Elsa

Hip Hop music was considered a musical art form not meant to survive the forty years
it lasted. With persistence, hip hop has strengthened to become a world-wide culture.
Within its existence, hip hop has evolved into many forms. These forms include;
gangster rap, political rap, and even religious rap. Government has attempted to slow
down the growth with opposite results by censoring themusic. These actions have only
flamed the popularity of the genre. One contributing factor to this movement is
underground hip hop and the style it represents. This style is strengthening its popularity
influencing people and they way they behave.

Hip Hop has outlasted the notion that is was a short term “flash in the pan.” It started
in the early 1970’s in Bronx, New York. The genre consistedof rhythmic vocals
accompanying by samplings of older music given a heavier percussion. The vocals,
referred to as “rap or emceeing”. is a “spoken word poetry” melodic to a beat. These
lyrics were given beats by the disk jockey referred to as a “DJ” . Dj’s would use
synthesizers and prerecorded songs called samples as there instrument. “Scratching and
beat boxing also added flare to themusic. This styles was danced to using break dancing
techniques. Also referred to as “b-boying”, break dancing often included difficult
sporadic movements made to the rhyme of the music. Some believe that “b-boying”
replaced violent activities amongst gang members. These gang members would often
have dance performances to claim there turf. Graffiti has also became a part of the
culture and lookedat as another form of artistic expression. DJ Kool Herc, the “father
of hip hop”, is credited for pioneering of hip hop. Others include, Afrika Bambaata, Run
DMC, Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick, and Kurtis Blow. Some consider James Brown as a
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“god father of hip hop”.

Throughout the years, hip hop has promoted different styles. Many regions of the U.S.
have transformed it while addingnew influences. Many speculate that gangster rap
started in the east coast, yet west coast performers such as Ice-T, N.W.A, Tupac Shakur,
Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre have adopted this style topping the charts with hit records. The
subject matter involved in the raps involved guns, drugs, violence, money, and women.
Often rappers would create controversy with other rappers by creating “ diss” songs.These diss songs created a east coast west coast rivalry that helped popularize the music.
The east coast scene reinvented itself by creating more of a struggling hard life sound.
Acts such as Nas, Biggie Smalls, and Jay-Z spoke of rough childhoods on welfare with
parents under the influence of drugs and alcohol. These topics created a darker more
disturbing sound that people could relatewith. The Wu-Tang Clan created a dark “horror
core” act where violence was intertwined with scientific and religious knowledge. With a
rap scene dominated by west and east coast acts, the southern region was catching on to
the rap movement. Acts such as Two Live Crew , The Getto Boys, and 8 Ball, were
rising in popularity. In the early 1990’s, Atlanta became a prominent city on the hip hop
map.Groups such as Outkast and Goodie Mob redefined the music giving it a deep
soulful sound. The subject matter was similar to other raps, however the lifestyle didn’t
take place in a urban setting. They also spoke on southern issues such as poverty and
racism, while highlighting church and family. The sampled music was a slower style of
music reflecting artist from that region. In the south,they created their own style of
language that separated from other regions. One term used was “crunk”, which means
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stoned, drunk, and disorderly.

The same way hip hop gained fans is the same way it has made enemies. To many
critics, hip hop is considered overly provocative with explicit lyrics demeaning women
while advocating drugs, alcohol, and criminal activity. Many consider this...