| The roots of American hip hop music can be traced | | | | way to the mainstream, and not long after will a |
| down to western Africa and in various foreign | | | | clash between the two sub-cultures will begin. |
| cultures. The vocal style of popular rap is also found | | | | Street performers, with their DJ mixed tapes with |
| in the griot tradition, where one, a griot, wanders | | | | rhythmic beats, perform wild break dancing routines |
| from town to town, astonishing people with his | | | | that rouses the crowds of larger cities, add their |
| knowledge of history and his talent in music. Over | | | | mark to the American hip hop music. The beat is the |
| the years, the impact of early American hip hop | | | | heart of this genre. The sequences and samples |
| received some dramatic contributions from freestyle | | | | carried the lyrics along and kept the fans dancing and |
| street performers trying to make a living in | | | | listening.During this time, the very definition of |
| depressed regions of the city. | | | | concert performances experienced a fresh |
| Post the civil rights era in America a new influence of | | | | development, soon evolving into competitions instead |
| music sprung out of New York. People realized that | | | | of planned exhibitions. Renowned rapper groups |
| coming together to celebrate personal events was a | | | | would take on all challengers, letting the audience |
| worthwhile thing to do, and the legendary block | | | | decide the winner with their cheers. |
| parties soon started. Disc jockeys, who are usually | | | | The world of American hip hop soon began to |
| seen only in underground clubs, were finding their | | | | deteriorate as more of its artists become victims of |
| way up the burrows and onto block parties | | | | bad lifestyles. Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG |
| everywhere, unleashing their beat driven creative | | | | were murdered, and the world of American hip hop |
| mixes of soul, funk, and cultural music to entertain | | | | music was thrown into a tailspin. The genre suffered |
| the more conventional masses. Their sound started | | | | the effects as many of its popular artists fell into a |
| getting out in the open and people began to | | | | criminal lifestyle lost the respect in the public eye. |
| recognize this unique music known as American hip | | | | Now, American hip hop has begun a resurgence in a |
| hop. | | | | more defined and acceptable manner. Gone are lyrics |
| The important thing about this genre of music is that | | | | of hate and insult, replaced with considerate and |
| it wasn't always confined to a definition like most of | | | | positive music, spawning a new trend of themed |
| the other music genres. The darker side of rap music | | | | albums created by artists utilizing their creativity to |
| gained much exposure for a while making gangland | | | | target the revival of hip hop music's popularity in the |
| violence a popular and acceptable theme. Meanwhile, | | | | world, with a prevalence of themes of love and |
| DJ driven dance music was rising in popularity and | | | | community building. Whether this new incarnation will |
| forming its own niche within American hip hop as a | | | | be as popular as the old remains to be seen, but it is |
| whole. The underground clubs were hastily making its | | | | definitely off to a good start. |