American Roots: Hip-Hop

 What is hip-hop? 

Hip hop is more than just music; it is a cultural movement that encompasses several artistic components. Hip hop culture is defined by four fundamental components. DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and visual/graffiti art were the initial four foundations of hip hop. These modes of expression have also spawned new subcultures with long-lasting legacies.

History of hip-hop: 

The genre originated in New York City in the 1970s as a cultural exchange among Black, Latino, and Caribbean youth.  During this time period, there was an economic catastrophe. Due to the loss of the manufacturing industry and the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway, the city's economy was collapsing. To escape the social and economic obstacles, many white middle-class families relocated to the suburbs. Migration altered populations and separated communities. Conditions deteriorated in areas that were heavily populated by African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Caribbean immigrants. Businesses started shutting down, resulting in the loss of many economic opportunities and sources of amusement. As a result, urban adolescents sought entertainment and self-expression on the streets. Block parties were made possible by the abandoned buildings and parking spaces. These block parties served as the foundation for everything linked with early hip hop culture. DJs and MCs provided the music by setting up mobile "Sound Systems." Brick walls were transformed into canvases for graffiti, while sheets of cardboard became dance floors for break-dancers.

Despair and racial barriers were transformed into multiple creative outlets by the growing hip hop culture. It also served as a means of dealing with violence.

Hip-Hop Pioneers 

Hip hop was influenced by a number of persons. The most prominent pioneers, though, are DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. These three are known as the "Holy Trinity."

DJ Kool Herc 

A Jamaican immigrant considered as hip hop's founding father, was one of the most influential hip hop pioneers. In 1973, Kool Herc and his sister held the "Back to School Jam" in the recreation room of their Bronx apartment building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. This historic gathering is credited with igniting the hip hop movement. 

He also introduced the "breakbeat" DJ method, which he derived from Jamaican dub music. Kool Herc, on the other hand, would play funk, soul, and other genres with percussive portions. He would use a pair of turntables to play two versions of the same song and then flip between them to stretch the percussive period known as the break. This breakbeat juggling DJing method was named "The Merry-Go-Round" by Herc. This breakbeat turntablism had a rapid impact on the emergence of hip hop music, rapping, and breakdancing.

Grandmaster Flash

Another DJ from Bronx, New York City -- he was the first DJ to manipulate records in a backward, forward or counterclockwise motion. He also introduced various DJing techniques like as the backspin, cutting, punch phrase, and scratching. 

In 1976, Flash created a team known as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The group gained widespread recognition as one of the most important hip-hop acts. By switching off on the lyrics between the four rappers and combining them with Flash's unmatched DJ abilities, they created a distinctive sound. By using his fingers, toes, elbows, and other objects to manipulate vinyl, Flash would also demonstrate his acrobatic DJing abilities. 

Several songs by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five had a big impact. "The Message" was their most well-known song, though. This commercial success further established rap as a genre and, for the first time, elevated rappers to the fore. In addition to describing the harsh reality, the song's powerful lyrics marked a notable departure from the early hip hop genre's typical rhythmic chanting.

Early Music Technology 

The creation of hip hop and music underwent a significant transformation in the early 1980s. Drum machines, samplers, and synthesizers all grew more affordable and available. The instrument of choice was the well-known TR-808 drum machine from Roland. Music producers no longer had to rely solely on DJ breakbeats; they could now program their own drum patterns. Due to the TR-808's strong bass drum sound, hip hop also adopted it as a mainstay.

In the 1980s, sampling technologies also became prevalent. Early samplers like the Linn 9000, E-mu SP-1200, and Akai MPC60 were used by DJs in their experiments. Instead of utilizing turntables, they employed these samplers to patch together song breaks. Producers were also able to play, arrange portions, sequence arrangements, edit, and mix music in novel ways thanks to samplers. These manufacturing techniques were an early type of remixing.

In conclusion, hip-hop has a lot of history behind it and has grown into one of the most consumed genres of music in the United States. 

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 Works Cited

Bowenbank, Starr. “Billboard Explains: The Origins of Hip-Hop.” Billboard, 25 Feb. 2023, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/billboard-explains-origins-of-hip-hop-1235260696/.

“Hip-Hop Music Guide: History of Hip-Hop and Notable Artists - 2023.” MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hip-hop-guide.

“Hip-Hop: A Culture of Vision and Voice.” The Kennedy Center, https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/hip-hop/hip-hop-a-culture-of-vision-and-voice/.

“Music History of the United States.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_history_of_the_United_States.

PQ, Rory. “Hip Hop History: From the Streets to the Mainstream: Icon Collective.” Los Angeles and Online, 22 June 2022, https://iconcollective.edu/hip-hop-history/#:~:text=Hip%20hop%20is%20a%20subculture,and%20a%20rapidly%20changing%20economy.