Hip-Hop World

Nathaniel LaFaille-King

Griffin

Contemporary Communications

1 Mar. 2012

Hip-Hop World

Hip-hop is a form of music created which is a mix of rap, dancing, and rhythm and blues. Hip-hop in the world started in the street most notably the streets of New York City with raping, beat boxing and dancing. It now is a worldwide activity and it is made to be sold to all races, ages, and religions.

Hip-hop became popular in Bronx, New York at house parties organized by Dj Kool Herc. The parties became so popular they were moved to outdoor venues to accommodate more people. City teenagers, after years of gang violence, were looking for new ways to express themselves. These outdoor parties, hosted in parks, became a means of expression and an outlet for teenagers, where instead of getting into trouble on the streets, teens now had a place to expend their pent-up energy. Tony Tone said, “Hip hop saved a lot of lives.” At the start hip-hop received a lot of bad press due to the content of their music. It was said, "Like rock-and-roll, hip hop is vigorously opposed by conservatives because it romanticizes violence, law-breaking, and gangs"

In the nineties Gangster Rap had success being a main-steam form of music. It became popular due to rappers like Easy E, N.W.A., and Ice-T. Gangster Rap was selling in such high numbers meant that black teens were no longer hip hop’s sole buying audience. As a result, gangsta rap became a platform for artists who chose to use their music to spread politic and social messages to parts of the country that were previously unaware of what went on in the ghettos of place like Los Angeles and New York. While hip hop music now appeals to a broader demographic, media critics argue that socially and politically conscious hip-hop has been largely disregarded by mainstream America.

Today Hip Hop is in most countries and carries some of it old messages but also has more positives messages too. It became the most popular genre of music to youth and still has some of the older generation that listens to artist that reminds them of the old day or has a similar sound to the older rappers.