The History of Hip Hop

In the 1970’s, hip hop has made its debut and become one of the most admired musical genres in the world. Many people argue that hip hop is just a way to convey vulgar language through music, but the true meaning of hip hop lies much deeper than what is displayed on the surface.

What is Hip Hop?
Hip hop is a cultural and artistic movement that is meant to bring people together and celebrate black strength through music and art. There are four elements that distinguish hip hop culture:

• deejaying/turntabling
• rapping/MCing
• graffiti painting
• break dancing

These four components are used to express the hardships that disadvantaged African Americans and Latin Americans are faced with daily, such as poverty, racism, neglect, crime, and violence. Hip hop is a way for people to communicate their experiences in life with others that may be going through the same struggles. In a way, it lets people know that they aren’t alone, and that there are others that stand with them.

I asked 16-year-old FCHS student Jaden Ferguson what hip hop means to him. “I do not see hip hop as a genre of music. It is a form of expression through striking art,” he said. “Hip hop taught me that accepting who you are, and loving that person is the most wonderful thing you can do for yourself. It taught me to be strong, and fight for the things that are important to me. As of right now, I am more connected to my culture than I ever was before, and the power of hip hop helped me achieve that,” he said. Some of his favorite hip hop artists include Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Tyler the Creator.

Hip Hop Culture
When hip hop first emerged from the Bronx, New York, in the 1970’s, there were Latino Americans and African Americans who were neglected by society and living under challenging conditions. As their community was faced with crime and poverty each day, the young people of these groups formed a cultural expression of their own, called hip hop, which allowed others to see, to celebrate, and to understand their world.

Hip hop was–and still is–a way of life. What comes to the mind of many when thinking about hip hop is the music. The rapping, the dj-ing, the boom-boxing. Of course, the musical element of hip hop is absolutely essential, but people tend to forget that hip hop does not revolve around music alone. Hip hop takes form through graffiti, fashion, and dancing as well as music.

“Hip hop is like a roller coaster. There are lots of highs and lows that come with living the hip hop lifestyle,” said sophomore Asiana Hawkins.

The People That Make Hip Hop Happen
Hip hop has created countless legends in the past, and these are the people that make hip hop happen. We have all heard of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac showdown, and the chilling lyrics spilled by Ice Cube, but many artists that laid the groundwork for these people are often overlooked. There were three innovators known as the “Holy Trinity” of hip hop: DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. These infamous artists are said to be the very creators of hip hop.

DJ Kool Herc introduced large sound systems to his community. He used turntables and records to create a floundering flow of music that everyone in the neighborhood could dance along to. Kool Herc’s undeniably sick beats brought excitement to his depressed community. It did not take long for the hip hop lifestyle to spread across the state of New York, and eventually, across the nation.

The glorious culture that is called hip hop has an extraordinarily deeper meaning than the ocean itself, which is why it is considered to be one of the most impactful musical genres throughout the country.