Hip Hop Subculture

Originating as an outlet for African-American youth in low-income areas, hip-hop has become a behemoth of the music industry and an industry in and of itself. Since then, the genre has gone through too many changes and reinventions to count. Some of the biggest changes in the scene include rapping styles and methods of production. The big names in hip-hop also vary from decade to decade with artists constantly falling in and out of relevancy. With its humble beginnings in the Bronx during the 70’s, it’s hard to say if anyone around during its formation could have known how big it would be and how much it would change in 30-40 years time. Originally, the term “Hip-Hop” encompassed much more than just a genre of music. It referred to the cultures belonging to Latin and African American youths in the Bronx area (Riesch). The genre itself originated thanks to the rising popularity of block parties in New York during the 70’s. These parties had DJ’s, that would play popular music at the time, including soul music or funk, would isolate certain parts of popular songs and extend them, making music that could be rapped over. The availability of samplers and drum machines helped set hip-hop apart from the already existing genre of R&B.

The rapping styles first seen in the 70’s soon gave way to more meaningful lyrics over improved, more complex instrumentals.The mid 80’s brought a new wave of hip-hop known as “New school hip hop” ushered in by Run DMC and artists like them. This new wave of hip-hop became known for boasting and social commentary. The late 80’s is often referred to as “The Golden Age of Hip Hop”. This era is said to have afrocentric and jazz influences, and is associated with artists like A Tribe Called Quest and Public