Hip-Hop

Just like rock and roll is an American staple that changed the world, So is Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop has good, clever rhymes and unique, interesting beats.

Hip-Hop originated in New York City in the late 70's early 80's. Many call NY Dj Kool Herc, the father of Hip-Hop, as he has credited with creating the "breakbeat", the looping of the same short instrumental(drum break) section of a song in order to make it last a long time.(The invention of scratching the record came soon after) Soon after he started modern dj-ing, many copied him such as Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash. But, Hip-Hop as we now know it did not exist yet, then came the MC's. Dj's would talk and chant in order to make an announcement or to engage the crowd. Soon MC's starting popping up and making rhyme verses. Hip-Hop was a cultural phenomenon. B-boy would breakdance to the beat, MC's would rhyme along and the Dj's would try to outdo each other to see who could find the sickest beats. Although Hip-Hop was becoming more prominent, it was still a NY thing, it hadn't spread much yet but that changed with songs such as the Sugarhill Gang's rappers delight"(1979), Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock"(1982) and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The message"(1982)

Later on new school(which would now be called old school) rap emerged. Many influential and groundbreaking artist emerged. Run D.M.C. changes the Hip-Hop look and style by dressing in street clothes and their signature Adidas. The Beastie Boys had heavy sampling in their songs and helped to spread Hip-Hop to white audiences(since they were also white). Public Enemy had an interesting style and with political themes in their songs. Other artists included LL Coool J, Female rap group: Salt-n-Peppa, MC Hammer, and Rakim.

Then came the rise of Gansta Rap. Rapper such as N.W.A. and Ice-T would rap about life on the streets: the drugs, violence, sex and gang life in general. Rappers like the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur were arguably the biggest rappers in that era, they kicked off the East coast-West coast beef, and tragedy struck them both as they were both murdered. Other gangsta rappers included Snoop Doggy Dogg, Kid Frost, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Gangsta rap was very controversial it was shunned by many and was accused of advocating and causing violence.

Other Hip-Hop artists include the Chicano rap group Cypress Hil, The 9 man group the Wu-Tang Clan, [Criminally underated] Gang Starr, Nas, A Tribe Calles Quest, The Fugees, and many more(too many to list). More Modern artists include Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, and OutKast. 

Sadly, recent Hip-Hop has lost some of its charm. With the emergence of subgenres suck as crunk and mumble rap, it doesn't have the same charm, the great flow, rhymes, and beats that made it so good in the first place. Still, Hip-Hop Culture is now everywhere, from the clothes we wear to the way we talk. Hip-Hop culture changed America since it is now so intertwined with everyday life.