Looking for the Perfect Looking for the Perfect BeatBeat

Carly Zielke & Sean Kile

Week 9

-Hip hop was born in the South Bronx out of poverty & social injustice.

-Hip hop culture consists of beats, breakdancing, & graffiti.

-Though hip hop is often associated with violence and considered to be a negative influence, it came about as an alternative to gang violence.

-It was founded by three young DJs in the late 70s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3U1iR3vfU&feature=related

IntroductionIntroduction

DJ Kool Herc

Afrika Bambaataa

Grandmaster Flash

The Founders

The Bronx (1970s)-Rising unemployment levels.

-Government funding pulled.

-NYC redevelopment plan does not include the Bronx & its future.

-People forced to move to housing project.

-Arson epidemic

-Fires not seen as a cry for help, butrather an sign of the people’s failure.

DJ Kool Herc

- Real name is Clive Campbell aka ‘The Father’ of Hip Hop.- Real name is Clive Campbell aka ‘The Father’ of Hip Hop.-Born 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica.Born 1955 in Kingston, Jamaica.-Moved to New York in 1967 with family & brought with him a love -Moved to New York in 1967 with family & brought with him a love for powerful sound systems.for powerful sound systems.-Had a difficult time fitting in with American peers, especially -Had a difficult time fitting in with American peers, especially because of his accent. because of his accent. -His apartment was burnt down & his family was forced to move to -His apartment was burnt down & his family was forced to move to lower income housing.lower income housing.-Discovered ‘The Break’ & popularized the ‘echo effect’.-Discovered ‘The Break’ & popularized the ‘echo effect’.-Gained popularity by throwing parties in his apartment building Gained popularity by throwing parties in his apartment building basement (1520 Sedgwick Avenue) & outdoors.basement (1520 Sedgwick Avenue) & outdoors.-By 1976, he was famous in the Bronx and began playing big clubs.-By 1976, he was famous in the Bronx and began playing big clubs.- Inspired many other young black youths to pursue a similar path.- Inspired many other young black youths to pursue a similar path.

Grandmaster Flash

-Real name Joseph Sadler.-Real name Joseph Sadler.

-Born in the Barbados.-Born in the Barbados.

-Polished Herc’s B-Boy appeal by polishing breaks. Unlike Herc, he -Polished Herc’s B-Boy appeal by polishing breaks. Unlike Herc, he produced music with smooth transitions.produced music with smooth transitions.

-Thus, he became known as the ‘Scientist of the Mix’. He developed -Thus, he became known as the ‘Scientist of the Mix’. He developed new techniques and technologies.new techniques and technologies.

-Like Herc’s ‘Herculoids’, Flash assembled the Furious Five to add a -Like Herc’s ‘Herculoids’, Flash assembled the Furious Five to add a new dimension to his music.new dimension to his music.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN9-K0aZXRg --Wild Style:Wild Style: 1:03:40 1:03:40

Afrika BambaataaQuickTime™ and a

TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

-Real Name is Kevin Donovan.-Real Name is Kevin Donovan.

-Born in the South Bronx.-Born in the South Bronx.

-Started throwing parties as early as age 11.-Started throwing parties as early as age 11.

-After visiting Africa he formed the Zulu Nation.-After visiting Africa he formed the Zulu Nation.

-The Zulu Nation rejected the gang mentality.-The Zulu Nation rejected the gang mentality.

-The Zulus were interested in creating a unified & international hip hop -The Zulus were interested in creating a unified & international hip hop culture.culture.

-Similar to Furious Five and the Herculoids, Afrika Bambaataa was often -Similar to Furious Five and the Herculoids, Afrika Bambaataa was often accompanied by the Soul Sonic Forceaccompanied by the Soul Sonic Force

-Was known for his massive & diverse record collection.-Was known for his massive & diverse record collection.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNdmW3enax4&feature=related

Breakdancing

-Part of the Hip Hop trinity.-Part of the Hip Hop trinity.

-The purpose of DJs finding the breaks was to please -The purpose of DJs finding the breaks was to please the B-Boys.the B-Boys.

-The presence of breakdancing was central to hip -The presence of breakdancing was central to hip hop’s growth into a popular art form.hop’s growth into a popular art form.

-Breakdancing had a competitive nature, and came -Breakdancing had a competitive nature, and came to helped replace some violence amongst gangs.to helped replace some violence amongst gangs.

-If someone was particularily talented at -If someone was particularily talented at breakdancing, they gained popularity and status in breakdancing, they gained popularity and status in their community.their community.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1CFYDhjRo8&feature=related

-Besides acting as a marker of gang territory, graffiti became -Besides acting as a marker of gang territory, graffiti became widely used as a form of political activism & cultural expression.widely used as a form of political activism & cultural expression.

-Graffiti brought attention to the Hip Hop culture & the social -Graffiti brought attention to the Hip Hop culture & the social issues of Black youths.issues of Black youths.

-Evidence of White police’s unjust treatment towards Black Evidence of White police’s unjust treatment towards Black youths was strong in the 1985 case of Michael Stewart.youths was strong in the 1985 case of Michael Stewart.

-Graffiti was feared by the public because it revealed to them -Graffiti was feared by the public because it revealed to them what New York City was attempting to keep hidden in the Bronx.what New York City was attempting to keep hidden in the Bronx.

-After Goetz’s shooting of 4 Black kids in the subway in 1985, he -After Goetz’s shooting of 4 Black kids in the subway in 1985, he was portrayed as a hero by the media. The silent majority saw was portrayed as a hero by the media. The silent majority saw this action as a victory against graffiti - a final solution.this action as a victory against graffiti - a final solution.

http://vimeo.com/2406405

Wild Style 47:45

GraffitiGraffiti

BlaxploitationBlaxploitation-Blaxploitation films began in the mid 1980s

-The inclusion of hip hop in films alerted the mainstream to hip hop’s economic viability.

-Hager’s Beat Streat, much like Wild Style, was unfortunately based around a childish version of Hip hop

-Merchandizing and commercialization followed from the success of dumbed down hip hop productions

-Graffiti and Breakdancing culture followed suit by moving to canvas, hiring managers, and performing for moneyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eN9KP6lOZshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9oR2EmU854

General QuestionsGeneral Questions1. Does the commercialization of hip hop culture take away from

its authenticity? Or simply offer it a much larger audience and increase its available resources?

2. Do any examples of blatant exploitation of hip hop culture come to mind such as ads or movies?

3. Has hip hop lost its purpose? Is it still a valid art form or a series of commercial productions?

-Does the scene at the rich couple’s house seem plausible? Do you think ‘outsiders’ at the time would be that open-minded about hip hop culture?

-Why would the director include the scene with the shotgun? What does its inclusion prove or try to prove?

Wild Style 25:25 vs 45:30

Wild Style QuestionsWild Style Questions

MUSIC QUIZ!MUSIC QUIZ!

- Guess what artist produced what song- 2 songs, choose from Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash