| Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture, which began | | | | Hip hop music is further a genre of music typically |
| in the Bronx, in New York City in the 1970s, primarily | | | | consisting of a rhythmic style of speaking called rap |
| among African Americans and Latin Americans, with | | | | over backing beats performed on a turntable by a |
| considerable Jamaican influence. (two other elements | | | | DJ. The Music has really gone a long way since the |
| are breakdancing and graffiti art). | | | | days of bboys spinning on cardboard boxes listening |
| The music may be based around either live or | | | | to what is now called underground rap. |
| produced music, with a clearly defined drum beat | | | | The music emerged alongside breakdancing and |
| (almost always in 4/4 time signature), presented | | | | graffiti, also popularized in the inner-city youth culture |
| either with or without vocal accompaniment. | | | | in New York City in the early 1970s as well. It is a |
| Hip hop music was an outlet and a "voice" for | | | | unique, progressive style that attracts experimental |
| disenfranchised youth as the culture reflected the | | | | artists with a deep love for diverse music styles, and |
| social, economic and political realities of their lives. The | | | | many with strong poetic skills seek out background |
| music was popular there at least as far back as the | | | | beats that compliment their performances and help |
| late 1970s. The first Philadelphia hip hop record was | | | | contribute to the originality of their words. |
| "Rhythm Talk," by Jocko Henderson in 1979, and the | | | | Hip hop music was (and is) a venue for personal |
| New York Times dubbed Philadelphia the "Graffiti | | | | expression and creativity. Rap is the culture of |
| Capital of the World" in 1971. | | | | African Americans, the continuation of their language |
| Rap is mostly influenced by hip hop. You can say that | | | | and traditions. Music journalist Peter Shapiro suggests |
| hip hop is synonymous with rap. As rap is all rhythm, | | | | that Kool G Rap "created the blueprint for Nas, Biggie |
| very little melody, and virtually no harmony and is | | | | and everyone who followed in their path." |
| generally written by the younger generation for the | | | | Music isn't about music, it's everything we do day to |
| younger generation -- providing a universal voice for | | | | day. Musically, rap songs usually have a strong |
| the young. In other words, hip hop music is a musical | | | | rhythmic aspect with the spoken lyrics emulating the |
| genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style | | | | intense rhythm of the beat and exemplyfying daily |
| called rap which is accompanied with backing beats. | | | | African American life in the ghetto's of America. |