Name_________________________________________
Date__________________________
The History of Rap and Hip Hop
You have probably heard of these rap artists: Lil Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, Eve, Ja Rule, Jay-Z and
2Pac. But do you know how hip hop music began?
Use the following website to answer the questions below.
www.daveyd.com -- hip hop articles “The History of Hip Hop” or “Respect Those Who Came
Before Us”
Who was DJ Kool Herc, where in the world were his roots and what is one cool thing he did?
Where in the United States did it start?
Why did rap/hip hop start and why did it appeal to the group of people it did?
Do you think it’s true that if you write a couple good rap songs, then you can be rich? Why?
What are the four parts of hip hop and what are each about?
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Name_________________________________________
Date__________________________
What is a griot?
Who did Martin Luther King Jr. say played an important role in the civil rights movement and
why?
What kind of music was hip hop music most a response to and why?
Name three of the first successful hip hop/rap artists from the 1970s.
Who was Afrikaa Bambaataa and what is one cool thing he did?
Personal Essay
What is your opinion about hip hop music today?
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Name_________________________________________
Date__________________________
If you finish the worksheet, here are some websites to visit to listen to some of the music “back
in the day” and to learn more about hip hop.
 Encarta Africana
o do a search for hip hop or rap or one of the artists we’ve found out about or
o go to features and the topic treks and then music and musicians
 www.emplive.com/explore/hiphop/index.asp -- check out this interactive hip hop/rap
timeline and hear soundclips of the older generation
 www.graffiti.org -- look at graffiti from all over the world including Boston
 www.bboysummit.com or www.spartanic.ch/frame.html -- check out the moves these
guys and gals are doing to b-boy and learn about what it takes!
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