The Big Blog Of Hipping And Hopping

 

WHOLE LOTTA HIPPIN 'N' HOPPIN 

 

 Music: 

Hip-Hop is a genre of music that originated in the Bronx borough of New York City in the early 1970s. Hip-Hop has influenced fashion and politics. Hip-Hop created a new way of seeing, experiencing, understanding, confronting, celebrating, and commenting on life and the world. There are six elements in the Hip-Hop culture: 

• DJing—the artistic handling of beats and music
• Rapping—putting spoken-word poetry to a beat
• Breaking—Hip Hop’s dance form
• Writing—the painting of highly stylized graffiti
• Theater and literature—combining Hip Hop elements and themes in drama, poetry, and stories
• Knowledge of self—the moral, social, and spiritual principles that inform and inspire Hip Hop ways of being.

Over time Hip-Hop became a multi-million dollar business.  As Hip-Hop evolved artists began adding a twist to the music . This created many different types of Hip-Hop. Many people even added certain dance moves for this specific genre. By the 1980s, Hip-Hop was so advanced that several albums introduced the "New School Hip-Hop" era. This style of Hip-Hop was big on drums, shorter songs, and commentary. This era is different from the original style because it shifts away from the old party rhymes and funk influences. The 'Golden Era' was a successful period of Hip-Hop. Some of the major artist during this time period were Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, and the Public Enemy. This successful era also introduced gangster rap. A major artist of gangster rap would be Ice-T.  Jumping further into time, in the 2000s artists were still alternating Hip-hop. The branched from genres like punk, jazz, and rock and added many twist. During this time, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Gucci Mane rose up to be major artist. Even the advancement of technology allowed Hip-Hop to prosper. A lot of technology like amplifiers and loud speakers created a wave that people wanted to join. Even though Hip-Hop can be so easily altered, most Hip-Hop song use common elements. These common elements were a Strong, rhythmic beat, vocals, and breaks. A rhythmic beat is the strongest unifying factor of hip-hop music. It can be fast and aggressive or slow and relaxed, but it carries the song steadily forward and serves as a backdrop for vocal performance. Of course most artist incorporate some type of vocals in their song. With the Hip-Hop period, rapping was most artists chosen vocal for their song. Vocals are a rhythmic chant that interplays with the beat. Break is a term for long percussive periods in a hip-hop song. DJ Kool Herc is credited with developing the concept of a break and encouraging dancing called breakdancing. 

Dance: 

Hip-Hop dance is an unique and exotic style of street dance. This dance combines freestyles moves to create a cultural piece of art. Hip-Hop dance was inspired by the down-to-earth movement style of African dancing. This is when we refer back to DJ Herc. Herc was part of the 'East Coast Hip-Hop'. Herc moved to New York at the age of twelve and started a career that turned him into a popstar. Herc was the first to make a brand new style of music by playing two record machines with the same record on both. He also extended the dance sections of song so that performers could show off their moves for a longer interlude. On the west coast of New York there was a new form of Hip-Hop dances. The Jackson Five's performance was a inspiration and it introduced us to robotic dancing. These moves were based off TV shows about robots and aliens. This is one major way Hip-Hop evolved so quickly. It's like everybody took Hip-Hop and added a style of their own and then the next person added and then the next person added and so on. So on the East Coast you got people breakdancing and on the West you have people mimicking mannequins.  Boogaloo Sam helped influence the West Coast by creating 'popping'. Popping is characterized by sudden tensing and releasing of the muscles ("hitting") to the rhythm of beats in music. He is also the founder of a dance group called Electric Boogaloo.  Another major influencer of the Hip-Hop dance style was Don Campbellock. He invented a dance called locking. Locking is a style of funk dance that is based on the concepts of locking movements. In other words, freezing from a fast movement and "locking" in a certain position, holding that position for a short while and then continuing at the same speed as before. He, just like Boogaloo, also created a dance group. His group were called the Lockers. Much of hip hop dancing came from the 1990s’ adaptation of funk styles such as the Running Man, the Worm, and the Cabbage Patch.

 Nowadays, In the 21st century, street Hip-Hop is orchestrated to be a flash mob. The 2000s brought forth dances like the Cha Cha Slide, and the Dougie. Thank God we have social media because Hip-Hop would have never spread the way it did. Because of technology, Hip-Hop is seen on social platforms and television. Many kid shows today uses Hip-Hop songs and dances to teach children their letters, numbers, and shapes. For example that new kid show called Gracie's Corner. 

Hip-Hop has evolved so much over the years. That's because this genre appeals to everyone. Unlike other genres, that is limited to age and body type, hip hop can be performed by anyone who wants to learn. Because there are so many versions and different elements of Hip-Hop it is mostly accepted by most people. For example, an older person can like Hip-Hop but not like the same version of Hip-Hop you like. It's quite amazing how this genre varies so much that when someone mentions it to you you have to ask them to specify what they mean or which version. 

Hip-Hop is so powerful. It started as music which later developed as a dance. It's interesting to me that Hip-Hop started out from being on the streets. Now people from all over perform this genre of music and dance on stage. It also interest me how technology was able to allow many people to alter the original genre and make it their own unique piece. Hip-Hip today even have a major effect on children. Children seem to learn and recite more when taught some type of rhyme. In a way Hip-Hop is essential because it provide an easier way to teach many different children in the world. 

Works Cited: 

“Hip-Hop Music Guide: History of Hip-Hop and Notable Artists - 2023.” MasterClass, https://www.masterclass.com/articles/hip-hop-guide. 

“Music Technology.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Feb. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_technology. 

A Dance Place. “A History of Hip Hop Dance: Hip-Hop Classes.” A Dance Place, 19 Apr. 2022, https://www.adanceplace.com/hip-hop-dance-history. 

“What Is Popping? (Popping Dance).” STEEZY Blog, https://www.steezy.co/posts/what-is-popping-dance. 

“Locking (Dance).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Mar. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locking_(dance). 

McFarland, Maerwydd. “History of Hip Hop Dance: Facts about a Powerful Genre.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow, 5 Oct. 2022, https://kids.lovetoknow.com/learning-at-home/history-of-hip-hop-dance.