How has hip hop been used by African and Latino communities in the west to express identity and comment on struggles within society?
By luwukus
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Birth of Hip Hop
Born out of the New York post industrial movement hip hop would sweep the streets of the Bronx. During this time of economic hardship black and racialized youth would take to the streets using hip hop as a form of recreation and as a medium to express creativity. Hip hop would be built through its four pillars being DJing, MCing, Street art/grafitti and breaking. Using dance and street art youth in the area would express themselves through heavy messages of thier community. -
Pioneers of the Genre
Artists such as DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Soul Sonic begin creating published work that begins to spread influence across many communities. These artists begin to experiment with their production implementing elements of rock, punk and psych into their production.. -
Intro to the 80s Tech Boom
With the boom in technology in the 80’s Mc’s and DJs were disposed to a wide variety of new instruments to use in their productions. Early synthesizers, 808 machines, and turntables changed the game for many MC’s and producers allowing new kinds of sounds to be produced. This new use of technology and sound allowed for more diversity and space in the genre for many and a wider popularity for the genre. -
"The Message"
On July 1st 1982 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five would release the single "The Message". The song would detail the harsh life of growing up in the innercity ghetto during the 80s. Many view the song as the birth of consious hip hop. The single would see massive sucess among black and racialized communities for its relatable and gritty message. -
First Grammy for a hip hop Production
Fresh Prince's song "Parents just dont understand" would recieve the first ever grammy for a hip hop production adding a large deal of legitamacy to the genre - This moment became bitersweet as production studios refused to air the winning causing mass boycotts by MC's -
"The Golden age of Hip Hop"
During the late 80s and early 90s hip hop's spread across America was in full force with artists like WuTangClan, Rakim and Mele k at the forefront of hiphops’s new level of production. Hip hop at this time would also experience its first exposure to monetary incentives. Record labels such as Def Jam and Prism pumped large sums of money into the genre with massive signings for MC’s and producers. -
Hip Hop begins influencing society
Hip hop began influencing society. with the creation of “street wear” replicated from black communities and from MC’s. Language as well also changed with terms such as “bling” being popularized due to hip hop's influence. Rappers like Rakim and the Wu Tang Clan developed larger than life personas as they preached anti establishment messages. Example of this being “F*** the Police” by NWA which caused backlash from media but was revered in lower socioeconomic and racialized communities. -
Diversity in Hip Hop
Hip hop branched from a form of black self expression and became a form of self expression for all racialized people. In the late 70s and early 80s messaging in hip hop was about African American issues but with expansion messaging became anti establishment. Latino MC’s made a name for themselves in hiphop and spread many of the same messages as African American MC’s. Latino Mc’s used hiphop to comment on issues in their communities. -
"Gangster" Hip Hop
Gangster rap formed in the 90s with “east side vs west side” hip hop. Rappers such as Tupac, and Biggie Smalls were prominent this era. Around this time period hip hop became gritty, highlighting violence in these communities with MC’s speaking on crimes around them. This theme was viewed negatively by media and white figures but many in these communities viewed this as a reality of what happens in these communities and, by showing this, MC’s expressed anti establishment views against the system -
First Independent female hip hop artist to go platnium
DaBrat becomes the first independent female artist to go platinum with her album "Funkafied". This paved the way for artists like Nikki and Lauren Hill. Cemeting womens voice in hip hop. -
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
In 1988 Lauryn Hill would release "The miseducation of Lauryn Hill" an album which would recive world wide praise being the first hip hop album to ever win album of the year at the grammys. This piece of work cemented womens place in the hip hop genre. -
2000s Hip Hop
Hip hop would take the next step in the 2000s with MC’s like Kanye West, Jay Z, 50 Cent, Eminem, and Diddy producing modern sounds and techniques. Kanye West revolutionized the idea of sampling mixing hip hop with pop, making hip hop accessible to a common white populous. hip hop had gained worldwide popularity with artists gaining recognition in the general music sphere. -
Loyal to the Game
After the death of Tupac Shakur his lable would release one of the first "post death" albums. These albums are combinations of artists previously recorded but never released work and allows for hip hop artists to live on beyond their death into the messaging of thier music. Famous example of such albums are artists like Tupac, Biggie Smalls, XXXtentacion, and Macmiller. -
808's and HeartBreak
Kanye West's fourth album "808s and HeartBreak" is one deemed as possibly his most influencial. His use of synths and emotional melodical vocals was something new to to the genre and would go on to inspire a new generation of melodic hip hop with artists such as Lil Uzi Vert crediting their rise to the foundations Kanye layed on this album. -
2010's Hip Hop
The 2010s would see a wide variety of genres become the norm in hip hop. Artists like Kanye west and Tyler the Creator would continue popularizing melodic and pop rap whereas artists from the south like Travis Scott would push a gritty and beat driven trap genre. Artists from California would push a new style if consious rap. Artists like J cole and Kendrick Lamar would push rap to be the global phenomena it would become in this decade -
To Pimp a Butterfly
In 2015 Kendrick Lamar would release his 3rd studio album that many would crown the greatest hip hop album. The album featured a combination of historical struggles for the black community and has been cited as the magnum opus of the hip hop genre. Kendrick Lamar would eventually win a pulitzer prize for his work on the album -
Black Lives Matter relation to Hip Hop
Black lives matter was born from messages in hip hop. Self identity from hip hop provided an anthem to black lives matter. Hip hop artists have become political messengers for their communities. Since beginnings in the Bronx hip hop has become a world wide expression for anti establishment with artists being at the forefront of political and social change. People and youth in these communities are able to reconcile with these messages and themselves are able to use hip hop to express themselves.