The Origins of Hip-Hop/Rap

By: Lance Yancy

Music is one of the most influencing elements throughout an individual’s youth. One of the most controversial music genres in society is Hip-hop/rap. From the mid 1980’s, rap portrayed an acceptable outlook towards violence and materialistic success. Its origins however, began from a different perspective. "Hip-hop was created as a strategy for a better living, a better way a life. MCing, DJing, graffiti art, beat boxing and breaking-- the original five elements of hip-hop--were not a means to make money, but a means to have victory over the streets, to have an identity, and to be somebody when you walked down the street." Says KRS-One, veteran hip-hop artist who was first introduced to the genre in 1977. (Kenon 1)

Due to the similar transition from Jazz and the audience’s connection, Hip-hop/Rap was very popular among the African American culture. Blacks used music as an escape from social discrimination and lack of education in the school system. The musical lyrics held true artistic rhythms and rhymes created by the youth, but also “life in the streets.”

Hip-hop/Rap produced negative influences just as quickly as it began. “While many applaud the financial success of hip-hop music, others like KRS-One, a.k.a Kris Parker, feel that the commercial success of the music has in fact "killed" the culture and hip-hop's initial purpose.” The success of this new genre grew from 2 mutual influences. It first thrived from the authenticity and integrity of the artist, from which the consumer, who could relate, appreciated. Over time, music producers and the social media altered its success to more profiting topics, such as violence, drugs, fame, and sex. (Kenon 1) In the earliest rap songs, violence was viewed primarily in negative or ambivalent terms. No song appeared between 1979 and 1984 was coded as representing violence in a positive manner. “The music industry contributed to the increase in violent lyrical content that we described for the late 1980s through 1990s.” (Herd 5)

Despite the negative transition from Hip-hop/Raps origins, it is still one of the most popular genre’s to present day. Certain music will be accepted or discarded based on the consumer’s interest, and evidence supports the idea that the social movement that thrived in the 1980’s will continue in future generations.

Work Cited

KENON, MARCI. "Hip-Hop." Billboard 112.23 (2000): 42. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.

Herd, Denise. "Changing Images Of Violence In Rap Music Lyrics: 1979-1997." Journal Of Public Health Policy 30.4 (2009): 395-406. MEDLINE with Full Text. Web. 18 Nov. 2012.