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Conception
While DJing at a Bronx nightclub, DJ Kool Herc extends the percussive "break" section of a popular disco song, and creates a new trend. Later called "breaking", this will become a chief technique used in hip hop music. -
Four Elements
DJ Afrika Bambaataa defines the four terms that would later become the four facets of hip hop: DJ, MC, B-Boy, and Graffiti artist. -
Words
DJ Hollywood rhymes over disco records during his nightclub performances. He and his partner Lovebug Starski are credited as being the first performers of this kind and creating the term "hip hop". -
Flash
Soon to become known as early hip hop's greatest DJ, Grandmaster Flash perfects the hip hop DJ-ing technique. -
Expansion
The first official rap groups begin to form in New York. They include The Crash Crew and what would become the legendary Run-DMC. -
The Message
Grandmaster Flash, accompanied by his band The Furious Five, releases a single called "The Message". A heartfelt message about about those who feel trapped in bad circumstances, this is one of the first popular rap songs to focus on the lyrics. -
"Rap-sploitation"
The film "Wild Style" is released in theaters. Featuring popular rappers of the time as its principal actors, the film portrayed the hip hop "craze" in New York. This brought the hip hop culture to the national spotlight and was the beginning of the commercialization of hip hop. -
"Rap-sploitation"
The film "Wild Style" is released in theaters. Featuring popular rappers of the time as its principal actors, the film portrayed the hip hop culture of 80's New York. This marked the first time that hip hop was brought to national attention and was the beginning of its commercialization. -
Legacy
Def Jam Recordings, the most successful hip hop label in American history, is formed by two college students named Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. The label would go on to produce legendary acts such as Public Enemy and The Beastie Boys. -
Success
Run DMC releases their third album. It becomes the first hip hop album to reach double-platinum. American music audiences begin to take hip hop seriously as a genre. -
Hellraisers
Fans at a Run DMC concert riot, resulting in destruction of property and several deaths. The nation begins to question the implications of hip hop lyrics. -
Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani is sworn in as mayor of New York. He would later take action against crime and graffiti. -
Reaction
Citing the "Broken Windows Theory", Mayor Giuliani commissions the Anti-Graffiti Task Force. Crackdowns on graffiti result in turf wars among neighborhoods. Interestingly, police response to the hip hop culture falls directly in line with how the underprivileged have always been treated, and what is expressed in their lyrics. -
Makaveli
Hip hop icon Tupac Shakur is murdered. He was known for his socially and politically conscious lyrics as well as his stage presence. He would be remembered as one of the greatest artists in American hip hop. -
Enough!
The Libyan activist group EnoughGaddafi releases a mixtape of music from Libyan hip hop artists. The mixtape's anti-regime and insurrection- themed lyrics helped to fuel and rally support for the movement against Muammar Gaddafi.
