Hip-Hop

Originating Location: New York, NY

Originating Era: late 1970s

Key Artists[]

1970's

Africa Bambaataa
Grandmaster Flash

1980's

Boogie Down Productions
Eric B. & Rakim
N.W.A.
Public Enemy
Run-D.M.C.

1990's

A Tribe Called Quest
Eminem
Jay-Z
Nas
Notorious B.I.G.
OutKast
Tupac
Wu-Tang Clan
Backstreet Boys

2000's

50 Cent
Ghostface Killah (formerly of Wu-Tang Clan)
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
MF Doom

Key Albums[]

Run-D.M.C. - Raisin' Hell
Eric B. & Rakim - Paid in Full
The Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Genre Description[]

There is a fine line between the terms hip-hop and rap, which is a line that most casual fans do not even realize exists. Traditionally, hip-hop refers to the culture, while rap refers to that specific part of it. The hip-hop culture is centered around four essential pieces, rap (the music), turntablism (the medium), breakdancing/b-boying/b-girling (the dance) and graffiti (the art). This style of life originated in New York City during the 70s deriving from the popular block parties and burrough rivalries of the time in mainly black culture. Many claim to be the actual originator of this now immensly popular style (which include such luminaries as DJ Kool Herc, Africa Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash) but it has been truely a result of community looking to define itself as a culture. This is ironic because of its now immense popularity in the mainstream throughout the world.