Friday, February 20, 2015

The Origins of Hip Hop: The Pillars of an Urban Culture





The Pillars of an Urban Culture
(Brought to you by The Majic Show and The Majic Show Blog conglomerates of 102thebeatfm) 

Bibliography (sources)-

1. Wikipedia:
         a. Ghetto Brothers Page
         b. Hip Hop page
2. "Hip Hop Culture" written by Emmett George Price

The Origins of Hip Hop:

Hip Hop originated in the 1970s in New York City, where block parties became popular and at these block parties; DJs used to extend the beats of popular songs so people could dance longer (and B-boys B-girls could show off their art of dance, mainly breakin'). This later transformed into having a master of ceremonies (MC), who backed up the DJ adding rhythmic rhymes to the DJ's set. Consequently, this started a whole universe of culture that became know as Hip Hop. Unlike other genres of music, there is a vibrant culture that go along with it. This culture is defined by what is referred to as the elements; there are nine in total. The first four elements are known as the "Core Four" elements (or four pillars); DJin', Rappin', B-Boyin', and Graffitin'. At the core, these four things strengthened the culture and brought about the identity of Hip Hop.
 
They led us to the Golden Era, where artists such as; Eric B. & Rakim, KRS-One, Public Enemy EPMD, Big Daddy Kane, Tragedy Khadafi, Slick Rick, Beastie Boys, Gang Starr, Ultramagnetic MCs, and Kool G Rap rocked the mic. These artists brought a deep sense of storytelling and production that innovated Hip Hop during it's beginning steps into a more mainstream culture. They turned the craft into a popular form of the music. One that brought forth a social movement that opened the ears to the youth and made them less afraid of speaking their minds when it came to social issues that plagued inner cities around the world.
 
In this sense, it was an international movement and with each song that banged through those notorious "ghetto blasters", new ears and minds were being exposed to thoughts that some didn't even know existed. It gave the American African culture a voice and an identity that most would say was stripped away by the clutches of slavery. Since I grew up during the rise of Hip Hop, I guess you can say I can look back and see the impact it once had in people's lives. Now it seems like it is reverting back to what it once was, what first caused it to explode, partying; because many people just want to party, dance, and have a good time. Maybe this will help bring it back to being the mainstream's civil rights vessel that it once was, because many of us can recognize that it is in need of one (one that is unifying). So let's take a ride into this almost forgotten vessel.
 
Let's hope into Doc's Delorean and got back to the beginning; born in the concrete jungle of the Bronx (NYC, one of the Five Burrows). It became a positive venue for young oppressed youths of the inner city (mostly African and Latino) to participate in, an outlet away from gangs. Forget about who originated it, DJ Kool Herc (Jamaica) to Grandmaster Flash (Barbados), to the Ghetto Brothers (Puerto Rico)...everyone has a piece of Hip Hop history, that makes it such a powerful genre that transcended into a culture, a way of life.
 
In New Yourk during the 70s, there were sizable contributions from; Jamaica, Haiti, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands; where many that came from there (first and second generation Americans) had a huge hand in molding the clay sculpture of Hip Hop.  Therefore, one could see that these areas and their music and culture had a big part to play influencing Hip Hop in the beginning-- some even say that these islands south of the US originated the art form.
 
Even if that is true (it depends on who you ask about this subject), the culture is a direct blueprint that was played out in the heart and soul of the united States, NYC (mainly from the mind of the Godfather, Afrika Bambaataa and later KRS-One). The doctrines of Hip Hop were basically drawn up by an artist by the name of Afrika Bambaataa, he was the one that formed the pillars that would be known as the "Core Four" of the Hip Hop culture. He helped lead inner city kids away from the oppressive roles that were handed down to them (by racism) for generations, sprouted from the beginning and end of slavery and the rise of racial inequalities.
 
These block parties were not just a place to dance, they were a place where voices could speak loudly over beats with no filters. They began to speak into the mic while music was going on, hyping everything up which later morphed into poetic rhymes. These rhymes became a direct reflection on social conditions in NYC as well as social commentation, a diary if you will (for the time). People of different racial backgrounds also gathered for these parties, consequently, it became an active ingredient that broke racial barriers (in my opinion, it still does). It became a social movement that moved all walks of life, whether you are from the suburbs, the urban areas, or a small rural town (that includes everywhere globally, especially now). It was very much so a continuation of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, Hip Hop was the new voice and torchbearer of the racial equality movement that is still being fought today.
 
It is amazing how much Hip Hop has grown. Artists of all levels, from the underground to the mainstream, are now speaking up against the social injustices that are perceived by most, to still exist in the inner cities (predominantly, and also more frequently in areas with highly populated black communites; I think you are deaf, dumb, and blind if you don't recognize this). So that is it for now and stay tuned; The Majic Show Blog is going to keep bringing you pieces on Hip Hop to show that we here at The Majic Show (on 102thebeatFM), are all about Urban Music culture and it's way of life. We want to help teach those who may have forgotten or who have never been exposed to it's great history and impact it has had all over the world.
 
Hip Hop is Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream in motion. Next part to the series is about "Rappin'"...
 
 
 
 
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