hip hop

Hip Hop is an art form that includes deejaying cuttin' & scartchin' emceeing/rappin', break dancing and graffiti art. These art forms as we know them today originated in the South Bronx section of New York City around the mid 1970s. Hip Hop has thrived within the subculture of Black and Puerto Rican communities in New York and is now just recently beginning to enjoy widespread exposure. From a sociological perspective, Hip Hop has been one of the main contributing factors that helped curtail gang violence due to the fact that many adults found it preferable to channel their anger and aggressions into these art forms which eventually became the ultimate expression of one's self. The Godfather of Hip Hop is Afrika Bambaattaa. The world's oldest, largest and most respected grass roots of hip hop. He created an organization called the Universal Zulu Nation. Hip Hop culture is a positive tool for social change. The inception of Hip Hop culture in the Bronx was during the early 1970's; it has been a vehicle for breaking down racial barriers on a world wide level. Hip Hop is a means for overcoming challenges, and a means for teaching awareness and knowledge, inspiration and wisdom. During the 70's, Hip Hop was a celebration of life, gradually developing to form a cultural movement as a result of its dynamic energy and momentum. Hip Hop culture has greatly influenced the entertainment world with its creative contributions in music, dance, art, poetry, and fashion. Hip Hop is the vehicle to deliver innumerable lessons and continues to provide for unity, love, respect, and responsibility. Due to the medias lack of knowledge about the whole of the Hip Hop culture, many of our world's youth are mistaken in thinking that activities such as: smoking blunts, drinking 40's, wearing a designer label plastered across their chest, carrying a gun, or going to strip clubs, are "Hip Hop". Hip Hop is being portrayed negatively by many artists who work in the element of Rap and this negativity is usually instigated and promoted by the record industry and various other corporations who exploit the culture at the expense of the youth's state of mind and morality.