Hip Hop

Hip hop is a subculture that originated in African-American communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically within the Bronx.[1][2][3] While the term is often used to refer to hip hopmusic, in its broader sense hip hop culture is characterized by the four elements of rapping, DJing, hip hop dance and graffiti.[1]
The origins of the subculture stems from the block parties of DJ KoolHerc at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, where Herc would mix samples of existing records with his own shouts to the crowd and dancers. Kool Herc is credited as the 'father' of the art form. DJ Afrika Bambaataaof the hip-hop collective Zulu Nation outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, B-boying and graffiti writing.[4][5][6][7][8] Since its emergence in the South Bronx, hip hop culturehas spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the world.[9] Hip hop music first emerged with Kool Herc and contemporary disc jockeys and imitators creating rhythmic beats by loopingbreaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by "rap", a rhythmic style of chanting or poetrypresented in 16 bar measures or time frames, and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip hop DJs. An original form ofdancing and particular styles of dress arose among fans of this new music. These elements experienced considerable refinement and development over the course of the history of the culture.
Hip hop issimultaneously a new and old phenomenon; the importance of sampling to the art form means that much of the culture has revolved around the idea of updating classic recordings, attitudes, andexperiences for modern audiences - called "flipping" within the culture.[citation needed] It follows in the footsteps of earlier American musical genres blues, jazz, and rock and roll in having become one of...