history of hip-hop
In 1953, Robert Moses, an urban builder in New York began planning to build the Cross-Bronx Expressway that would make Manhattan the center for business and wealth. It would allow people to traverse the Bronx from the suburbs of New Jersey through upper Manhattan to the suburbs of Queens in fifteen minutes.Over 60,000 Bronx residents were caught in the middle of the Expressway. As a result, Blacks and Latinos were forced to live in public housing, which would eventually be destroyed.
In addition to the unfortunate living conditions that plagued the residents in these parts of the Bronx, the unemployment increased at an astonishing rate. This caused an increase in gang activity, where gangs such as: the Black Spades, Savage Skulls, Savage Nomads, and the Ghetto Brothers, fought for power and territory.
The Hoe Avenue Peace Meeting took place on December 8, 1971. It served as a truce and inter-gang alliance after the murder of "Black Benjy," a member of the Ghetto Brothers who turned into a community activist. This historic treaty among South Bronx gangs sparked the emergence of Hip-Hop.
Originators and Innovators of Hip-Hop
Hip-Hop can be broken down into four essential elements. Through this overview we will go explore the innovators behind Deejaying, the expressionist that evolved B-Boying, the lyricist that rhymed their way into the rapping history books, and the Graffiti artist that took the movement to walls of New York city.
DEEJAYING
DJ KOOL HERC
DJ Kool Herc, the Father of Hip Hop Culture was born in West Kingston Jamaica and emigrated to the Bronx in 1967 at 12 years old. On August 11, 1973 he DJ’d a back to school party for his sister Cindy in the community Rec room at 1520 Sedgqick Ave. He performed the ground breaking art form of the Merry-Go-Round using two Turntables at one time and coined the term, “b-boys”, for breakdancers who reacted to his music.
Soon Kool Herc had to move the party outside from 1520 Sedgwick Ave. to Cedar Park, and hot wired a street lamp to power his Herculord speakers. Three thousand people showed up in complete darkness that summer night.
By 1974, Kool Herc’s parties were held outside at block parties where people from allages and races can witness and participate.
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa lived in the legendary Bronx River Projects and rose to divisional gang leader of the Black Spades. After a life changing visit to Mother-Africa, he decided to use his street leadership to turn those involved in gang life into something positive through Hip Hop. This began his development of the Universal Zulu Nation, a group of racially and politically aware people involved in Hip Hop Culture.
Grandmaster Flash
Grand Master Flash was known to have invented the “Backspin Technique” and “Punch Phrasing”.
grand wizard theodore
As an apprentice under Grand Master Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore is well known as the inventor of scratching.
B-Boying
B-Boying consisted of moves like the top or up rock, footwork, spinning moves (power moves), and freeze. The term "B-Boy" or "B-Boying" was created by Kool Herc who he described the dancing as reaching a tipping (breaking) point or trance state. Later, the term referred to dancing to the break part of music. The first generation of B-Boys were dancers, such as: "Nigga Twins", "Clark Kent", "Zulu Kings", and Spy "The Man with A Thousand Moves".
From a Dying Art to A movement
By 1976, B-Boying was dying out; however, Puerto Ricans became involved once Kool Herc brought the parties outside. The Rock Steady Crew helped popularize Hip-Hop to the mainstream and keep the dance form alive.
A spread Across America
« The Rock Steady Crew’s scene in the movie, Flashdance (1983), allowed people from all over the United States to see B-Boying for the first time.
« Wild Style (1983) was the first movie to incorporate all of the elements of Hip-Hop.
« Beat Street (1984) gave a glimpse of the struggles and triumphs of life in the Bronx.
Rapping
Coke La Rock
Coke La Rock is considered the first true MC (Mic Controller) in Hip-Hop history. While DJ Kool Herc was laying the foundation of Hip- Hop culture at 1520 Sedgwick Ave and Cedar Park, he brought from his native Jamaica the elements of early dub music, among them toasting over an instrumental beat.
”Kool Herc was creating a whole new type of party vibe combining the funky beats and the mic together. I realized that people would not only get down to the music but go-off when I would rap over the record Herc was playing.” ~ Coke La Rock
Click on the image to watch the video for "Rapper's Delight".
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE
On July 1, 1982, "The Message" was released by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. "The Message" was the first Hip-Hop song to provide a social commentary rather than the boasting or party chants known to be prominent in earlier rapping. The song described the stress of inner city poverty in New York.
Click on the image to watch Grandmaster Caz explain why he considers Coke La Rock to be Hip-Hop's first emcee on VladTV.
The Cold Crush Brothers
The Cold Crush Brothers formed in 1978 in the Bronx. They were especially known for their routines. which consisted of harmonies and melodies, which would eventually set the standard for emceeing. Their live performances were taped and distributed worldwide. Their notoriety landed them a feature in the 1982 movie, "Wild Style".
Sugar hill gang
In 1979, Sugar Hill Gang released the hit single, “Rapper’s Delight.” While it became a commercial hit, it was considered controversial in the underground scene mainly because some of the lyrics were actually stolen from Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers.
Click on the image to watch the video for "The Message".
GRAFFITI
Taki 183
On July 21, 1971, The New York Times did an article about Taki 183 called “Taki 183”Spawns Pen Pals.
Where Did it begin?
There are many arguments based on when and where Graffiti started; nevertheless, Graffiti in New York played a pivotal role in Hip-Hop culture.
Phase 2 literally took Grafffiti to another phase by incorporating bubble letters. By 1972,Phase 2 first used an early version of the "bubble letter" or "softie". He had a variety of softies such as "phasemagorical phantastic" (bubble letters with stars), "bubble cloud", and "bubble drip."[ He is also credited with pioneering the use of arrows.
phase 2
kase 2
Kase2 was a Graffiti writer who popularized his "computer rock" style, a form of Wildstyle where letters are broken into boxes and scrambled. He was featured in the original Hip-Hop documentary "Style Wars". He played a pivotal role in style and innovation and was considered the "King of Style", despite only having one arm.
