How Hip Hop Music Originated in New York in the Late 1970s

How Hip Hop Music Originated in New York in the Late 1970s – The Origins of Hip Hop and Rap and How it Came to Be

Origins of Hip Hop

Hip hop music originated in New York City in the late 1970s. The earliest known hip hop song was “The New style” by Gil Scott-Heron. Hip hop music is a style of music that is characterized by rhythmic patterns and spoken word poetry.

Late 1970s in New York

The origins of Hip Hop music can be traced back to New York City in the late 1970s. Hip Hop was originally a type of party music that was popular among people of African descent living in the inner city neighborhoods of New York. This form of music soon became known as rap music, and it wasn’t long before it spread to other parts of the United States and eventually to the rest of the world.

One of the earliest pioneers of Hip Hop music was DJ Kool Herc, who is credited with inventing the break beat technique. This technique involveed playing two identical records side by side on a turntable and then manipulating the playback speed in order to create a unique sound. This new sound quickly caught on with other DJs and soon there were entire clubs dedicated to playing this new type of music.

During this same time period, a new style of dance known as break dancing was also beginning to gain popularity amongst people living in the inner city neighborhoods of New York. Break dancing soon became closely associated with Hip Hop music, and together they began to gain mainstream attention in the early 1980s.

DJ Kool Herc and block parties

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a new style of music Known as Hip Hop started to develop in New York City. Hip Hop was created by African American and Latino teenagers who were influenced by the music they heard on the streets, on the radio, and in clubs. The most important figure in the development of Hip Hop was DJ Kool Herc, who is credited with inventing the style of music known as “breaking” or “scratching.”

The Four Elements of Hip Hop

Hip Hop originated in New York in the late 1970s. The four elements of Hip Hop are MCing, DJing, graffiti, and break dancing.

MCing

MCing isshort for “microphone control” or “master of ceremonies.” It’s the rap part of hip hop music and it refers to the delivery of lyrics over a beat or instrumental track. MCs use their lyrical skills to tell stories, express themselves, Battle other MCs, or promote a product or message. In the early days of hip hop, MCs would often freestyle— spit rhymes without preparing them beforehand — but today, many MCs write and memorize their lyrics.

DJing

DJing is one of the four elements of hip hop music. DJing is the art of playing pre-recorded music on a turntable or other device. The music is usually mixed in with other music to create a continuous flow. DJing was first popularized in the late 1970s by New York City DJs like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. These DJs would play records at block parties and clubs, and they developed new techniques like cutting and scratching to make their sets more interesting.

B-boying/B-girling

B-boying or b-girling is a style of street dance that originated among African American and Puerto Rican youths in New York City during the late 1970s. The dance spread worldwide via the popularity of hip hop music, particularly in America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

B-boying consists of four elements: toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes. Toprock refers to any string of moves performed from a standing position. It usually includes steps that alternate between leading with the left foot and the right foot, and can be performed in a variety of ways. Downrock refers to moves performed close to the ground; power moves are acrobatic climbs and turns; and freezes are stationary poses that emphasize style.

B-boys and b-girls often perform in cyphers—circles of dancers—in order to showcase their skills and improve their reputations within the community. Cyphers also provide an opportunity for less experienced dancers to learn from more advanced dancers.

Graffiti art

In the late 1970s, a new form of expression was born in the streets of New York City — graffiti art. This art form, which is still practiced today, involves spraying or painting words or images on public surfaces. It gained popularity among young people in the city who used it to express themselves and their feelings about society.

Graffiti art was seen as a way to rebel against the establishment and to assert one’s individuality. It soon spread to other cities in the United States and around the world. Today, graffiti art is considered an important part of hip hop culture.

The Golden Age of Hip Hop

In the late 1970s, hip hop music started to develop in New York City. This music style was a combination of various music genres including disco, soul, and funk. Rapper DJ Kool Herc is considered to be one of the pioneers of hip hop music. He is credited with developing the break-beat style of rap.

1980s and early 1990s

In the early 1980s, the first hip hop songs were created. These songs were created by DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. They used two turntables and a microphone to create music that people could dance to. This music became known as rap.

Rap became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some of the first rap songs were “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang, “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and “Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C..

In the mid 1980s, a new style of rap called gangsta rap became popular. Gangsta rap is a type of rap that often talks about violence, drugs, and sex. Some of the first gangsta rap songs were “Boyz-n-the-Hood” by Eazy-E, “N.W.A.” by N.W.A., and “Straight Outta Compton” by N.W.A..

Gangsta rap became controversial in the late 1980s and early 1990s because some people thought it was too violent and explicit. However, gangsta rap also became one of the most popular types of music in the world during this time period.

East Coast vs. West Coast

In the 1990s, two major styles of hip hop emerged from America’s East and West Coast regions. These styles were distinguished by their lyrical content and musical approach. East Coast rap was often characterized as more aggressive and street-oriented, while West Coast rap was more laid back and smooth.

The rivalry between these two styles came to a head in the mid-1990s with the homicide of West Coast rapper Tupac Shakur. This event, coupled with the widely publicized trial and conviction of his East Coast contemporary Sean “Puffy” Combs, brought an end to the “East Coast-West Coast” feud.

Contemporary Hip Hop

Hip hop music originated in New York in the late 1970s. It is a style of music that is characterized by its use of American English, often with a New York City accent. Hip hop music is often made up of rhyming lyrics that are chanted or rapped over a backing track of drums and bass.

2000s to present day

In the early 2000s, a new style of hip hop music called Crunk began to emerge in the southern United States, especially in Atlanta. Crunk is a type of hip hop that is characterized by its “party” lyrics and heavily processed, repetitive beats. Southern hip hop artists such as Lil Jon and the Ying Yang Twins became popular with mainstream audiences in the early 2000s.

In the mid-2000s, a subgenre of hip hop called alternative hip hop began to emerge. Alternative hip hop is a style of hip hop that is more mellow and laid back than other styles of hip hop. It often features acoustic instruments and jazz influences. Common themes in alternative hip hop songs include love, nature, and social commentary. Artists such as Common, Mos Def, and De La Soul are considered to be pioneers of alternative hip hop.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, another subgenre of hip hop called trap began to emerge. Trap is a style of hip hop that is characterized by its dark and violent lyrics. It often features heavy bass beats and synth melodies. Trap songs often deal with subjects such as drug dealing, crime, and poverty. Artists such as Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka Flame are considered to be pioneers of trap music.

Worldwide popularity

During the 1980s, hip hop music culture began its spread from the United States to other parts of the world, with tracks frequently being shipped overseas to places as varied as Japan, Australia, England and the Middle East. As the music crossed cultures, it took on different characteristics in each region. In Europe and South America, for example, groups began fusing hip hop with native styles like salsa and tango. In Jamaica, DJs started to adopt a style called “toasting,” which leaned heavily on improvised rhymes and became the precursor to modern rap.