From BET.com
“Hip-Hop, started out in the park…”
Over two decades ago a new genre of music was birthed into the world via the block parties of New York. DJ’s - such as the “godfather” of Hip-Hop Kool Herc – would find the “break” in their funk and soul records where the percussion is isolated and entertained the crowd. Finding that this was quite amusing to their patrons, DJs continued developing this trend while the “Master of Ceremonies” (or known today as the Emcee) would entertain the crowd with his call and response chants. The Emcee then developed his chants into rhymes, and through all of this Hip-Hop was born. The emcee and DJ would not be the only elements of Hip-Hop. Graffiti and Break Dancing would also be included in these elements of Hip-Hop culture. The music was confined to these block parties finally hit record when the Sugar Hill Gang recorded the first Hip-Hop song on record with “Rapper’s Delight.” Hip-Hop had finally been presented to the masses.
With disco and funk still ruling the airwaves, groups like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five would perform their raps while donning the garb that was reminiscent of groups like Parliament. Hip-Hop had not yet found its own sense of style to present to the mainstream. It wouldn’t be until 1983 two emcees and a DJ came up from Queens, NY and would take the world by storm with their brand of music and unique sense of style.
Run-D.M.C. and their trademark Adidas shell toe sneakers (minus the laces) took the music industry by storm in 1986 with the release of the album Raising Hell which was anchored by the immensely popular crossover hit “Walk This Way” with Rock band Aerosmith. The song garnered the group and the genre much acclaim as the song was put into heavy rotation on radio and MTV.
In the meantime, Hip-Hop was growing and making an impact on the silver screen. Films such as Wild Style, Breakin’, Krush Groove and Beat Street delivered the culture of Hip-Hop to the big screen as the genre was slowly being taken seriously.
In the mid to late 1980’s – better known today as “The Golden Age” – Hip-Hop began to evolve from simple rhyme schemes to something more complex. Artists and groups such as Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and others weaved vivid imagery and slick wordplay into their rhymes as the lyrics began to be just as important as the production. Hip-Hop had something to say. The style also went from Adidas sneakers and tracksuits to more elaborate style elements. Gazelles, Kangol bucket hats (made popular by LL Cool J), five finger rings, hi-top fades, heavy gold chains and “door knocker” earrings became staple looks of the culture and fans began to emulate the look.
Read the complete article.
.gif)
