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What is Hip Hop?
Hip Hop is largely a sub-culture within a larger culture centred originally around dance (bboying), turn-tables (Dj-ing), Emceeing (shoutouts and dedications) and graffiti.
However, hip-hop has managed to evolve into more than just the four initially defining elements. It assumed the status of being a community's conscience and advocate for enlightenment. As such, hip-hop has acquired great variety from place to place depending on what message is dimmed most befitting in those particular sectors of society. But generally, hip-hop, upon assuming such a demanding role, has had to become more direct and clear in its message, resulting in a shift from seemingly nonsensical rapping into very skillful rhyme deliveries involving a crafty use of words, metaphors and rhyme patterns.
1993 saw the beginning of this dramatic shift from just rapping to thoughtful emceeing. At ths point, it should be evident that what is depicted on MTV and other media is not Hip-Hop but some tangency eminating from a noble way of life and culture. Call that stuff on mass media rap music but not Hip-Hop.
Today, real hip-hop music can be hard to find but nonetheless, it is available for those who really want it. It is enjoyed all across the world, and, underground hip-hop, as it is refered in SADC Africa is becoming more and more accessible.
Hip Hop, The Roots, De La Soul, Mos Def, Common Sense, Dead Prez, Last Emperor, Master Ace, Immortal Technique, Mos Def, Talib Kweli etc...
Hip Hop - video
Hip Hop - what is it?
A widely misunderstood CULTURE that is centered around 4 pillars: DJing, rapping, b-boying and graffiti writing. The culture is based upon the idea of peace and love in poor ghetto communities and that street violence should be replaced by rap battles, and that battles should be fought not with guns but with the mind.
Although hip-hop music is usually mistaken for rap music, the two are similar but not the same. They are performed in the same way, i.e. by speaking rhythmically over a beat with occasional support from a DJ, hip-hop music is more community-oriented. MCs usually discuss living in the ghetto and the rough conditions that their people face (The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five is a great example of this), one or more of the four pillars of Hip Hop (Out for Fame by KRS-One), or Hip Hop culture, its history, and their own personal experiences with the music (Hip Hop Lives by KRS-One, or I Used to Love H.E.R. by Common Sense). Rap music can be centered around any number of things, usually, though not always, about material things (Hypnotize by The Notorious B.I.G.) and/or sex (Lollipop by Lil' Wayne). Rap music also glorifies the ideas of being a gangster, while Hip Hop discusses the matter in a neutral or negative matter (Changes by 2pac).
Hip means to know, its a form of intelligence,
To be hip is to be update and relevant,
Hop is a form of movement,
You can't observe a hop, you gotta hop up and do it,
Hip and Hop is more than music,
Hip is the knowledge, hop is the movement,
Hip and Hop is intelligent movement,
Or relevant movement, we sellin' the music.
- KRS-One & Marley Marl, "Hip Hop Lives"
JUST TO CLARIFY: Although many think rap music and culture is bad, rap is not. It is the sister to hip hop, separated only by subject matter and small differences in culture. Though much of what one hears on the radio is indeed rap, rap is just as misunderstood as Hip Hop is. A true Hip Hop head knows to respect all people and their ideas, for all people have rights to their own beliefs.
What does "Hip Hop" mean?
Hip Hop became huge in the early 80's and is the culture that includes Rap music in all it's forms and doesn't necessarily have to have a rapping in it.The earliest form consisted of a DJ and MC. Inner city, ghetto and musically inspired visual art such as graffiti, tagging, and commercial art using colorful characters, wild original fonts depicting ones name, a crews name or a gangs title.Graffiti usually acts as a claim to a territory or promotes the artist,writer, bomber or tagger. Breakdancing is an integral part of Hiphop that is a massively acrobatic and original freestyle form of dancing. Alot of the art of breakdancing is based around battling. This when individuals or groups compete against each other. The clothing worn in hip hop culture varies widely but started with sweat suits from brands like Adidas, Puma and Nike, kango hats and fat shoe laces. At one point the hot fad was plain blue jeans or Dickies work clothing and white t-shirts. The style of today is usually brightly colored hooded sweatshirts and sports teams logoed active wear.The style of hiphop has evolved into many different styles and sub genres. Hip
Hop has been the biggest new music, visual art, dancing style since Rock and Roll. Now days a hiphop song may contain Rock and roll and a rock song may contain hiphop elements.
Hip Hop is to music and culture of the 80's through today as what Rock and Roll was to music and culture in the 50's to the early 80's. They both were claimed to be just passing fads. They both were fueled with rebellion and aggression and were both opposed by religious and close minded people. Both Rock and Roll and HipHop largely inspired types of dance, clothing, visual art and slang language. They both were unaccepted by mainstream to only become mainstream later.
Hip Hop - what does it mean?
A culture that thrives on creativity and nostalgia. an artistic response to oppression. a way of expression in word/song. a culture that thrives on creativity and nostalgia. a music art form in words-stories of inner city life often with a message, spoken over beats of music. the culture includes rap and other venture spawned from the hip hop style and culture
by Alonzo Westbrook
hip hop is idea!
Hip Hop - meaning
A highly controversial form of music. This is divided into two main categories: "old-school hip-hop," and "new-school hip-hop."
“Old-school hip-hop” refers to the time when this particular genre of music came into widespread popularity. This was the time in which the artist had to strive to make excellent songs in order to expand the number of people that chose to listen to the music. This is often referred to as “the good old days of hip-hop.”
“New-school hip-hop” is entirely different from “Old-school hip-hop.” The main difference is the lack of talent and time required to make a ‘hit.’ The art of making a hip-hop song in this new age is simple:
1) Create a catchy melody of short duration (minimum of 1 second, maximum of 8). Repeat this melody throughout the entire song, without a break. It is permitted to change the octave of the melody, and any instrument (including a voice) is acceptable. The only rules this melody must adhere to is that it is a) short, and b) repetitive.
2) Write the lyrics. The lyrics must pertain to one or more of the following subjects:
a) partying
b) how much money the artist has
c) how famous the artist is
d) how attractive the subject female (or more rarely, male) is, and the features which cause that attraction
e) what position and method of sex the artist did with, or wants to do to, the subject female (or male)
3) The song MUST be repetitive to the point of annoyance and it must take no longer than 30 minutes to completely write the music and lyrics.
Those not making the clear distinction between when hip-hop was widely-considered good and its current state (extremely poor), are just as closed-minded and pathetic as those who listen to hip-hop in its current state and actually draw enjoyment from it.
Here's a list of monotonous new-age hip hop:
Cassie - Me and U
Akon - Smack That
Nelly Furtado - Say it Right
and many, MANY more
Hip Hop - definition
hip hop's not dead because millions & millions of people all around tha world still live it! hip hops not just all about tha bling bling, tha imaginary hoes, and tha computerized shiny cars in musicvideos. its not JUST a type or genre of music, it's a culture/life that people live every day. hip hop isn't just underground either.. sometimes underground artists take away the real from hip hop. sure, hip hop includes the four elements (grafitti art, djing, mcing, and breakin) but its way more then that.. hip hop is only what you yourself can define.. hip hop is real & undying so dont tell ME that hip hop is dead cause i can tell myself and everyone around there that "HIP HOP LIVES FOR ME.. I DONT LIVE FOR HIP HOP"
"ITS ALL CITY LIKE PHASE 2, HIP HOP WILL SIMPLY AMAZE YOU, CRAZE YOU, PAY YOU, DO WHATEVER YOU SAY DO, BUT BLACK, IT CAN'T SAVE YOU" --MOS DEF
people who live the life of hip hop are a few people like kanye west, talib kweli, common, mos def, the roots, hieroglyphics, de la soul, a tribe called quest
Hip Hop - slang
Hip Hop is real music that came directly from jazz and soul and incorporates elements of rap. It gets a bad rap (pun not indended) today because most mainstream music is considered hip hop, although it is in actuality pop, techno garbage. Hip Hop and rap should be a better respected art that is often overlooked because of mainstream. Most underground rap is real legitimate hip hop and takes tremendous skill to write. Check it out.
****Before you read this please know that I like both hip hop and rock****
Rock fan: Ahhh, hip hop is absolute crap and today's music is awful.
Me: Man, I love rock, but hip is real music too. Mainstream isn't real music. It's cool, just kick back, chill, and listen to some nice rap.
Hip Hop
culture in which there are 4 elements that compose it. Breakdancing, graffiti, Mcing, and DJing. Culture which has their own dance (breaking), art (graffiti), music, language, and its race is international. Every race can participate in this culture. Hip hop originally didn't start talking about hoes or drugs or gangbanging, it started as a way to show off how good you are at the element you are good for and talk about other subjeccts like love, party, protest against goverment, music to enjoy other elements with, and stuff like that. The real hip hop stays underground and never sells out to be mainstream. Once its mainstream, it should be called just rapping, not hip hop! Hip hop was born underground and should stay underground. Hip hop should also not be asociated with gangs and drugs.
Hip Hop Wont Stop
Rap is something you do, hip hop is something you live
Hip Hop
A name for the 4 elements of the late 70's New York City renaissance which includes break dancing, emceeing, (rapping) graffiti, and turntablism.
Rap is something you do Hip Hop is something you live- KRS One
Hip Hop
Hip Hop is a social-political movement created in the late 70's. Hip Hop is a culture to give people who grew up in the ghetto a voice, songs in hip hop are spoken from personal experience. Songs are usually mixed with other genres of music like rock and classical (piano), or with record players and scratchers. Break Dancing and Graffiti is also apart of hip hop as a way to express the people apart of the cultures selves, Freestyling is also a major part of hip hop along with rap battles.
"Some people argue that hip hop is dead, I believe that hip hop lives underground, the unfortunate thing is that the culture is getting smaller and smaller."
"Don't confuse hip hop for rap music, rap is just words, hip hop is the context, the beat, the dance movements, hip hop is a culture, and if you grew up in the ghetto and found a voice in hip and use personal experience in the context of your rap, and use record scratchers and mix genres of music then you are most likely apart of the culture."