In recent years, the hip hop music movement has taken the music world by storm. While often the term hip hop music is used to talk about rap music, there is more to hip hop than just rap, although that is an important part of it. Many people believe that hip hop is a recent movement, but hip hop actually traces back to the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The music from that period is usually known as old school hip hop, but since then, the music has evolved along the way into a whole lot more.
Hip hop has its’ roots in the streets of New York. Most people agree that this is where hip hop can be traced back to, and the musical roots of the style of music actually trace back to a variety of different musical styles. Some of the different music styles that hip hop was influenced by include folk, gospel, R&B, jazz, reggae, ska, and even calypso. The history behind hip hop music is very deep and rich.
Basically hip hop started out with DJing and what was know as toasting or shout outs. Toasting turned to full poems that were rapped out, signifying the beginning of the rap movement. At the same time, hip hop dancing was beginning as well, with dancers getting wild during breaks in the music, and these dancers became know as b-boys.
There was a lot of talent on the scene as hip hop music began to develop. Some of the starting talent included Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa, who later created Zulu Nation. Both wanted to help use hip hop in a positive manner to discourage violence, gangs, and drugs. Of course through the 80’s, hip hop continued to grow with new artists coming into the picture and bringing new styles with them and also crossing over and incorporating other styles of music with hip hop, such as rock.
Women even began to get involved in the hip hop scene, with artists like and MC Lyte, and then later Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige. Later there would be a new style of rap emerge known as gangsta rap, made popular by artists like Snoop Doggy Dog, Ice T, and N.W.A. At the same time that gangsta rap was becoming popular, there were other artists that were dedicated to bring back black pride and to making political and social statements with their rap. Some of these artists would include Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, Sir Mix-a-Lot, and even Dr. Dre. Then, with the emergence of Eminem and his popularity, it became obvious that even white people could successfully cross into the predominately African American music world of hip hop.
From hip hop music, other sub genres of this music became popular as well. Some of these sub genres include Miami bass, snap music, progressive rap, crunk, rap metal, and New Orleans bounce. So, hip hop has come from many different styles of music and has also created a variety of different styles as well.
Back when hip hop music first began it was a type of music that reached out to a very narrow piece of the population. However, when it comes to modern hip hop, its’ popularity is increasingly growing. In fact, if you look at the music charts, you’ll find that it is often hip hop singles that are taking the number one spot week after week.
So, why iship hop music so popular? Well, there are many reasons that this style of music has become popular, and those reasons can vary from person to person. Many people enjoy this type of music because of the lyrics that are often contained in a song. Themes vary from song to song, but some deal with overcoming a bad life, overcoming drugs, and even about stopping violence on the streets today. Some people identify with the themes found in the songs and enjoy the music for this reason. On the other hand, there are other people who appreciate the creativity and the rhythms and sounds that come along with this style of music.
Still today hip hop musichip hop music is extremely popular and gaining in popularity all the time. While some of the early artists are still popular, there are new artists on the scene as well, including Kayne West, 50 Cent, Nelly, Busta Rhymes,Missy Elliot, and even Ludacris. So, as you can see, hip hop music has come a long way from the city streets of the Bronx. Today it is not only popular across America, but is has gone global as well, reaching to England, India, Brazil, Japan, and even to South Africa.
