History of hip-hop: the emergence, features, interesting facts

Hip-hop is a cultural movement that emerged in the working-class neighborhoods of New York City in the 1970s. It was reflected in music, choreography, and visual art. Hip-hop – a subculture, which has its own philosophy.

This style is very popular in youth circles. It evolves and undergoes certain changes every year, but the main characteristics of the adherents of this culture remain the same. Distinctive features of the followers of this subculture are loose-fitting clothes, short haircuts or dreadlocks, and massive jewelry. In this article, let’s get acquainted with the history of the origin of hip-hop by Yagupov site

The emergence of the subculture

First of all, let’s get acquainted with the history of hip-hop. This trend emerged in the South Bronx in the seventies of the twentieth century. It quickly gained popularity and took its own niche in the youth culture of many countries around the world. It is not just music, but a lifestyle with its own dance, clothes and language. 

Initially hip-hop had a sharp social orientation, but at the end of the last century it gradually became part of the music industry, it changed and lost its meaning of protest. By the beginning of the twenty-first century hip-hop became commercial and became fashionable.

Despite this, some of its members continue to maintain the original traditions of this subculture and act as an opposition to the authorities, fighting against social inequality and injustice.

What does it mean

If we look at the term, hip means the moving part of the human body, and hop means movement itself. But the word hip also has another meaning, namely “mental development. All together can be interpreted as “movement of the mind.

Directions

Hip-hop has many currents, each of which develops both in connection with the others, and quite independently. They all have their own meaning. Three main trends can be distinguished. They are music, dance and graffiti. Every hip-hop follower can develop in one of them or in several. Hip-hop also has its own philosophy and slang. 

Music

This is one of the main currents of this subculture. Hip-hop is a genre in music, which, in turn, also has many trends. It comes in both easy sounding and aggressive. The content of the songs also differs in its complexity. It can be both memories of something neutral and discussion of global problems of mankind.

Next, let’s get acquainted with the history of hip-hop as music. The source of this style is funk. But do not underestimate the influence of other genres, such as soul, reggae, jazz and blues. The first performers of hip-hop were African Americans.

Old School

It is generally accepted that the founders of hip-hop in music are the people of the Bronx neighborhood in New York City. One of the founders is considered to be Kool Herc. He alternated his music with fast-reading lyrics. Later this manner was called rap. The exact date of the origin of this subculture is November 12, 1974.

What was hip-hop like at that time? It was music played by DJs at parties. It was primitive and consisted in multiple repetitions of playing other people’s compositions.

This kind of music became very popular. DJs sold cassettes with recordings of their performances. They combined mixes of different tunes, overlaid with recitative. It was the first amateur rap.

In 1970, producer Sylvia Robinson and her husband founded The Sugar Hill recording studio. Numerous DJs began to work there and record their compositions.

The year when the hip-hop music genre originated is considered 1979. That’s when the first song written in this style appeared. It was called Rapper’s Delight and was performed by The Sugarhill Gang. Such compositions were created by combining a recitative and a melody in the funk or disco style. This practice was used by many bands of the eighties.

In 1983 there were tunes with elements of the Hardcore Urban genre, and then samples from heavy metal. That’s how new-school – the style that became very popular in the mid-eighties.

The heyday of hip-hop music

The period from 1986 to 1993 was an active development of the genre. It was the “golden era” of hip-hop. During that period a lot of innovations were introduced in the music. Electronic sampling began to be used, for which elements of rock and jazz were increasingly used.

The lyrics were mostly aggressive and the music was quite commercial. With this combination hip-hop entered the mainstream. There was a confrontation between rappers in the subculture. This phenomenon was called “beef”.

The period from 1993 to 1994 was called the “second golden age” of hip-hop. At this time a lot of compositions emerged, which were later recognized as classics of the genre. During these years, new subtypes of hip-hop emerged. This period was also marked by the confrontation between Western musicians and Eastern musicians, which led to the murder of two artists – representatives of both coasts – 2Pac and Biggie

2000s

At the beginning of the new century, the history of hip-hop is characterized by a complete break from the genre’s origins. This was helped by the popularization of gangsta rap, which was preceded by the release of Coolio Gangsta’s Paradise album, which broke out on MTV. The genre became commercial. Such compositions were quite harsh and aggressive. Hip-hop at that time carried the propaganda of crime and its values.

This period was also characterized by the absence of a leading group of artists. Since that time, hip-hop was represented not only by rappers from California, but also by performers from other regions. New genres appeared, as well as mixes with different musical directions.

In 2004, for the first time in the history of hip-hop, a Grammy Award for Best Album was given to its artists, the duo OutKast.

Dance

Hip-hop is not just music. This concept combines several trends. Let’s get acquainted with the history of hip-hop as a dance briefly.

The style is characterized by high activity. It combines a variety of movements, rotations, jumps and rocking the whole body. The performers during the dance are quite relaxed and shameless. It bears a resemblance to the movements of African American tribes around a campfire.

Hip-hop dance, as well as music, includes quite a few trends. It refers to street styles. History of hip-hop dance began in the seventies of the last century. It is performed, as a rule, under the music of the genre. It includes breakdancing, locking and popping.

Hip-hop dance entered the mainstream, thanks to feature films that told the audience about this subculture. These are films such as “Wild Style” and “Break Dance”.

Following that, began to open studios, teaching everyone who wants to dance in the style of hip-hop. Classical dancers studied this direction to create joint numbers with street teams.

In the late twentieth – early twenty-first century, hip-hop continued to gain popularity and gain fans in different countries around the world. In Europe at this time there were several hip-hop dance competitions. Shows dedicated to the subculture and new films began to appear.

The history of hip-hop as a dance includes the appearance of freestyle competitions. Followers of this trend often organize such battles among themselves. Hip-hop is popular among young people, as it provides an opportunity for self-expression, and sometimes aggression. Through this dance can express their individuality and creativity.

Hip-hop can be entertainment, a hobby, and a way to earn money. It is performed both on the streets and parties, and on stage, in movies and plays.

Graffiti

This is another part of the hip-hop subculture. Graffiti is a form of visual art. Drawings are put on walls and fences. It can be both samples of art and just hooligan inscriptions. It is believed that the movement was started by a teenager who left his signature on the streets in 1972.

Graffiti in its current form first emerged in African-American neighborhoods as part of the nascent hip-hop subculture. In the history of its development, at first, simple improvised materials were used. It could have been a marker or a can of spray paint. At that time, such images were usually a certain philosophical meaning.

In the seventies the adherents of graffiti often chose subway cars for creativity. They used the night time for their goal and in the morning subway passengers were surprised to see these masterpieces. Gradually, the art of graffiti underwent great changes. The drawings became more meaningful and more legal.

Over time, many of the show’s founders began to engage graffiti artists and exhibit their creations in their galleries.

Impact on Society

Many sociologists of modernity agree in the assumption that hip-hop in various issues has the ability to influence the opinion of society. The fact is that, barely had time to originate, this direction very quickly gained popularity and took a position of protest. This previously was not peculiar to the world of music.

Hip-hop is firmly rooted in the masses, not only as an art genre, but also as a social movement. The songs reveal many of the problems that concern the population: issues of poverty, drug addiction, crime.

It was hip-hop at the end of the twentieth century that led to many social reforms. It was also the impetus for a revision of stereotypes about African Americans as the source of crime and other problems. People no longer saw them as a focus of evil, but rather as a victim of circumstance. Hip-hop influenced politics in the U.S., Canada, and many European countries. As a consequence, measures were taken to overcome crime and poverty.

One often hears the opinion that today’s hip-hop is different from classic hip-hop, it is less focused on social issues. Many do not agree with such a statement. A lot of people from that subculture are involved in charity events. They also become businessmen, actors and public figures capable of influencing the opinion of the masses.

In the course of its history, hip-hop became a kind of weapon to fight against injustice. Many experts agree on this point. And who and when will use it – time will tell.