Hip-hop
Hip-hop is a dynamic genre of music that blends rhythmic beats with rapping, rooted in a cultural movement that began in the Bronx, New York, in 1973. Emerging from a party hosted by DJ Kool Herc, the genre incorporates various elements including break dancing and deejaying, and often conveys themes of rebellion and social commentary, particularly within the black community. Early pioneers such as Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., and Public Enemy laid the groundwork for the genre, producing influential tracks that highlighted pressing social issues of their time.
Throughout the decades, hip-hop evolved significantly, with artists like 2Pac, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West contributing to its expansion and diversification. The genre has not only remained popular but has also shaped and influenced mainstream music culture. By the 1990s and 2000s, hip-hop reached new heights, producing a range of impactful artists and introducing a variety of styles and lyrical themes. Today, contemporary figures like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Nicki Minaj continue to push the boundaries of hip-hop, showcasing its relevance and adaptability in a constantly changing musical landscape.
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Hip-hop
Hip-hop is a genre of music that involves stylized rhythmic music and rapping. With origins in the Bronx, New York, in 1973, the genre led to a whole new culture, particularly among the black community. The culture includes rapping and break dancing, and a significant portion of hip-hop music focuses on rebellion. Artists such as DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, and N.W.A. were early pioneers in the world of hip-hop. Many other artists, including 2Pac, Jay-Z, Eminem, and Kanye West, emerged later to help shape hip-hop.
Background
Hip-hop is believed to have originated at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York, on August 11, 1973. At that location on that day, Jamaican-born Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, and his sister hosted a party. DJ Kool Herc provided the entertainment, using deejay equipment that included two turntables and a mixer. He also incorporated Jamaican culture into the party. As he was deejaying, DJ Kool Herc used his turntables in an unusual way—he extended the instrumental beats, which allowed guests to dance longer (known as break dancing). Additionally, DJ Kool Herc rapped over the records while guests danced. His new style of music is considered by many to be the beginnings of hip-hop.
DJ Kool Herc took his unique deejaying style beyond the party on Sedgwick Avenue, as he began deejaying throughout the Bronx. Before long, he and his crew, the Herculoids, became a force on the area's music scene. Other DJs also rose to prominence.
As the hip-hop genre began to take off, it spurred a cultural movement, primarily in the black community. Blacks began expressing themselves through rapping, break dancing, and deejaying, often with social and political overtones. Various hip-hop artists made their names known at this time.
One group to emerge on the hip-hop scene was the Sugarhill Gang, who was the first to record a Top 40 hip-hop single. Released in 1979, "Rapper's Delight" peaked at number 36 on the pop charts and had an influence on many other hip-hop artists. The song is regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever recorded.
Another hip-hop group, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, came out with the single "The Message" in 1982. As with "Rapper's Delight," the song influenced countless other hip-hop artists and also has been touted as one of hip-hop's greatest songs of all time. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was the first rap group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Also in 1982, the hip-hop group Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force released the single "Planet Rock." The song had a similar influence on the hip-hop world as "Rapper's Delight" and "The Message" and also is considered one of the best-ever hip-hop songs.
Overview
Throughout the 1980s, the hip-hop genre continued to pick up steam, and various artists furthered the hip-hop culture. Some of the most prominent hip-hop artists of the time were Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, and N.W.A.
In 1986, Run-D.M.C. released the single "Walk This Way," an Aerosmith cover that fused rock and rap. That same year, the group came out with the album Raising Hell, which became the first rap album to top the R&B charts and also reach the top ten on the pop charts. With the release of numerous other singles and albums, Run-D.M.C. helped transform hip-hop into a tougher, more threatening genre. The group had a major impact on the world of hip-hop and staked its claim as one of the best hip-hop groups ever.
Public Enemy was also a huge influence on hip-hop. The group released music that promoted rebellion and social activism, often sparking controversy. Albums such as It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) and Fear of a Black Planet (1990) solidified Public Enemy as one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time.
Like Run-D.M.C. and Public Enemy, N.W.A. also had a significant impact on hip-hop. The group's 1988 album Straight Outta Compton helped to define the hip-hop genre, condoning rebellion and violence and leading to a great deal of controversy. The group is considered one of hip-hop's best groups ever.
The female hip hop group Salt-N-Peppa also emerged in the 80s and enjoyed success in the 90s with albums like Very Necessary (1993) and the singles "Push It" (1987), "Let's Talk About Sex" (1991), and "Whatta Man" (1993).
The hip-hop genre remained strong throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. During this time, many artists emerged on the hip-hop scene and found success. One of these artists was 2Pac, also known as Tupac Shakur. He released the album Me Against the World (1995) and the double-album All Eyez on Me (1996), among other albums. As with many other hip-hop artists, 2Pac was controversial yet influential on hip-hop.
Another artist was rapper Missy Elliot. Her most popular albums included Supa Dupa Fly (1997), Miss E... So Addictive (2001), and Under Construction (2002).
Jay-Z also enjoyed success and significantly impacted the hip-hop world, beginning in the 1990s. He debuted with the album Reasonable Doubt in 1996 and became hugely successful over the next several decades. His other albums include The Blueprint (2001), The Black Album (2003), and Magna Carta. . .Holy Grail (2013).
Also successful at this time was Eminem. Albums such as The Slim Shady LP (1999), The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), and Recovery (2010) helped Eminem become a top hip-hop artist.
Kanye West hit the hip-hop scene in the 2000s and went on to become one of the biggest and most influential hip-hop artists in the world. In 2004, he released his debut album, The College Dropout. He also came out with Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and Yeezus (2013).
As previous artists continued to influence new performers, hip-hop continued to grow as a genre. Influential hip-hop artists of the 2010s and 2020s, include Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and A$AP Rocky.
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