Hip-Hop

• Hip-hop originated through gang culture in the South Bronx, New York, but did not gain the name ‘Hip-Hop’ until much later after its roots were planted into the music world. Zulu nation was a notorious gang at the time, but saw errors in there ways and could only see corruption. To bring the area to peace the gang saw music as an answer to constant violence, and would go into the streets and set up illegal street raves, but even though it was illegal police wouldn’t bother the free expression of the people as it was a way to keep them out of more serious crimes. In its early stages there was never MCs ‘rapping’ over the beats though and would only make announcements. ‘Rapping’ is not actually recognised as a necessary key feature to class music into the genre, Hip-Hop is actually the culture of the music and is the reflection of the people that make it.

The Origin of Hip-Hop

• The hip-hop genre is extremely varied, beats within the music can range from light to heavy, and by that I mean the impact they have within the song, a heavy beat will have a lot of dominance within the song and can overpower the vocals, but that can be purposeful, and many modern many experimental rappers will try to push boundaries on what’s accepted within the community of the genre. Small factors like this are what split opinions within the fans of the genre, the fans are very loyal to their sub-genre. The music genre can also be used as a way of expression through gangs, many members of gangs will produce tracks dissing other rappers to assert authority. Evidence of this is the death of Chicago rapper ‘Lil Jojo’ with the result of his death being because of a dis track he released. But the time of 2010 Hip-Hop became the most listened to genre in the world; in total the annual genre income peaks at 500 billion, a phenomenal statistic.

Main Hip-Hop artists

Old-school Artists• The Notorious B.I.G• Tupac• N.W.A• Big Daddy Kane• RUN DMC• Rakim• Tribe called Quest • Dr Dre• Eminem• Snoop Doggy Dog• The Pharcyde• Big L• Big Pun• Camp Lo• Wu-Tang• Method man & Redman• OutKast• Nate Dogg• Public Enemy• Puff Daddy • LL Cool J

Main Hip-Hop artists

New-school Artists • Tyler the Creator• Drake• The Game• Gucci Mane• Father• High Focus Records (Big in the UK)• A$AP MOB• Joey Bada$$• Kanye West• Keith Ape• Kendrick Lamar• Flatbush Zombies• Young Thug• Ca$h Out• J.cole• Run the Jewels

Hip-Hop awards

2015 Hip-Hop awards• Best Lyricist of the year – Kendrick Lamar• MVP of the year – Drake • Best Club Banger – I don’t fuck with you (Big Sean, E-40)• Best track of the year – Trap Queen (Fetty Wrap)• I am Hip-Hop icon award - Scarface

Key elements and styles

The hip-hop style is massively influences by the culture in which is brought up in, hip-hop will vary from state to state, country to country. Within hip-hop there's a famous rivalry between the west coast and east coast, California verses New York. They will go on to insult each other with ones lyrics and intimidate each other.

Nowadays Hip-Hop will usually consist of a heavy kick drum followed by deep baselines, this is a most frequently found in the city of Atlanta, probably the most up and coming Hip-Hop city within America, rap from this culture is locally referred to as trap. 808 Kick drum is a tool used when making the beats, it’s allows a heavy base kick to be added to the instrumentals giving it that ‘rude’ ‘thug’ sound.

Examples of new and old

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXZxipry6kE• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaJXp_zMYM• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEG2VTHS9yg• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEnwXYJcSZc• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqu1-BzrQUI