BIG BLOG NO. 1: HIP HOP

BIG BLOG NO.1 HIP HOP

With Hip Hop, there are so many eras that evolved through the years. One of the most well-known eras was the " gangsta" rap era. This was known as the most controversial era during the 1990s. During the 1990s, hip hop became a reflection for how violent inner-city American black youths were. During this time N.W.A founded gangsta rap which became more confrontational which led to their album " Straight out of Compton" which then led to their song " Fuck tha police". Also, during this era there was a lot of gang related rivalry which influenced East vs West rivalry. The East vs West rivalry was a feud in the late 1990s between the east side and the west side. Two of the biggest influencers of this feud was Tupac Shakur (West) and The Notorious B.I.G(East) which later led to their deaths. 

With Hip Hop, there are so many eras that evolved through the years. One of the most well-known eras was the " gangsta" rap era. This was known as the most controversial era during the 1990s. During the 1990s, hip hop became a reflection for how violent inner-city American black youths were. During this time N.W.A founded gangsta rap which became more confrontational which led to their album " Straight out of Compton" which then led to their song " Fuck tha police". Also, during this era there was a lot of gang related rivalry which influenced East vs West rivalry. The East vs West rivalry was a feud in the late 1990s between the east side and the west side. Two of the biggest influencers of this feud was Tupac Shakur (West) and The Notorious B.I.G(East) which later led to their deaths. 

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During 1979, Hip Hop Music became the most mainstream genre. Before 1979, hip hop was not allowed to be recorded due the " gangsta " style. Prior to 1979, hip hop was performed live through house parties through a PA system soundboard. The first known hip hop record was the SugarHill Gang's " Rapper's Delight" in 1979. SugarHill records also released " Funk you up" by the first hip hop record released by a female group called " Sequence " In 1980's the major elements and techniques were in place and by 1982 the electronic sound had become the trend. 1980 marked the diversification of hip hop as the genre developed more complex styles. Early examples of this are a track by " Grandmaster flash's on the wheel steel" consisting sampled tracks. During this time the Roland Corporation launched the TR-808 a rhythm composer which became the earliest programmable drum machines. It later became the cornerstone of the emerging electronic dance and Hip hop genres, popularized by early hits such as Afrika Bambaataa.

NEW SCHOOL HIP HOP 

1983-1986

New school hip hop became the second wave of hip hop music which predominately came from New York city. The New school era was heavily influenced by rock music, which was notable for taunts, boasts, rapping and social political commentary. New school artists made shorter songs that could easily gain radio play. By 1986, their releases began to establish hip hop albums as mainstream music. New school hip hop became commercially successful as exemplified by the beastie boy 1986 album which was the first hip hop group to hit No.1 on the Billboard.

GOLDEN AGE 

1986-1997

Golden Age Hip Hop brought diversity, quality, innovations and influence. During this era there was a lot of Afrocentrism theme and political militancy influence in lyrics. The golden age was known for its innovation for time. Everything in this era was still being discovered and new, nothing was contrived. 

WORLD HIP HOP MUSIC

(CUBA)

The early development of hip hop was created by Latinos and people from the Caribbean in New York City. Hip Hop first development began in South Bronx which had a high Latino and Puerto Rican population in 1970's. In the U.S and many other countries, artist use hip hop as a tool to articulate their struggles. Over time, Hip hop became a way for Afro-descended population to embrace their blackness and a demand for racial equality for black people in Cuba. In Cuba, their government opposes the vulgar image that rappers portrayed. If rappers speak explicitly about race or racism in Cuba are still under scrutiny by the government. 

Black and indigenous people in Latin America and Carribean island have been using Hip Hop for decades to discuss race and class in their respective countries.

PUETRO RICAN 

Puerto Rican style Hip Hop (Reggaeton) has similarities to U.S hip hop. Both countries have influence by Jamaican music. Reggaeton is the cumulation of different musical traditions founded by afro-descended people in Caribbean and the United States.

VENEZUELA 

Hip Hop in Venezuela is generally modeled their music after gangsta rap, embracing and attempting to redefine negative stereotypes about poor and black youth as dangerous and materialistic and incorporating socially conscious critique of Venezuela's criminalization of young, poor, Afro-descended people into their music.

HATI 

Hip Hop developed in 1980's, and later known as "Rap Kreyol" which later grew popularity in the late 1990's. Due to cheaper technology more " Rap Kreyol" are making more songs Hip Hop has become a way for Haitians to express themselves and their nationally identity political opinions about their country region.

Overall, I enjoyed learning the history behind Hip Hop and what it means to different countries. I've never looked at Hip Hop from anything different than a culture, but not only does it represent culture but music and a style. One of my favorite things that I've learned is how most of the countries also use hip hop as a way uplift Black culture and a way to express their identity.

“Hip Hop Music.” Wikipedia, 25 Nov. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music#1979%E2%80%931983:_Old_school_hip_hop. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.