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Hip-Hop
Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. The four main elements of hip-hop are MCing, DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing. Some consider beatboxing the fifth element of hip hop; others might add political activism, hip hop fashion, hip hop slang or other elements as important facets of hip hop. The term has since come to be a synonym for hip hop music and rap to mainstream audiences. They are not, however, interchangeable - rapping (MCing) is the vocal expression of lyrics in sync to a rhythm beneath it; along with DJing, rapping is a part of hip hop music.
Hip hop music
U-Roy, one of the earliest Jamaican dub musiciansHip hop music is related to the griots of West Africa; traveling singers and poets whose musical style is reminiscent of hip hop. Some griot traditions came with slaves to the New World. The most important direct influence on the creation of hip hop music is the Jamaican style called dub, which arose in the 1960s. Dub musicians such as King Tubby isolated percussion breaks because dancers at clubs (sound systems) preferred the energetic rhythms of the often-short breaks. Soon, performers began speaking in sync with these rhythms. In 1967, Jamaican immigrants such as DJ Kool Herc brought dub to New York City, where it evolved into hip hop. In Jamaica, dub music has diversified into genres like ragga and dancehall.
DJ Kool HercHerc was one of the most popular DJs in early 70s New York, playing at neighborhood parties (his first gig was on Sedgewick Avenue, Bronx) (block parties), and he quickly switched from using reggae records to funk, rock and disco, since the New York audience did not particularly like reggae. Herc and other DJs extended the percussive breaks using an audio mixer and two records, and other mixing techniques soon developed. Performers spoke while the music played; these were originally called MCs (Master of Ceremonies or Mic Controller) and, later, rappers. These early rappers focused on introducing themselves and others in the audience, with some improvisation and a simple four-count beat, along with a simple chorus. Later MCs added more complex lyrics, often humorous, and incorporated sexual themes. By the end of the 1970s, hip hop music was beginning to become a major commercial and artistic force and had spread throughout the United States. During the 1980s and 1990s, hip hop gradually became mainstream (a transition usually considered to have been completed in 1992) in the US and, to a lesser degree, worldwide.
Who were the first Rappers? Why did people start scratching records? Where did Rap start? Whodini, the treacherous three, and the fat boys, Kurtis Blow The Father of the Scratch Grand Master Flash.All of this was going on in the late late 70's and the early 80's
Graffiti art
Graffiti artOne of the earliest and most important graffiti crews was the Savage Seven (later, as they increased in number, the Black Spades), who included future old school rap star Afrika Bambaataa. The Black Spades were followed by many other crews and graffiti art arose to mark boundaries between them, among other purposes. Graffiti as an art had been known since at least the 1950s, but began developing in earnest in 1969 and flourished during the 1970s. Originality was very important for graffiti artists; for example, in 1972, one well-respected graffiti artist called Super Kool replaced the dispersion cap on his spray paint with a wider one, found on a can of oven cleaner. This is still a common practice. By 1976, graffiti artists like Lee Quinones began painting whole murals using advanced techniques. Some of the most memorable of Quinones' work was political in nature, calling for an end to the arms race, for example. Graffiti may also have its roots in the Ancient Egyptian art forms of hieroglyphics.
DJing
DJing (turntablism) in hip hop refers to the art of an individual performing various forms of cutting, scratching, body tricks, needle drops, and blends between two albums on separate turntables.
Two turntables, are hooked to a receiver, an amplifier, speakers, a mixer (or fader) and various other pieces of electronic music equipment. The DJ will then perform various tricks between the two albums currently in rotation using the above listed methods. The result is a very unique sound created by the seemingly combined sound of two separate songs into one song. A DJ should not be confused with a producer of a music track.
Famous DJs are Grandmaster Flash, Mr. Magic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Scratch from EPMD, DJ Premier from Gang Starr, DJ Miz, DJ Muggs from Cyprus Hill, Tony Touch, and DJ Clue.
As far as the hip hop culture, DJs are the first element. There wasn't always rap music. MCs used to complement the DJ, getting the crowd into the DJ's mix. Hip hop used to be about expressing yourself and above all, getting your audience to dance. Lately the rap world has gone away from how things were in the beginning of hip hop, and MCs are now only known as rappers, forgetting that DJs are the reason MCs were first brought to the map. This disillusionment with the culture is what led DJs to explore the art of spinning records, which led to the whole turntablist scene.
Breakdancing
Breakdancing, known formally as B-boying or B-girling by its practitioners and followers, is a dynamic style of dance that is part of Hip Hop culture and emerged out of the Hip-Hop movement in the South Bronx of New York City during the late 20th century. Breakdancing is one of the many elements of Hip Hop culture. Commonly associated with, but distinct from, "Popping", which is one element of the Funk Styles that evolved independently in California during the late 20th century. It was common during the 1980s to see groups of people in a playground, basketball court, or sidewalk with a radio performing breakdancing shows for a large audience.
There is some speculation that breakdancing stems from the Capoeira form of dancing/martial arts which was developed by the slaves during the slavery period in Brazil.
MCing
Battling
Battling is the term in hip hop used when two MCs conduct verbal combat against each other. The purpose of battling is for both MCs to try to diminish each others lyrical "skill" and gain favor of the crowd or audience. The level of crowd impression with a particular lyricist is determined by various forms of lyrical delivery, skill, insults and their ability to "move the crowd". The crowd meanwhile reacts with gestures such as "oohs" and "aahs", response to the lyricists "requests" or an ovation at the end of a battling session. The crowd then determines who is the better lyricist thus giving the lyricist recognition and increased confidence to engage in, and win more battles.
Most "true" battles occur in various underground hip hop clubs, or even a simple place such as a street corner, these events are usually fixed contests. More well known "battle" MCs such as Canibus may go public with a battle on the radio or produce a "diss" record and call out their potential opponent. This can be done by disrespecting their lyrical skill, subject matter, or just plain not liking the person. Most public battles are publicity events used to gain exposure and acquire more fans, unfortunately some lyricist cross a personal line when battling and what was once fun leads to physical confrontation.
Now days this personal line is being crossed frequently and with a great amount of cruelty. Many argue that this part of Hip Hop has "gone too far" and as the rapper Nas said, "No women and children involved". Others feel that this is all a part of hip-hop. When a mc battles another, he wants to say anything that will make the crowd react. Even if it involves the other MC's mother or children. It may not be something personal that one may have against the other; both are simply just trying to win the battle.
Beatboxing
Beatboxing, considered by many to be the 'fifth element,' is the vocal percussion of hip hop culture. It is primarily concerned with the art of creating beats, rhythms, and melodies using the human mouth.
Beatboxing is hip hop's vocal percussion whose early pioneers include Doug E Fresh, Biz Markie, and Buffy from the Fat Boys. The term 'beatboxing' is derived from the mimicry of the first generation of drum machines, then known as beatboxes.
The art form enjoyed a strong presence in the 80s. Beatboxing declined in popularity along with breakdancing in the late 80s, and almost slipped even deeper than the underground. Beatboxing has been enjoying a resurgence since the late 90s, marked by the release of Rahzel's "Make the Music 2000." The internet has greatly aided the rebirth of modern beatboxing--on a global level never seen before--with thousands of beatboxers from over a dozen countries interacting on UK's Humanbeatbox.com.
The art form has radically evolved, extending its reach to include physical theater routines, and has integrated itself into hip hop (and other forms) of theater.
Music Production
The record producer is an often overlooked component of hip hop, sometimes confused with the DJ position. This is a misconception because not all DJs make beats, and not all producers can DJ. Although hip hop's original music consisted solely of the DJ's recycled breakbeats and other vinyl record pieces, the advent of the drum machine allowed hip hop musicians to develop partially original scores. Drum set sounds could be played either over the music from vinyl records or by themselves. The importance of quality drum sequences became the most important focus of hip hop musicians because these rhythms (beats) were the most danceable part. Consequently, drum machines were equipped to produce strong kick sounds with powerful (sine) bass behind them. This helped emulate the very well-engineered drum solos on old funk, soul and rock albums from the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s. Drum machines had a limited array of predetermined sounds, including hi-hats, snares, toms, and kick drums.
The introduction of the digital sampler changed the way hip hop was produced. A sampler can digitally record and save small sound clips from any output device, such as a turntable. Producers were able to sample their own drum sounds from the records they grew up listening to. Perhaps more importantly, they could sample horns, upright basses, guitars and pianos to play along with their drums. Hip hop had finally gathered its complete band.
What many fail to recognize is the distinct importance of the gritty, choppy sound of hip hop. The music seldom sounds like other organic forms. Even hip hop crews that have their own band often use samples and the gritty, choppy texture of machines to create their beats in the studio as featured on their album. (When performing live, they usually recreate this sound with a full band).
Beats are almost always in 4/4 time signature and almost always have a constant pattern of music throughout.
At its rhythmic core, hip hop swings. Instead of a straight 4/4 count (pop music; rock 'n' roll; etc.), hip hop is based on a triplet feel somewhat similar to the "swing" emphasis found in jazz beats. Hip hop takes this concept a step further, however. Whereas jazz swing implies three eighth notes (a triplet) per beat, hip hop implies six sixteenth notes (a "double triplet") per beat. Like the triplet emphasis in swing, hip hop's double triplet "bubble" is subtle, rarely written as it sounds (4/4 basic; the drummer adds the hip hop interpretation) and is often played in an almost "late" or laid back way.
This style was innovated predominantly in soul and funk music, where beats and thematic music were repeated for the duration of tracks. In the 1960s and 1970s, James Brown, The Godfather of Soul, talked, sung and screamed much as MCs do today. This musical style provides the perfect platform for MCs to rhyme. Hip hop music generally caters to the MC for this reason, amplifying the importance of lyrical and delivering prowess.
Instrumental hip hop is perhaps the lone exception to this rule. In this hip hop subgenre, DJs and producers are free to experiment with creating instrumental tracks. While they may mix in sampled rap vocals, they are not bound by the need to cater to an MC.
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