop music
During the early 1970s, it came to the attention of DJs that the percussion parts of music; the break-beat; were most popular for dancing. DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash both independently isolated and repeated these parts of the music for the purpose of all-night dance parties. The favorite types of music were traditionally the breaks from funk songs, often featuring percussion. This was later developed and refined and included cutting.
Rapping then developed as MCs would talk over the music to promote their DJ, other dance parties, or take light-hearted jabs at other lyricists. This soon developed into the rapping that appears on earlier basic hip-hop singles, with MCs talking about problems in their areas and issues facing the community as a whole. Melle Mel, a rapper/lyricist with The Furious Five is often credited with being the first rap lyricist to call himself an "MC."[4]
By the late 1970s a myriad DJs were releasing 12" cuts where -MCs- who cares about labels!- would rap to the beat. Popular tunes included Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "Supperrappin'," Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks," and The Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight". In 1982, Melle Mel & Duke Bootee recorded "The Message" (officially credited to Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five), a song that foreshadowed socially conscious hip hop.
Hip hop as a culture was further defined in 1983, when former Black Spades gang member Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force released a track called "Planet Rock". Instead of simply rapping over disco beats, Bambaataa created an innovative electronic sound, taking advantage of the rapidly improving drum machine and synthesizer technology. Many credit the sensation caused by the track as another defining moment in hip hop music and culture. The mainstream media began to focus on one of the greatest impacts of hip hop; instead of fighting with guns and knives, former gangmembers had a new way of battling — through break dancing, rapping, turntable mixing, and graffiti.[citation needed] By 1985, youth worldwide were laying down scrap linoleum or cardboard, setting down portable stereo and spinning on their backs in tracksuits and sneakers to music by Run DMC, LL Cool J, the Fat Boys, Herbie Hancock, Soulsonic Force, Jazzy Jay, Egyptian Lover, Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, and Stetsasonic, to name a few.
[edit] Legacy
Early hip hop has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing physical violence with hip hop battles. Many believe that with the emergence of commercial and gangsta rap during the early 1990s, the emphasis on non-violence has been greatly removed, with many rappers boasting about drugs, weapons, crimes, and violence. Within this time, hip hop music has also begun to appeal to a broader demographic.
Many artists are now considered to be alternative/underground hip hop when they attempt to reflect what they believe to be the original elements of the culture. Artists/groups such as Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Dilated Peoples, Dead Prez, Blackalicious, and Jurassic 5 may emphasize messages of verbal skill, unity, or activism instead of messages of violence, material wealth, and misogyny.
Music has been proven to be an expressional art, and a way of life. Music can heal, and also be a way of creating a living. When hip hop began it was not created to attempt to keep children in line, or make them behave any better. Its affect did just that though, it was so unique that it intrigued those who were in need of an additional activity. Hip hop assisted in promoting non-violence, and to bring unity to a community. There was no profanity in the music or talk of any murders or even violence. Hip hop began as a powerful positive expression of a cultural uprising, which brought unity and a new meaning to the community.
Since this time of hip hop beginninng, there has been a huge change in culture and even music itself. The culture has changed in ways such as, the music is no longer predominantly black oriented. Profanity is a very common practice in the music. The violence has increased where musicians have been murdered, and constantly making headlines. There is still unity but a gap has been formed where rivalries are no longer competitive, but now they are dangerous.
Hip hop has not completely changed for the worse, because giving back to the community has been a big part of its culture as well. Artists attempt to be great role models to those who wish to follow in their footsteps. Rapper Jay-Z actually donated proceeds of tickets to a concert to those involved in the Katrina disaster. Sure hip hop has changed, and some may argue for the worst, but it seems that slowly, it may be returning to where it once was.
Sources: http://www.katrina-hurricane.biz/katrina-celebrities.htm http://media.www.msuspokesman.com/media/storage/paper270/news/2003/10/31/Perspectives/The-Effects.Of.Hip.Hop.Music.On.Todays.Youth-547432.sht
[edit] See also
- Hip hop culture
- Hip hop dance
- Hip hop production
- Hip hop fashion
- Hip hop theatre
- Beats (music)
- Reggaeton
