This document discusses the history and culture of hip hop. It originated in the 1970s in NYC among Caribbean immigrants and was inspired by African and Caribbean rhythms and traditions. The five pillars of hip hop are MCing, DJing, graffiti, breaking, and knowledge. In the 1980s and 90s, hip hop spread throughout the US and Africa and became a voice for political and social commentary. While some argue it Americanized African youth, hip hop artists in Africa developed their own styles. Today, hip hop remains an influential genre and subculture worldwide.

1. Hip Hop
AFAS 200 Topic Discussion
Alyssa Greene

2. What Hip Hop Is
 It is a lifestyle
 Uses its own language, music, wardrobe and dance
 Often people think hip-hop dance can only be
performed to hip-hop music but this is incorrect
 5 pillars of hip hop

3. 5 Pillars of Hip Hop
 Mcing
 Djing
 Graffiti Writing
 Breaking
 Knowledge

4. History of Hip Hop
 Started in NYC in the 1970s
 People who did not have professional training but had a
natural instinct for hip-hop art brought it to the streets
 First pioneers of hip hop were from the Caribbean and
brought same style & rhythms as reggae
 Hip-Hop also borrows from African traditions
 Rapping was an African tradition carried to the new world in
1400s
 Inspired by African dancing, jazz, soul and gospel
 Hip-Hop music and culture truly spread throughout the
United States and Africa in the 1980s creating a cultural
revolution.

5. Hip Hop is its own Subculture
 Hip Hip became more than just another form of music
and dance
 African youth related to all aspects of the new music
transmitting political and social commentary
 Crime, violence, poverty and other hard times were
shared through rapping and hip hop music
 Rappers such as 2pac wrote lyrics that related to many
African Americans at the time

6. Criticism in Africa
 Some Africans believed those who listened to hip-hop
were becoming Americanized and no long African
 They believed hip-hop was not African
 American Hip-Hop used certain beats and styles that
Africans were simply imitating
 Some Hip-Hop music in Africa was even in English
even though it was not a language they were
comfortable with

7. Movement of African Hip Hop
 In the mid 1990s African Hip-Hop artists were forced to
come up with their own beats
 Copywrite laws in the U.S. were being violated
 Artists started being recognized in Ghana, Nigeria
where the artists were representing one of Africa’s most
radical voices
 Today, politicians are paying attention and support
artists
 The feel artists will help them spread messages to reach
mass audiences

8. Hip Hop Rap in America
 Clubs in large cities feature DJs where hip-hop music is
played
 Many Hip-Hop rap artists today are blamed for violence
in American society
 Artists feel it is a form of self-expression from real life
experiences
 Others feel it is influential to listeners and is one of the
causes of crime

9. Hip-Hop Dance in America
 Hip- Hop Dance is often referred to as “street dance”
 Inspired by African dancing (down-to-earth movements
with complex rhythms)
 Can be seen in many different forms such as informal
battles or formal dance competitions
 Uses three major movements
 Popping
 Locking
 Breaking

10. Youtube Videos of Hip-Hop
 African Rap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5NW4k7dLQ0
 American
Rap:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgEtUuEK-
to&index=7&list=PLBE3D480394BE1A2A
 American Hip-hop Dance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFyvLuHKNTE

11. Bibliography
 http://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/
mediarace/socialsignificance.htm
 http://allafrica.com/stories/200710011449.html?page=2
 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hip-hop-dance-
history.html