What is Hip Hop to Us

If you don’t know about black culture a good way to learn about it is to ask the question, what is hip hop? While it is not the entire black culture, so many stories have been poetically shared through hip hop it is a large representation of what black culture is. Hip hop culture started in New York City (The Bronx to be exact) in the 1970s. The creator of hip hop was DJ Kool Herc.  Kool Herc used to have concerts at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue (which is known as hip hop’s birthplace). Afrika Bambaataa gave the four elements of hip hop which are: DJing, MC, b-boying, and graffiti art. Let me explain each element in detail.

Do You Know What Is Hip Hop?

DJ is short for disk jockey. A hip hop DJ tries to master the art of turntablism. “Turntablism” is when a DJ tampers with sounds using a mixer and turntables. Most of the time a hip hop DJ would use two turntables at the same time. In the early days of hip hop the DJ was at the forefront of the movement, but nowadays the MC is usually the celebrity.  It’s been this way since Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five came on the scene.

MC stands for “Master of Ceremonies” or a person who “Moves the Crowd”. Most people know it as rapping. An MC usually recites rhythmic poetry on a beat. The flow, content, and delivery of the rhymes is important to an MC. Rakim would be an example of a legendary MC. Most of the time rappers start off trying to master 16 bar measures.

What is Hip Hop is a question: What is rap or gangster rap is another!

Break Dancing

B-boying is also referred to as breakdancing. It started on the streets of New York primarily by African American and Latino kids. B-boys usually dance to what is called a “breakbeat”.  Breakbeats usually have a slow tempo and a 4/4 drum pattern is used. If you want a great example of what b-boying is all about, then look up Crazy Legs from the Rock Steady Crew.

Graffiti is pretty much hip hop’s visual expression. Graffiti has been around long before hip hop, but when hip hop emerged Taki 183 was one of the most notable graffiti artist. Taki 183 would go around putting his tag all around the streets New York City. The 183 stood for his address (183rd Street in Washington Heights). Another pioneer of graffiti art was Tracy 168 who created the “wildstyle” graffiti. As a matter of fact, the movie “Wildstyle” will explain to you the life of a graffiti artist.

What is Hip hop?

Hip-hop is a young art form, but it has taken the world by storm. There have been many debates about hip-hop and what it is. What I know for sure is that it consist of the four elements I have just discussed. If you’re looking for a more authentic hip-hop feel, then get the movie “Beat Street” it reveals every element of hip hop. What is hip hop is a far separate question than what is rap culture or “gangster rap?” They have commonalities but they are very different.

Ben Walker

Ben Walker is a writer on the DueDaniels.com staff, a staff that writes about things going on in the world and how to improve your life in three major areas. Leave a comment and visit the website for more info! BTW…have you heard of these two homeless guys turn millionaires and what they are doing?