History: This section taps into the origins and influences that shape Hip-Hop culture.
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Evolution Evolution is defined as “any process of formation or growth; development”. Evolution is the scientific theory made famous by naturalist Charles Darwin. The primary concepts include natural selection, survival of the fittest, and variations based on environmental conditions and geographical location. The theory of evolution can also be applied to Hip-Hop. Where did the term Hip-Hop come from? Hip means “familiar with the latest ideas, styles, etc; informed, knowledgeable”. The movement “Hop” derived from the dancing - styles based on Brazilian capoeira, African tribal dances and Caribbean (primarily Puerto Rican/Jamaican). Intelligent movement. That is Hip-Hop. The culture of Hip-Hop originated in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s. African and Hispanic cultures blended with music of the day: funk, soul, reggae, various Spanish music genres, blues and disco. Spoken word traditions, such as West African griots, African-American poetry and the rhyme-based verbal jesting called “the dozens” provided the basis for the spoken rhyme style of the MC (Master of Ceremonies). The term “rapping” was associated with the musical form.
DJs are the backbone of Hip-Hop. Two turntables and a mixer. Crates of 33 rpm and 45 rpm records. Speakers. Set up in local parks, warehouses, private residences. The DJ would spin the music but here’s the twist: they would only use certain sections of a record. These sections became known as break beats. New audio technology eventually allowed these beats to be looped, but in the beginning – it was done manually by the DJ. Scratching was another twist. The unique sounds made by a record being pulled back and forth forcefully as the record spun. Hip-Hop has evolved since the 1970s. The first record was put on wax in 1979. It was a party/dance song called “Rappers Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. In 1982, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released “The Message”. This is considered by many hip-hop historians as the first social/political rap song ever made. In 1988, two classic albums were released: Public Enemy’s “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and Boogie Down Productions “By All Means Necessary”. These two albums were high-powered, pro-black anthologies of incredibly hard-hitting beats and furious rhymes by Chuck D (Public Enemy) and KRS-ONE (BDP). This is the basic backdrop of the history of Hip-Hop. The growth from a grass-roots movement in the parks of NYC to records played in clubs and homes to radio and, more recently, the internet. Music videos were extremely important to the spread of Hip-Hop. Early fictional films such as Beat Street and Breakin' also introduced the culture to the rest of the United States and worldwide. The evolution of the music form will be detailed in future articles. -Dogmatic |
Past
Articles
Evolution
: The Technology Impact
Lyricist
Lounge 1998: A Look Back
The
Ustream Effect
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EvolutionHipHop.com | dogmaticinsight@gmail.com
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From DJ Revolution's In 12s We Trust : "Evolution"
featuring Evidence of Dilated Peoples
Words of Brother
J of the immortal X-Clan