Hip Hop/Rap: Impact On Popular Culture

Hip Hop/Rap Research Paper

Hip hop/rap music is a genre that has had a profound impact on popular culture since its origins in the Bronx, New York City in the 1970s. According to The Kennedy Center, “It was the early 1970s and times were tougher than usual for the poorer parts of urban America. From a whole lot of nothing—and a whole lot of imagination—Hip Hop took form”(The Kennedy Center). It was a way for marginalized communities to express themselves and tell their stories through music. The Medium notes that, “Music often gives marginalized groups a voice when it feels like society will not listen to them”(The Medium). Hip Hop has always been a great way to express thoughts and feelings through music.

Hip hop/rap has its roots in African American music, such as soul, funk, and R&B, as well as Jamaican music, specifically the style known as toasting, where a DJ or MC would talk over a rhythm. According to The Master Class, “Early hip-hop music saw its roots in the 1970s in the New York City borough of the Bronx. It started as a collaboration among intersecting groups of Black, Latinx, and Caribbean American youth at block parties”(The Master Class). The first recorded hip hop/rap song, "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, was released in 1979 and became an instant hit. Since then, hip hop/rap has evolved into one

For example, Udiscovermusic explains that, “Since its earliest days, hip-hop has been inherently political – a powerful vehicle to deliver messages society needs to hear”(Udiscovermusic). Kendrick Lamar, one of the most popular hip hop/rap artists today, has been praised for his socially conscious lyrics about racism, police brutality, and other issues affecting Black communities. Hip hop/rap has also been used to promote positive values and inspire young people to pursue their