Run-DMC, LL Cool J and the Beastie Boys made hip hop one of America’s premier music genres in the 80s with Run DMC, LL Cool J and their Beastie Boys making waves through Run DMC, LL Cool J and their Beastie Boys; during this era also saw the rise of Gangsta Rap through artists such as Schoolly D and Tupac Shakur.
Sugar Hill Records signed three New Jersey rappers known as The Sugarhill Gang in 1979, whose debut single Rapper’s Delight became one of rap music’s first chart successes.
The origins of hip hop
Hip hop’s history dates back to the 1970s when block parties became an essential component of community life. DJs would play music at these gatherings using techniques like breaking or scratching (extending an instrumental break ) to keep dance floors lively. At this time, an MC/DJ duo emerged, adding spoken word over beats for what eventually evolved into rap music.
Rapper’s Delight by Sugarhill Gang in 1979 became the first major hit from hip hop music and was an early indicator that it would evolve beyond dance party scenes into an entire cultural movement, altering generational thoughts on issues from politics and race to art and language.
Run DMC, Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest were key figures during this era in shaping hip hop with songs featuring intricate lyrics fused into musical themes. Furthermore, these artists made sophisticated use of sampling by creating their own drum patterns rather than relying on preexisting DJ breakbeats; Roland also introduced its iconic TR-808 drum machine which served as the cornerstone of hip hop sound with its powerful bass drum sound.
The late 1980s to early ’90s marked an incredible period in hip hop’s evolution as it gained worldwide appeal. Artists such as N.W.A and Tupac Shakur reached their pinnacles of popularity during this era fueled by rivalries between East Coast and West Coast artists (which unfortunately resulted in their deaths), as well as artists such as Schoolly D, Ice-T and YG who gave voice to urban discontent through gangsta rap subgenre.
The early days
Hip Hop culture first emerged in New York City during the 1970s. It began as an intersectional collaboration among Black, Latinx and Caribbean American youth who attended block parties featuring DJs playing soul and funk music. DJs such as Kool Herc, Grand Wizard Theodore and Afrika Bambaataa developed techniques known as breaks that extended certain parts of songs, giving hip dancers room to show their moves onstage.
Sugarhill Gang’s single “Rapper’s Delight,” released in 1979, brought hip hop into national public awareness. They became the first hip hop group to sign with Mercury Records and release their debut album the same year. Meanwhile, New York City resident Kurtis Blow became the first rapper ever to perform live television performances through Mercury.
Beginnings of hip hop also saw the introduction of lyrics that explored various topics. Rhythm, cadence and vocal inflection all played an influential role in how these rap lyrics were spoken aloud; soon thereafter the content gradually moved away from simple rhythmic chants to more metaphorical poetry – artists such as Melle Mel, KRS-One, Rakim, and Chuck D all contributed towards shaping hip hop lyricism over time.
As hip hop became more mainstream, independent record labels like Tommy Boy, Prism Records, and Def Jam began investing in its artists. The 1980s marked the dawn of hip hop’s “new school era”, led by artists more familiar to mainstream audiences; Run-DMC’s debut LP “Raising Hell,” released in 1986 was certified platinum; while Salt-N-Pepa’s 1987 release Hot, Cool & Vicious became certified Gold.
The late 80s
The late 1980s and early 90s were a glorious period in hip hop music history, giving many artists mainstream success while ushering in major innovations. One notable innovation was gangsta rap – which emphasized urban street life – popularized by Schoolly D, Ice T and N.W.A rappers, using lyrics such as drugs, gunshots, police sirens and police sirens to express the toughness of life in ghetto communities. “New school” rap also emerged during this time; its internal rhymes such as “a-b-c-d” emphasising lyrical technique rather than urban street life portrayed the toughness of life within urban communities.
Hip hop’s roots are intrinsically tied to African American and Afro-Caribbean inner city communities who were faced with poverty, drugs, and gang violence during the 1960s and 70s. As a response, DJing, dancing, MCing, graffiti writing and other artistic forms emerged as outlets to express themselves creatively in response.
At 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx is where hip hop was first born, according to one contributor. DJ Kool Herc was spinning records at a block party when he discovered that playing two copies of the same record at once produced a beat he called sampling and experimented with this effect by creating its first beats; further experimenting with “scratching”, or moving the needle along its grooves producing scratched sound; these new techniques gave hip hop its signature groove and the style was born.
As hip hop became more widely accepted, DJs and MCs formed duos and performed live. Hip hop quickly took hold, dominating charts and changing how people listened to music; during this period saw breakdancing emerge as a form of dance inspired by disco rap; additionally Roland TR-808 drum machines became an indispensable element in hip hop performance.
The early 90s
Hip hop first gained widespread recognition during the 1980s, with artists like LL Cool J, Run DMC, Public Enemy and The Beastie Boys emerging to bring it mainstream. These artists quickly rose to the charts while becoming known for their unique styles of music and dance; soon thereafter hip hop evolved further by drawing influences from punk, jazz and rock music genres, further complicating its soundscape than just fast talking over drum machine beats.
The new school era of hip hop was marked by artists with catchy melodic hooks who could appeal to a wider audience, marking a departure from harsh street rap popular during its earlier incarnations. Artists also developed personas such as being cool or smart; taking on roles such as being tough gangland tough helped draw young listeners while expanding their careers.
Hip hop culture also became synonymous with graffiti writing as an art form that allowed young people to express their creativity and show off their skills. Graffiti writing became part of hip hop culture as evidenced by album covers, music videos and movies such as Wild Style and Style Wars featuring this art form as part of its history.
As hip hop culture spread, its influence spread around the globe. Hip hop was especially influential on Japanese society where it helped popularize samba and salsa dance styles which remain widely practiced today. Hip hop also revolutionized Japanese fashion industry; many clothing manufacturers began including elements of hip hop culture into their designs; in addition, several Japanese rappers have gained fame in America.
The present
Hip hop music has an extensive and longstanding history that spans four decades, evolving with each passing decade and drawing influences from funk, disco, rap and rock music genres. But its beginnings can be traced to one building at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx where DJ Kool Herc first introduced an element that revolutionized music – two copies of same record used together to produce an even and catchy beat that has since revolutionized popular culture.
Hip Hop first gained worldwide renown during the 1980s. Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 hit “Rapper’s Delight” reached number 40 on US charts and solidified rap as an accepted music genre, leading to successful albums by Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC and other artists like them. Artists also began incorporating more complex sampling and metaphorical lyrics into hip hop albums and lyrics.
As early as the late ’60s, MCs (rappers) began developing personas based on their street reputation or lifestyles, often adopting either smooth and cool or tough and gangsta styles depending on their music genre and audience preferences. Furthermore, their music often crossed over into political or protest genres as an answer to rising racial animosity within American culture.
Today, hip hop has expanded into a multi-billion dollar industry, shaping not only musical styles but also fashion, movies and other aspects of society. Influences from hip hop can be found not only within music genres such as hip hop but also fashion lines, movies and other areas such as society. Hip hop has even developed into its own culture complete with breakdancing, graffiti art and other forms of self-expression such as breakdancing – as well as influence other forms such as reggae dance music R&B among others.