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No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.
Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture — it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.
Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music — that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll — but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.
lesson:
The Roots of Hip Hop
What are the roots of Hip Hop?
lesson:
Divergent Paths in the 1990s: Gangsta Rap and Conscious Hip Hop
How did Gangsta Rap and Conscious Hip Hop respond to the social and political conditions of the 1990s?
lesson:
Contemporary Latin Artists and Activism
How are contemporary Latin artists pursuing activism and promoting positive change in their communities?
Video
video:
Breakdancing
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
Walk This Way
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
Race Relations
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
Life on the Streets
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
The Message
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
Me, Myself and I
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
The Influence of Curtis Mayfield
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
video:
Rap Music, 20/20
<p>No other popular music has reshaped the modern musical landscape as has Hip Hop. If it came out of the Bronx in the 1970s, at a time when New York City was facing tremendous economic and social challenges, it didn't take long for it to make its way to a wide audience and, finally, to a kind of dominance. But, as an ABC 20/20 special included here suggests, in the early 1980s, with the music still in its infancy as a mainstream movement, there was an uncertainty about what this new thing meant. Was it just the next great party music? At that pre-Gangsta Rap moment, there was less fear around Hip Hop but also less clarity. Given the way musical trends seemed to have shorter and shorter lives, no one was thinking that the future of popular music was coming to town, through this portal in the Bronx.</p> <p>Lessons in this chapter will explore the rise of Hip Hop, its political and social repercussions, its roots, and the divisions within it. As with many of the more potent forces in popular music's history, Hip Hop's was a wide culture -- it had a visual presence, a political presence, it had dance and fashion. To study the music requires that all of this be taken into account. Like Punk, Hip Hop was a kind of lifestyle to its early practitioners. But if Punk had a short life, Hip Hop has the capacity to grow. And it continues to do so.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, Hip Hop has also affected the popular music around it, spreading its influence across genres. Even very early on, there was a spirit of invention in the music that affected groups like the Clash, Blondie, and others. In the years to follow, Hip Hop touched nearly all working musicians in some way or another. It's not the first time black music has inspired and redirected the wider culture of popular music -- that has been the recurring motif of this history of Rock and Roll -- but it's certainly among the most significant instances. And the story carries on.</p>
Print Journalism
article:
Hip Hop: A Guide
IN 1979 A record called 'Rapper's Delight' by the Sugarhill Gang introduced us to rapping. Similar stuff soon followed — Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash and the like. Even from white artists like Blondie, Tom Tom Club and Wham!. The next thing, Grandmaster Flash's 'Adventures On The Wheels Of Steel' hit us with the notion of "scratching" — creating new dance records by cutting together bits of old ones. Once again the "new wavers" followed — Malcolm McLaren came up with 'Buffalo Gals'. His video showed some incredible acrobatic dancers called Breakers. Meanwhile, a version of Eddy Grant's 'Walking On Sunshine' by...
article:
The Life And Times Of Jay-Z: An Interview
REMIND SHAWN CARTER, aka Jay-Z, that his last long player, Vol.2...Hard Knock Life, which spawned the Annie-sampling single of the same name, sold 5 million copies (250,000 of those in four days) and his only reply is a broad smile and one word, "Yeah". The one-time Brooklyn drug dealer, who is now a captain of industry with his own Roc-A-Fella Records, may pull your regular "Pissed-Off-Rapper" pose for album sleeves and posters, but right now, as he sits in his palatial London hotel, slumped on a sofa, feet on an ornate coffee table, thumbing through the sports pages of a stack of...