Hip-Hop culture is commonly known to be filled with vulgar elements, suggestive dance moves, and everything a parental figure would disapprove of. However, the craft, artsmanship, and talent also associated with Hip-Hop reflect none of these negative connotations. To understand our modern assumptions about this genre, one must delve into its very beginnings.

     Hip-Hop itself is actually a term not just associated with rap music, but also breakdancing or b-boying, deejaying, scratch music, and graffiti. For the most part, the term Hip-Hop has become synonymous with rap alone. While there are many misconceptions about the expansive nature of this genre, its origins are also greatly discussed. Hip-Hop culture holds its roots in New York City, specifically in the South Bronx. The style, which was created in the 60s and 70s, is derived from African and Hispanic dance styles and music.  

     The dancing style associated with Hip-Hop is actually meant to encompass the people, as well as accent the natural flow of the body. Because of this, the music reflects the manner of dance, creating songs with faster beats and longer sections better fit for dancing than simply listening, as implemented by DJ Kool Herc.Therefore, Hip-Hop smoothly and creatively allows dancers to genuinely show off their skills. The actions of DJ Kool Herc have not only changed the music and dance scene, but also increased interest in the movement and thus provided popularity.

     Today, there are more than 20 different styles of Hip-Hop dancing. These styles include tuting, waacking, voguing, and many more. When you take a look at the big picture, Hip-Hop culture is truly a form of musical expression that effectively brings together urban communities worldwide

     Apart from Hip-Hop’s style and form, the lyrics and talented musicians are also a vital part to this thriving community. Though Hip-Hop has its roots on the Eastern and Western Coasts, rappers of today can be found all over the world. The works of Beenzino, Genetikk, Sneazzy, and Mac Miller represent all ethnicities and styles, proving that Hip-Hop is a worldwide phenomenon. Hip-Hop has always been a culture where the individuals who partake in it are allowed the freedom of expression. On many occasions, rap has been used to talk about internal turmoil, struggles of the city, and political and societal issues. For example, Kendrick Lamar’s renowned album, “To Pimp A Butterfly", elaborated on both systematic and internal racism as well as on Lamar’s personal identity. However, it still remained a tribute to one of Hip-Hop's most well-known founding fathers: Tupac. The legend and impact of Hip-Hop can be found in all cities across the United States as well as urban areas worldwide.

     Rap as a whole is an intricate form of artistic expression and spoken word However, rap is often viewed as harsh and degrading. Despite this, the word “rap” itself actually stands for rhythm and poetry. Rapping serves as means of emotional release, or as a way to create an art piece that people can relate to. Rap and poetry are both written to express emotions, and rap is simply poetry with a beat. Interestingly enough, most rappers utilize iambic pentameter, a device created and employed by William Shakespeare. In order to understand how people view and understand rap, we interviewed some New York natives.

        The first New Yorker agreed to read aloud the piece of poetry. He and his company then explained how they felt about the piece. Once they had given us their responses, Gurleen revealed that the piece of poetry was actually lyrics from Lil Wayne’s song “Mirror.” The shock factor was great, as Lil Wayne is not often viewed as an artist with not many inspirational lyrics. However, the individuals indicated that rap is more than just drugs, money, and women. They were also quite shocked to learn that rap actually stands for rhythm and poetry. The group was thankful for the insight and explained that their friend is very passionate about rap. It led him to enlighten us with some poetry, known as rap--and well, let's just say he dropped some bars.

      Next, we interviewed an older man, who also gave us his insight on rap. He indicated that he has a sentimental view on the rap and hip hop culture, and uses it in relation to his devotion to God. He stated that while many lyrics are filled with ill content, one can spin the words into a more positive light. In fact, just before the interview, the individual had been rapping to a crowd about the word of God, taking the style of grime into a holy light.

    Whether it’s popping and locking with your crew, rapping about something on your mind, or (legally) expressing yourself through the art style of graffiti, Hip-Hop has always been a culture that brings the community together. Hip-Hop’s infamous persona has lead its music to be seen as destructive trash within the music world, as well as in many rural or suburban communities. However, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and Hip-Hop can also be seen as treasure across all cultures and communities of the world. It is a necessary and vital genre for self-expression, political revolution, and personal growth.

-Amina Odogba and Gurleen Bajwa