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?

Will a Mayweather and Pacquiao Fight Ever Take Place

The Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight has become a touchy topic over the years, especially the last few months. The conversation is surrounded by controversy. Some say Floyd is a scaredy-cat of Manny. Others say Pacquiao is a cheating misfit. I’ve even heard people say Floyd is just not that interested in boxing anymore (he’s got too much business and hanging out with celebs i.e. 50 Cent). This story has many different layers so let’s get to it.

Doubts Loom …Will a Mayweather and Pacquiao Fight Ever Take Place

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world. His record is 43 wins and 0 losses. Twenty-six of those wins were by knockout. Floyd is also a five-division world champion. Right now Mayweather is the World Boxing Council Welterweight Champion.

Manny Pacquiao has a pretty impressive resume as well. Pacquiao’s record is 54 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws. Thirty-eight of those wins were by knockout. Manny is also the first ever to be an eight-division world champion. Many people say Manny Pacquiao is the best contender for Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Who Knows if a Mayweather and Pacquiao Fight Ever Take Place

There has been many setbacks to this Pacquiao and Mayweather fight. Mayweather said he wanted Pacquiao to get an Olympic style drug test. Mayweather said Pacquiao must have a 14 day no blood testing window for him to get in the ring. Pacquiao said he would take the blood test but he needed a 24 day no blood testing window. Manny said he would be a weaker fighter taking blood test that close to the fight. Floyd Mayweather also didn’t agree with a 50-50 money split.  So of course that brought more drama to the situation. Still, the demand for this fight is still high for the fans of boxing.

So, will a Mayweather and Pacquiao fight ever take place? I’m going to say yes just to follow my optimistic nature. I believe eventually both fighters will stop all this money and drug testing talk and actually become what they are: FIGHTERS. You must have the mentality of I’ll fight anybody like in the old days, because that’s how you gain respect of the people. I understand people want and have to get paid, but trust me the money will come. If you’re a fighter and you want to go down as one of the greatest then you have defeat the greatest in your era. I think they both understand that.

So ladies and gentlemen…let’s get ready to…well not just yet; but soon I’m hoping and we’ll all be keeping the question in the back of our minds; will a Mayweather and Pacquiao fight ever take place?

Benjamin 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?

Two and a Half Men: Is Ashton Kutcher a Better Replacement for Charlie Sheen?

The CBS television show “Two and a Half Men” has been on air for 9 seasons. Out of those 9 seasons Charlie Sheen has been the main character for 8 seasons. Ashton Kutcher was chosen to replace Charlie Sheen for season 9.  There were various reasons as to why Sheen and the producers couldn’t get along, and as to why the producers had to do what they had to do. Still, was replacing Charlie Sheen with Ashton Kutcher the best thing to do, is the question?

Is Ashton Kutcher a BETTER replacement for Charlie Sheen?

Is Ashton Kutcher a BETTER Replacement for Charlie Sheen?

Let me give you a brief summary as to how all this started. First of all, Charlie Sheen stayed going to rehab for his…issues. He could never stay of trouble and control his anger. At the end of the 7th season, he even turned down CBS’s one million dollar offer per episode. He said it was not enough money. Charlie Sheen and CBS eventually came to an agreement and Charlie decided to stay on the show.

This still didn’t stop Sheen from being a problem. He started speaking really negatively about the creator of “Two and a Half Men” Chuck Lorre. Chuck Lorre decided to stop progress of the eighth season. This made Charlie more furious and he verbally attacked Chuck even more. Things seemed like they were really at a point of no return.

Two and a Half Men: Is Ashton Kutcher a Better Replacement for Charlie Sheen?

Eventually, things settled down a little and Charlie said he and the producers were discussing him coming back.  Lorre still didn’t want to make amends with Charlie. He said he already had a story line that would cut Charlie out and put someone else in the picture. This someone else was Ashton Kutcher who had tremendous success with “That 70s Show“.

The first episode with Ashton Kutcher the creators literally killed Charlie Sheen’s character.  Ashton finished the 9th season and he gave a great performance. The ratings for the show even went up. The question still remains though, is Ashton Kutcher a BETTER replacement for Charlie Sheen.

Is Ashton Kutcher a BETTER replacement for Charlie Sheen? I Think NOT!

As of right now, my answer is a stern NO. Charlie just made you feel like you knew him after the show was over. He put his mark all over “Two and a Half Men“. It’s going to take Ashton a long time to accomplish what Charlie accomplished with “Two and a Half Men“. It’s also going to take a while for people to just FORGET about Charlie Sheen. Still though, Ashton did a wonderful job his first season and I’m even looking forward to his second season. I just hope they find some bizarre way to actually bring the character Charlie Harper back in action.

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?