Historical And Political Influences Of Hip Hop

Hip hop, the creation of electronic sound and enticing language is a style born from the African American and Hispanic cultures. It formed in New York City from block parties and the participation of the youth culture. This style of music began as a minimal change in rhythm to a globally popular culture consisting of graffiti art, dancing, and music. Hip hop was not only a type of tasteful music, but it also became a benchmark in history. When this style of music was created, it served as an outlet for those who did not have a voice, particularly the minority groups. These groups were given rights that they deserved just like everyone else. In the 1970’s is when hip hop began to spread, creating not just

Moriayo Oduguwa African American Studies 210 Dr. Graham 16 September 2014 Discussion #3 Three Icons Influence on Hip-Hop Early Hip-Hop was defined as Disk Jockeying, Emceeing and using graffiti as an art form. The culture became popular through block parties and later, marketable as a new music genre. Many rappers, disk jockeys and business visionaries can be credited as having an effect on Hip-Hop in the 1970’s. Russell Simmons was one icon that had a big influence on Hip-Hop evolving from live music into music labels. Simmons is often viewed as a visionary within the business world.

Our book states that, “African music had ccomplex rhythms and strong beats.” Africans kept this element of their heritage even through slavery. In todays society, hip hop music is extremely popular. Only, the whites have taken this music style and made it popular and do not give credit to Africans. Cultural appropriate can also happen within looks.

The culture of hip hop has a wide variety of influences that led to its creation. Hip Hop originated in the neighborhoods

Hip hop is a genre that is shared amongst multiple minority and non minority Cultures and races. The genre is embraced as one that can be charged with politics and an outlet of rage and opinions, and one that can be lighthearted and fun. ¨During the recent wave of revolutions across the Arab world and the protests against illegitimate presidents in African countries like Guinea and Djibouti, rap music has played a critical role in articulating citizen discontent over poverty, rising food prices, blackouts, unemployment, police repression and political corruption.”(Fernandez) Hip hop is the voice of the outvoted and the oppressed, it is also the voice of change. While most other genres can also be a voice of change, hip hop is one that has been developed and adapted to be a catalyst in socio political change. While it will not help integrate black and white culture properly, it voices the citizens unrest and discomfort in a powerful and moving way that can lead to a change it is a form of activism that is typically not violent and is easily accessible. “Hip Hop activism...[has the]ability to consistently and publicly critique the state and create platforms of resistance against conditions of oppression. In this sense, Hip Hop activism, informed by histories of cultural and political struggle, may be said to follow in the tradition of Civil Rights and Black Liberation protest movements. “(Tinson and McBride) Hip hop can help change the

In the 1970s the shockwave that would be known as hip hop rose from the economic situation of New York City, especially the black and Latino neighborhoods. However, while hip hop music was born in the Bronx, it both is part of and speaks to a long line of black American and African cultural traditions. Many observers also make a connection between rap and West African griot tradition, the art of wandering storytellers known for their knowledge of local settings and superior vocal skills. Additionally, rhymed verses are an important part of African American culture in both the public and private realms.

In order to understand hip-hop dance, it is important to recognize hip-hop music and where it came from. Many scholars of rap music relate the founding of rap to African and African American oral and musical traditions, specifically African griots and storytellers. They link the rhythm of rap to the use of drums in Africa and to African American music in the United States, from slave songs and spirituals to jazz and R&B. Scholars have found very interesting connections between rap music and Black nationalist traditions (traditions historically practiced by black people that serve as part of their racial identity). Rap is similar to the “call and response of the black church, the joy and pain of the blues, the jive talk and slang of the hipsters and jazz musicians, the boasting of street talk, the sidesplitting humor of comedians, and the articulateness of black activists.” All of these African American oral traditions, including rap, can be traced back to West African oral traditions. In traditional African societies, the spoken word and oral culture included poetry, storytelling, and speaking to drumbeats. The links between rap music and African American oral and musical traditions demonstrate that hip-hop music represents more than just sound. It represents history. This aspect of it, in my opinion, makes this type of music very unique and makes it carry more value.

Just as a mirror reflects the problematic discoloration and rise of unwanted pimples or unruly hair, as does Hip Hop as it allows black youth to question and interpret the socio-economic and political ills and conditions reflecting their generation. Nixon’s declaration of the war on drugs characterized the growth of the Hip Hop generation as it aggravated the abuse and neglect directed towards African American communities. As birth products of the war on drugs, mandatory sentence minimums and racialized incarceration demonstrates the association with poor, pre-dominantly black communities. The war on drugs heavily influenced the Hip Hop generation and music; moreover, the economic, political, and social factors that impacted the African American communities formed a reflective, yet pervasive soundtrack of gangster, conscious and political rap.

It has been 30 years since Hip-Hop was first “introduced” to the world. Whether it be fashion or politics, this musical genre/culture plays a huge role in everyday life and has generated billions of dollars across the globe. In this paper I will be discussing when, where, and how Hip-Hop was created, “old school Hip-Hop, “Hip-Hop’s Golden Age”, “Hardcore rap” “Gangsta rap”, “G-Funk”, 21st century Hip-Hop, and how Hip-Hop affects society.

Throughout the past years Hip Hop and Rap artist use their music to express their views, opinions, and how they are feelings in their songs. From the artist lyrics some will have an understanding of what the artist is talking about because either they have done the same things or is having the same problem. The first amendment of the constitution is freedom of speech and that is all the artist is doing. Although there are many people saying rap music should be concealed because it spread a negative influence on the youth.

Hip-hop is an underground urban movement which emerged in the South Bronx, NY during the early 1970s. Hip-hop is composed of four basic elements; DJ-ing, emceeing (rapping), graffiti and style, and break dancing. These elements are how most people recognize hip-hop culture. Many other people think of hip-hop as just a music genre, but it is more than just a music genre. It is cultivating way of living, and several people fail to understand its true meaning. It originated as so much more than just art and entertainment. Hip-hop is the constantly evolving spirt and consciousness of urban youth that keeps recreating itself in a never-ending cycle (Global Awareness through Hip-Hop Culture Program). TIME magazine has even considered it the most important youth culture on the planet (time.com). It has, and continues to influence the young urban crowd through its music, style, and role models. Hip-hop has evolved throughout the years, and has made several changes to the music and dance, the style and clothing, and the influential roles. Both good and not so good. Nevertheless, hip-hop culture continues to influence people.

Many of people may be unaware of the fact that the birth of hip-hop was actually in 1520 on Sedgwick Avenue. DJ Kool Herc was acknowledging as the founding father of hip-hop at the time because of his unique ear of hearing and creating different music. It’s very rare that people will mention this because at the time hip-hop wasn’t a force in the music industry until the late 1990’s. It’s been approximately 30 years since the pertinent genre was actually recognized for its production in the music business. Over the time, hip-hop became legendary not only in the United States but also worldwide, which eventually led to many opportunities of exposure. Brand managers saw it as an opportunity to use hip-hop to advertise products because the amount of publicity it received. Movies, magazines, radio stations, and commercials were all great promoting tools; but was fashion the most effective of them all? Did fashion increase the relevance of hip-hop? What would hip-hop be without fashion? I find all three questions important but yet rhetorical because without fashion you have no image, which is now one of the most important traits to have when being a hip-hop star. Trends like baggy pants, high-top fades, shell toe Adidas, starter jackets, and skinny leather sweat suits are what makes the hip-hop culture unique and different form other genres. Iconic trends similar to those are what kept me modeling in the mirror trying to mimic famous hip-hop artist until no one could tell the

Hip-Hop is influential in a handful of ways, it has been an influential transit that carried into American customs throughout the globe, it was a gateway to decrease race discrimination and changed the way youth led the future by providing new ways of expression. For the majority it has been a custom ever since

Hip hop is one of the most popular genres around the world. There are many kinds of genres besides hip hop but this is one of the most listened genre around the world. This genre is increasing its popularity since it is streaming everywhere. Nielsen notes that “on-demand audio streams have reached over 184 billion streams so far in 2017, a considerable 62.4% increase over the same time period in 2016.” Although with the top streaming songs all having a direct connection to hip-hop and R&B, and everything seamlessly comes together for the tides to change in hip-hop’s direction.

Hip Hop in the most popular genre of music between all African American communities, not just in America, but worldwide. Hip Hop has expanded itself into music, fashion, advertisement, movies, and it’s given many rappers, and those associated with the genre, the chance to influence their communities, societies and their culture in general, but commercial Hip Hop in the U.S. has branded Hip Hop in a negative way. (The Young and The Hip-Hop, Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, 2012, Web, Oct. 27, 2014) This is all due to the negative imagery and negative lyrics like the term nigga, negative implications of Hip Hop include exploiting black adolescent girls, promoting unhealthy lifestyles, and implying that the open use of the word nigga is not harmful. Hip Hop has become a global phenomenon where it has evolved from a genre of music to a lifestyle for the African American community.