History

Hip-hop began in the 1970s, in New York City's Bronx neighborhood. Black youths experimented with Jamaican rhythms and improvisational beat poetry within community gathering, eventually creating a new "sound of the streets."

Significance

Culturally and politically, hip-hop has been very influential in the U.S. By the early 1990s, hip-hop had become one of the most popular styles of music. Many of the lyrical themes in hip-hop music deal with social oppression.

Features

The sound of hip-hop may feature rap, scratching, freestyling and beatboxing, and it nearly always uses samples as a means of manipulating beats. Modern hip-hop often uses synthesizers and drum machines, almost always in 4/4 time.

Identification

Recognizing hip-hop music requires an ear for lyrics and rhythm. Much of hip-hop music relies heavily on beats, usually with heavy bass. Hip-hop has evolved since its inception, but it generally attempts to maintain an urban consciousness in its content.

Misconceptions

Hip-hop is not the same as rap. Rap is the method of rhythmically reciting poetry over a beat. A hip-hop song may not feature a rap at all, as it may only contain singing or beatboxing. And rap may be used in other forms of music, like rock or indie.

Source:

"Can't Stop Won't Stop"

National Geographic Article

Resource:

Hip Hop Archive