2023 marks a pivotal year for music as it celebrates half a century of Hip Hop.
Hip Hop is recognised by its strong rhythmic beat and accompanied by a vocal rapping track.
It all started back in the 1970s at the city that never sleeps, New York.
There were three musicians that pioneered hip hop who form part of the “Holy Trinity.”
DJ Kool Herc
Clive Campbell who goes by Kool Herc is an American DJ of Jamaican Descent.
On August 11th 1973, he played his “back-to-school jam” at a party hosted by his younger sister Cindy in his Bronx apartment.
His set proved to be historical as he introduced break beating.
This was a technique that sampled other music genres like funk and soul which made people break into dance.
Afrika Bambaata
Nicknamed “The Godfather”, Bambaata is a music producer who in the late 70s formed Universal Zulu Nation.
This was a musical organisation that used hip hop to promote peace and unity.
It was seen as a way for the urban youth to stay away from their troubled gang life.
Afrika introduced the four pillars of hip hop which consisted of DJing, Rapping, Breakdancing and Visual Art.
Grandmaster Flash
He is an innovator that introduced several DJ techniques such as the Backspin and Scratching.
In 1976, he formed his group called Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
The group showed off a unique style that blended rapping and DJing.
Their songs were some of the most influential of the genre with “The Message” being their most important.
It was one of the first hip hop songs to feature social commentary lyrics.
From there, hip hop started hitting the scene with the first record titled Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang released in 1979.
The song ended up reaching the top 40 of the US billboard charts.
The 1980s saw hip hop enter a new phase.
Many artists like LL Cool J and Run DMC brought new ideas to the table.
Roland’s 808 drum machines were the weapon of choice for music producers which helped create original patterns.
Sampling was cheaper to use which let artists experiment with plenty of options at their disposal.
Fashion also changed with many going for sportswear, distinctive hairstyles, bucket hats, sneakers, and jewellery to style out.
The 1990s were considered as the golden age of hip hop and took the world by storm.
Record labels like Def Jam saw the genre as a golden opportunity for investing and release songs at a rapid-fire pace.
This proved to be a massive success and introduced a new wave of artists like Notorious B.I.G, Tupac Shakur, and the Wu Tang Clan.
It also saw the birth of gangster rap with NWA being a prime example.
Their songs, whilst ground-breaking, were controversial due to their aggressive lyrics about police brutality and LA street life.
Their first album “Straight Outta Compton” was one of the first to feature a Parental Advisory rating.
By the end of the decade, Hip Hop became more commercialised and eventually an all time best seller.
In 1995, the Grammy Awards introduced Best Rap Album which was given to Naughty By Nature with Poverty’s Paradise.
More artists arrived onto the scene as the years went by which also meant new rapping styles.
Eminem, Dr Dre, Kendrick Lamar, the list just keeps on going!
West Coast Rap and Alternative Rap were some of the many examples of styles introduced to the public.
Hip Hop continues to be dominant across the world and despite turning 50, it shows zero signs of slowing down.
Celebrations of the genre’s anniversary are well underway this year.
Last Sunday’s Grammys showcased a special ensemble performance with artists like Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, and Public Enemy taking the stage.
The Bronx will collaborate with the Universal Hip Hop Museum to stage 50 special events over 50 days.
Multiple exhibitions will also be open for the public worldwide.
Are you a fan of hip hop music?
If so, who is your favourite artist?
Contact us and let us know!
