What is Hip-Hop?
What does hip hop mean to you?
Hip-Hop has change over time. The way people see it, the way they dress, the way they act, and how much money they make. Hip-Hop was born in the West Bronx New York. This was before the fame, cash, cars, and jewels. People use to flow for fun. Freestyling is what the called it. That is were you would here a beat, take your time to start, and start saying whatever came to your mind. Some people took this very seriously. But Most people just had fun with it. I will be talking about were hip-hop originated from to were hip-hop is heading for the future.
Nowadays if you ask most people to give a definition of "hip hop", they're likely to state that it's the reciting of rhymes to the best of music. It's a form of expression that finds its roots buried deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition. Throughout history here in America there has always been some form of verbal acrobatics or jousting involving rhymes within the Afro-American community. Signifying, testifying, Shining of the Titanic, the Dozens, school yard rhymes, prison 'jail house' rhymes and double Dutch jump rope' rhymes are some of the names and ways that various forms of hip hop have manifested.
In the early 70's, a Jamaican dj known as Kool Herc moved from Kingston to NY's West Bronx. Here, he attempted to incorporate his Jamaican style of dj which involved reciting improvised rhymes over the dub versions of his reggae records. But at the time New York was not interested in reggae music. But it gave people some ideas and some realization on what they can really do.
Hip-hop caught on because it offered young urban New Yorkers a chance to freely express themselves. This was basically the same reason why any of the African American verbal/rhyme games manifested themselves in the past. More importantly, it was an art form accessible to anyone. One didn't need a lot of money or expensive resources to rhyme. One didn't have to invest in lessons, or anything like that. Hip-hop was a verbal skill that could be practiced and sharpen to perfection at almost anytime. Hip-hop also became popular because it offered unlimited challenges. There were no real set rules, except to be original and to rhyme on time to the beat of music. Anything was possible. One could make up a hip hop about the man in the moon or how good his dj was. The ultimate goal was to be perceived as being 'def (good) by one's group.
Expressing your feelings is a culture from which hip-hop emerged. Initially it consisted of four main elements: graffiti art, break dancing, dj (cuttin' and scratching) and emceeing (rapping). Hip-hop is a lifestyle with its own language, style of dress, music and mind set that is continuously evolving. Nowadays because break dancing and graffiti aren't as prominent the words “hip-hop” and “rapping” have been used in the same structure. However it should be noted that all aspects of hip-hop culture still exists. They've just evolved onto new levels.
Hip hop continues to be a direct response to an older generation's rejection of the values and needs of young people. Initially all of hip-hop's major acts were forms of self-expression. The driving force behind all these activities was people's desire to be seen and heard. Hip-hop came about because of some major format changes that took place within Black radio during the early 70's. Prior to hip-hop, black radio stations played an important role in the community be being a musical and cultural preserver or storytellers. It reflected the customs and values of the day in particular communities. It set the tone and created the climate for which people governed their lives as this was a primary source of information and enjoyment. This was particularly true for young people. The importance of Black radio and the role djs played within the African American community has been the topic of numerous speeches from some very prominent individuals. For example in August of 1967, "Martin Luther King Jr addressed the Association of Television and Radio Broadcasters. Here he delivered an eloquent speech in which he let it be known that Black radio djs played an intricate part in helping keep the Civil Rights Movement alive." "He noted that while television and newspapers were popular and often times more effective mediums, they rarely language themselves so that Black folks could relate to them."
Hip-Hop is now main stream music. It has change from being a way to express your self amd feelings to its a quick way to get money. In my opinion their is no more hip hop. It is just rap music, pop, R&B, rock, jazz, etc. But music itself has change for the better. As you may know or hear that many groups, preformers, artistes, and all kinds of people are coming together and making music. The music life use to be seprated. Now everyone is working with anybody who is different and intersting. So you can say that hip-hop might be gone but we have something thats even better now.
So hip hop was not just song, beats, flowing, it was a language that was spoken from the heart of the black community. Hip-hop will forever be remember by people who lived, heard stories, or know people who lived through a great era.
Hip-Hop
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