History+Of+Hip+Hop



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=Definition=

Hip Hop is defined as: "a popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and with the style and fashions of African-American inner-city residents" which is also very closely associated with the life styles of rap

=**History of Hip-Hop**=

"Hip Hop" is the only genre of music that allows us to talk about almost anything. Musically it allows us to sample and play and create poetry to the beat of music" (The Vibe History of Hip Hop - Grandmaster Flash, 1999, Foreward). Grandmaster (1999) offers an opinion that suggests Hip Hop and Rap have deeper meanings which offer people a medium of communication. The music itself is a way that the artist identifies him or herself through use of different beats and rhythms while at the same time providing a message that they wish to communicate. Here is a brief timeline for the evolution of Hip-Hop: >
 * 1970 - 1973: Break-dancing makes it's first appearance at a club, Plaza Tunnel and the Puzzle, introducing moves such as the "Drop" and the "In-and-Out".
 * 1973: The father of Hop-Hop, Kool Herc, started DJing, bringing his knowledge of Jamaican music to the city of Bronx.
 * 1973: Universal Zulu Nation was born, founded by Afrika Bambaataa.
 * 1974: Influenced by the Carribean music, DJs started to DJ in parks and lightly rhyming over the beats.
 * 1977: The dance move "popping" was introduced and recognized as the real Hip-Hop dance.
 * 1978: Music industry coined up the now popular term "Rap Music".
 * 1979: The first commerical rap record "Rapper's Delight" was recorded.
 * 1980: The year of label battles. Kurtis Blow was the first rapper to appear on national television.
 * 1981: Beatie Boys were formed.
 * 1983: West coast gangster rap was formed. RUN DMC puts an end to "old school rap" with the single "It's Like That".
 * 1984: Michael Jackson does the "Moonwalk", which he learned from LA 'poppers", at the Grammy's.
 * 1985: Salt n' Peppa makes an appearance in the Hip-Hop industry.
 * 1987: Public Enemy broke into the rap scene.
 * 1988: MTV airs rap, exposing this music genre to the mass public.
 * 1988: N.W.A.'s record goes gold, popularizing "gangsta" rap.
 * 1990: The well-known rap artist, 2Pac, joins Digital Underground as a roadie and a dancer.
 * 1991: N.W.A.'s record hit no. 1. Gangsta rap appeals to the mass population.
 * 1993: Dr. Dre and Wu-Tang dropped multi-platnum album, even more popularize the "school" of gangsta rap.
 * 1995: Queen Latifah won a grammy for her solo single "UNITY". 2Pac joins Death Row Records.
 * 1995: Notorious BIG (Christopher Wallace) signed by Puffy and releases a multi-platnum debut album.
 * 1996: 2Pac gunned down and passed away after watching Mike Tyson fight in Las Vegas.
 * 1997: Biggie gunned down after attending a party hosted by Vibe Magazine.
 * 1998: Dr. Dre and Eminem collaborates.

...and the rest is history. In the late 1980's an d early 1990's Vanilla Ice had the best-selling album ever up to that point, however, this brought social conflict as to how groups in history interpreted different things due to the colour of his skin. Vanilla Ice was a white male who although successful, fell short of having the respect he deserved and that was the beginning of how the impression that white artists had neither the skills nor the requisite perspective gained from life on society's margins to truely understand Hip Hop (referring to the rough life of growing up in the Bronx) (Watkins, 2005, 91). With this, Vanilla Ice became a symbol of cultural theft thus, relentlessly weakening his status in the Hip-Hop nation. This would soon change, as Eminem (a young white man who grew up with a rough life in the 'hood') entered the industry. He made a huge debut with his hit singles, "My Name Is" and "The Way I Am" and then continued his journey to capture the music nation later starting Shady Records and partnering with Dr. Dre, which later turned into them creating 50 Cent. However, without Tupac "makaveli" Shakur and Christopher "BIGGIE" Wallace hip hop would not be where it is today. These two kings of rap/hip hop have influenced many rappers today. Many lyrics that come out of Eminem and 50 Cent's mouth are simply regurgitations of pac and big. Other influential artists to new comers are Nas, Jay-Z, Rakim, Snoop, and other pioneers of the rap game. Nonetheless, the combination of cultural backgrounds from Eminem and Dr. Dre formed and influenced many of the greatest rappers alive today. The music heard today is a combination of lyrics and rhythm just like in the early development of Hi p Hop itself but it's been taken to a new level. Hip Hop demonstrates the starting and continuing of a culture of people who identify themselves with this particular group. There are many people who listen to a variety of music, but it is Hip Hop that has become a symbolic means of musically talking rhythmically in verse that a culture of people can identify with.

The emergence of 'white' rappers had a very difficult time to earn the respect of the rap communities. Asian rappers have also had difficulty emerging in the North American Hip Hop Scene. Jin the MC and the Mountain Brothers are the most notable Asian rappers that have made it onto the North American scene. However, they have lacked success and have lost presence in North Amerian Hip Hop Despite the fact that other racial groups have had limited success in North America, Latino rappers such as Fat Joe and Cypress Hill have transitioned ino the Hip Hop scene with ease. Furthermore, they have not been criticized like other ethnic rappers such as Eminem has for using the term 'nigger' in their verses. Despite the difficulty of the emergence and success of other ethnic artists, more and more rappers from different backgrounds are trying to make it big. Hip Hop now celebrates diversity as there are many 'Hip Hop Heads" all around the world. The celebration of this has led to the emergence of different types of American-Ethnic Hip Hop. The most notable example of this new phenomenon is Reggaeton, which is Hip Hop with a Spanish twist. Reggaeton has reached success in North America and is gaining popularity all over the world. Most Reggaeton is recited in Spanish and has still obtained sucess in an English society.

=Tupac Shakur: Greatest MC Ever?=

I think that Tupac Shakur was among the best 5 MC's of all time. He released 5 albums before he died, and 6 albums after he died. He wrote his music from previous pain and suffering he has seen in his life. He wrote politically strong messages about life in the ghetto and oppression from the government. He had amzaing flow as a rapper, and his movement as an artist to paint a picture of what it was to be black and living in the ghetto for mainstream America. His most famous beef was with Notorious BIG and the Bad Boy Music group. He also rapped about prophesizing his own death in many of his songs. His untimely death came on Sept 7, 1996 in Las Vegas by means of a drive by shooting. There are multiple theories of Tupac coming back from the dead to haunt his enemies and seek revenge. However, he has not shown up to do so, and may his fans and his legacy let his spirit rest in peace.

Into the Mainstream
Prior to its arrival into the mainstream music scene, hip hop was in its so called "golden age." (Davey D, 2006) That is, creativity came to new heights as emcee's utilized sampling to create a collage of musical sounds, meshing together elements of R&B, funk, and soul; indeed, a pastiche of cultural styles and artifacts. The golden age of hip hop declined when record labels began to complain about intellectual property and non-payment issues that came with the use of sampling.

As the years passed, hip hop became less about the music, and more about the lifestyle that current rappers had begun to advocate. For example, when the Cash-Money Records franchise released "Bling Bling" in the late 90s, the lyrics revolved around the material aspects that came with being a rapper (the "bling bling" jewellery, money, and women).

From the Outside
Despite the number of rappers that promote the mainstream lifestyle of materialism, many hip hop emcees are on the outside of the trendy lifestyles. Instead, these emcees produce so called "intelligent" hip hop (Chin, 2002) or "backpacker" hip hop (Davis 2006). These artists are reminiscient of the poets of the Harlem Renaissance, focusing more on the lyrical content, and the use of hip hop as a social tool. These "underground emcees" as Chin calls them, often take a critical look at the material side of the hip hop genre.

Several Underground emcees and sample lyrics, referencing hip hop culture, criticizing the materialistic, or alluding to the historical/social:

- **Immortal Technique**, criticizing the military and politicians:

"The sound of conservative politicians on television People in the hood are blind so they tell us to listen They vote for us to go to war instantly But none of their kids serving the infantry"

- **The Roots**, Black Thought referring to the golden age of hip hop:

"We waste not the bangingest beats but make use The Roots get you open like parachutes Yo who in the house only deal with hip hop that's authentic?"

- **Erykah Badu**, on universality of religion:

"Peace & blessins' manifest With every lesson learned"

- **Common**, on transcending the hip hop form:

"I want to be as free as the spirits of those who left I'm talking Malcom, Coltrane, my man Yusef Through death through conception New breath and resurrection"

- **Talib Kweli**, referencing the work of W.E.B. DuBois in the Harlem Renaissance to have the black people recognized as equals in art:

"You'll see the soul of black folk like W.E.B DuBois"

(all lyrics courtesy of [|http://www.sing365.com])

= = =**Hip-Hop Dancing**=

The history of Hip-Hop dancing can be traced to Don Campbell who was a teenager in his first year at LA Trade Technical College in the 1970's (The Vibe History of Hip Hop - Ben Higa, 1999, 111). Campbell did not start Hip-Hop dance on purpose, but rather created it by accident. Campbell started a new urban ethnic dance that would soon invade the ever-expanding club circuit and in due course change the direction and flow of music and music history. When people were dancing (ex. Campbell) they would freeze or 'lock' up in poses and pause in-between moves (The Vibe History of Hip Hop - Ben Higa, 1999, 111). Eventually, the upper body movement moved on to the rest of the body including leg movement and footsteps, a very large part of dancing today as can be seen on MTV or BET television stations.

=**Graffiti**=

Another form of expression associated with Hip-Hop is graffiti. Graffiti can be perceived as cultural art of writing and language, which is used as another means of expression oneself. Graffiti is constantly in tension as an art form or gang related symbolic communication that portrays warning or boundaries of territory on other rival gangs. Graffiti can be seen as something that represents someone, while language can be linked to the type of person, their culture, and heritage in many senses. The entity of language is a method of communication and symbols, which in turn, creates a cultural base.

=Language=

Language within the Hip hop society has become a fundamental part the culture in itself. The youth have adapted this evolving dialect by other influences of the hip hop culture such as rapping, break dancing, graffiti and djing and it has been modified into present culture. To many of us the term slang comes to mind when thinking of the African American language, although to the youth it’s more than just that. The influence of this language across society has raised some concerns such as actor Bill Cosby. Along with other mainstream thoughts about hip and the language Bill Cosby voiced that the language and hip hop in general is the problem with black youth today.

=**Clothing Lines**=

Hip Hop artists like Tupac, Ice Cub, Snoop Dogg, and so forth stopped wearing their 'gangster' apparel and changed into the more expensive suits and silk shirts. All Hip Hop artists and rappers began to have an affiliation with name brands and this continues to this day.

Ultimately, Hip Hop started in the 'ghetto' as a combination of blues and politics, but soon, it became the voice for the disenchanted youth and now has been transformed into a culture in and of itself. We see how the struggle for Hip Hop affected many artists throughout time, which directly relates to how Hip Hop is viewed in a world bigger than just 'Hip Hop' incorporating aspects of global media, racial and demographic change, the reinvention of the pop music industry, urban politics, the moral and public health of young people, and their relentless desire to be heard and respected (Watkins, 2005, Front Flap). Artists tend to go beyond their lyrics in order to not only influence their audience, but to capture them in a realm that is continuously expanding and will continue to move forth throughout history.

=International Hip Hop=

Hip Hop has grown into an international phenomenon. Although American Hip Hop is the most popular, there are many Hip Hop artists seen all around the world as the Hip Hop culture has become global. Countries such as France, Australia, Korea, Japan boast their own Hip Hop icons. Hip Hop has influenced different cultures all around the world. Furthermore, these international are also seen collaborating with each other as well to show the world scale of Hip Hop. For example, the Korean artists Drunken Tiger have collaborated with American freestyle champion LOWD, Cedric the Entertainer, and they have been invited to go on tour with the Wu Tang Clan. Furthermore, Joosuc is another artist from Korea who has collaborated with Weapon X (from Australia), Mista Sinista (USA), Sphere of Influence (Japan), and DJ Tommy (Hong Kong). Japanese artist S-Word featured Christina Milian in one of his tracks as well. On an international scale, different companies are at different levels of Hip Hop. Countries such as England and the United States have been in the Hip Hop game for many years. On the other hand, countries such as Korea are still in their infant stages of Hip Hop. There are also many different Hip Hop lables seen around the world as well such as YG Entertainment, which is a Korean Hip Hop label currently working with Morgan Carey (Mariah Carey's Brother) to introduce artists into the US. media type="youtube" key="Ud5HgBfBAT0"

Hip Hop dance has also become international as there are world dance competitions that take place on a yearly basis. B-Boy crews are found in many countries and compete on an international level. Crews from England, Germany, Japan, England, United States and Korea are the world favourites as they have produced many B-Boy champions. media type="youtube" key="0GmU1bQvqJk"

Hip Hop clothing is also seen from different countries around the world. North American Hip Hop clothing lines now have to compete on an international scale as there are many international brands that have also made a presence in the US. Brands such as Bathiing Ape, Evisu and MF have established themselves as an upscale Hip Hop clothing line. These brands have gained popularity in the US because of their expensive prices and the rarity of the clothes. Hip Hop artists have been seen to commonly sport these items although they have not signed contracts with these companies. For example, artists such as Jay-Z, Nick Cannon and Lil' Wayne have been seen sporting Bathing Ape on numerous occasion despite the fact that the brand is Japanese and they have their own respective clothing lines.

=Krumping and Clowning=



Clowning and Krumping is an evolution of hip hop that integrates and converges hip hop, break dance, stripping, dance hall and other various styles of dancing. There are both similarities and differences in Clowning and Krumping though they both have roots from the original form which was Clowning.

The Creator of the movement was a man by the name of Tommy the Clown who originally began Clowning as a form of entertainment for birthday parties. It became so popular that Tommy noticed clowning brought kids off the streets of the ghetto, away from drugs, guns and alcohol, and became a new positive outlet for many youths.



The difference between Clowning and Krumping is that Clowning has the trademark of face painting to represent that they are the ‘Hip Hop Clowns’. The style of Clowning is less aggressive dance. Krumping is the evolution of Clowning and branches off to it’s own style. Krumping does not incorporate the face painting and is much more aggressive in it’s movements. There is more anger expressed through Krumping as well as sexuality such as strip Krumping.

For a more in-depth look into Clowning and Krumping, as well as the history of this movement, please see your local movie provider or go out and purchase the documentary of Clowning and Krumping called “RIZE” directed by David LaChapelle or go to **[|www.rizethemovie.com]**


 * All Krumping and Clowning images are courtesy of Google Images**

media type="youtube" key="Tyxlaib9UF0"

=Prominent Hip Hop Artists=

More artists can be found [|here]

>
 * Ludacris
 * Snoop Dogg
 * Nelly
 * Eminem
 * Jay-Z
 * Nas
 * Andre 3000
 * Dr. Dre
 * Young Jeezy
 * Mos Def

=Originality in Hip Hop=

There is no question that the artists of the past, Michael Jackson, Run DMC, Tupac, and the list goes on, are extremely talented. Their albums and songs are still being played to this day. Every new member in the Hip-Hop game would credit if not one of those, then one of the many others that can be added to that list. However, it seems like the new thing in hip hop today is taking beats. Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a song or album and can say “that is the course from…” It makes you question the originality of the genre. On both Jay-Z and Nas’s new album, they have each taken a sample to use in their course. Jay-Z in the song Kingdom Come samples MC Hammer’s “Can’t touch this” and Nas in the song, Hip Hop is Dead, he samples Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Godda- Da Vita”. At first glace this may see like an insignificant issue, but it seems to take away from the work. If one was to find out that the Mona Lisa was traced or it was a paint by numbers. It is almost impossible to talk about this issue and not mention Kanye West, who has sampled Ray Charles songs many a times. I would like to see hip hop getting back to the good old days, where artists came up with their own songs and stop sampling the works of others.

=**References**=

= = [|portal.php%3Fact%3Ddl%26file%3DV2VlayAxMSYxMiBQb3AgdiBIaXAgSG9wLmRvYw%3D%3D] [|+semiotic+hip+hop&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=5]. Consulted June 14th, 2006.
 * HAUPT, Adam (2003). //Hip Hop As Noise//. Online at: [|http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:9Q8osbvRwXQJ:www.cfms.uct.ac.za/courses/fam2003s/]

LIGHT, Alan (editor) – Many authors within book (1999). //The Vibe History of Hip Hop//. First Edition. Three Rivers Press, New York.

WATKINS, S. Craig (2005). //Hip Hop Matters – Politics, Pop Culture, and the Struggle for the Soul of a Movement.// Beacon Press, Boston.

Chin, F. (2002). //Young and Intelligent Hip Hop?//. Gauntlet Entertainment, University of Calgary. Calgary.

D, Davey.** **//During Hip Hop's Golden Age Sampling Was A Creative Force//****. Eye Magazine, 2 April 2006.**


 * Davis, Markeysha. (2006).** //**T**// //**HE BACKPACKER: An elegy for a hip-hop genius**////.// **The South End Newspaper, Wayne State University. Detroit, Michigan**.


 * Lyrics courtesy of //www.sing365.com//**


 * [|www.dictionary.com]

[|www.rizethemovie.com] http://www.2paclegacy.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur**