Spencer
Michael Spencer
Sarah Rider
English 2
October 27, 2009
Hip Hop Then and Now
What is culture? Is there a clear definition of culture? If this question was asked to a
thousand people you might receive a thousand different answers. On earth there is a culture that
has influence on the entire world whether you are a participant or not. It’s called Hip Hop.
Within the hip hop culture there are five elements. Graffiti, DJing, Break Dancing, MCing and
Knowledge. These elements are the foundation of hip hop. In the beginning during the birth of
the hip hop culture its purity was unquestioned. It was one of the few language dialects and
cultures that spoke directly to the urban communities around the North America. Its energy was
captivating with just a scent of its essence while its elements symbolized its authenticity. In the
late 1970’s DJ Afrika Bambaataa and The Sugar Hill Gang just to name a few helped develop the
vocal and visual projection of the culture in which would become instrumental to it powerful
influence. Hip hop is a outlet of expression, a way of life, a form of communication but like any
culture its evolution and sustainability is tested by time. Despite its presence there are many
people who won’t accept rap music genre as a true respectable musical art form. While rap music
is the most identifiable part of hip hop other elements although still presence has taken a back
seat in certain aspects of today projection of its energy. Although hip hop is worldwide I will
only cover its life in North America. The then and now in the title of the paper is a general
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collection of information of hip hop its history. It would take many days to cover its huge
historical circumference and so I will provide general understanding about the evolution of hip
hop and its place in the communities throughout North America.
In the Beginning
In the beginning a DJ’s had turn tables, vinyl records, microphones and a MC would grab
the Mic and start rapping to the break beats spun by the DJ’s. House parties, clubs where the
music was projected were captivated by the energy. Hip hop was new, fresh, and urban speaking
directly to the community. It belonged to the community and it was one of the few times culture
was completely controlled by the public. In the early 1970’s a Jamaican DJ name DJ Cool Herc
Moved from Kingston to NY West Bronx. (Davey D page 2). He brought a Jamaican style of
music not accepted by Americans in NY but DJ Cool Herc adapted his style and Hip Hop was
born like a falling star. The billboard magazine published an article about parties popping up
everywhere in uptown New York with DJ Cool Herc’s performances leading the hip hop
movement. (Neal, Murray page 2). Of course TAKI 183 a graffiti artist in the early 1970’s
wasn’t in the Billboard article but graffiti would become one of the five elements that would
prove to be part of the foundation. No one expected hip hop to sustain the test of time. Although
people loved the culture like the air they breathed hip hop was more than new it was black,
which meant in the 1970’s it was doomed for failure. One could walk down the street and see a
crowd surrounding a boom box while others where break dancing on a piece of card board on the
side walk. I was one of those kids in the mid 80’s break dancing in the street and I felt like I
could walk on the clouds when the music came on. By this time hip hop was the driving force in
the urban communities musically, socially, politically and vocally. The fashion was authentic.
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Although word fashion in itself is trendy fashion during the birth of hip hop was driven by pure
attitude without commercial influence. This was and still is a part of the purest components of its
essence. Hip hop is a form of expression. It’s a free form without rules and boundaries.
Authenticity
Throughout my life in hip hop I can remember one constant issue that has been debated by
graffiti artist, musical artist and industry professionals and that is authenticity. I have been in
Chico for about two years and authentic anything is seriously lacking while the rich cultural
history is unheard of in Chico. I have worked in the music industry for about 10 years and I have
had the pleasure of living all over America. With this experience trends become very evident
quickly and the knowledge element proves to be priceless. I have seen authenticity disappear
like a magic show in Las Vegas and my informants agree.
The word authentic in hip hop is a commandment. Authentic has an opposite energy
source called “biting”. When you are authentic you are the originator but biting means to take a
style, rhyme or way of presentation of oneself without acknowledgement of the source. For
example; you originate a particular hair cut and others begin to copy you. Instead of those people
acknowledging you as the source they got idea from when they are asked about the hair cut they
take all the credit. That person is a biter. The phrase “keep it real” is sometimes used when
talking about authenticity but this phrase could have various meanings but it’s all related to
authenticity. Biting has always been present hip hop just as the gravity is a constant. It’s one of
the things that will never disappear and Mc’s have always told stories in their songs about these
biters since beginning of the recorded rap music genre. Most Mc’s have thanked biters while
few absolutely despise it. In either case biting bleeds into every thread the binds the culture and
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in some way biters are needed. Opposites attract plain and simple but why does it matter if you
have biters. This philosophical question could be analyzed for years but it all comes down to
creativity. In order for hip hop to grow these opposites must balance each other.
Interview with Informants
My interview with Rachel was very interesting. Some of her answers where shocking for
a lady 24 years of age growing up in Chico Ca. My time spent with Hannah went as expected
and her answers where typical for a young adult growing up in the Chico north valley. When I
was talking to Frank Swisher a Grammy nominated, platinum music producer you could sense
the energy and his excitement over phone when talking about hip hop. I also had the pleasure of
talking to Saint Charles 59 years old Music Mogul single handedly responsible for changing hip
hop economics on the west coast in the 90’s. His responses came out like a man hurt and
disappointed but understanding all at the same time.
Most metropolitan cities in America have the benefits of discovering the cultures
elements while small towns get the watered down music and fashion trends. Most small cities
are spoon fed by television and magazines along with an occasional concert in the area; hence
Rachel’s answers puzzling me. I have lived the city life and the good ole small town life so my
assessment of this area comes from personal experience.
Rachel
When you hear the phrase hip hop what comes to mind?
I think of lyricist and the conscious rap music from artist like Mos Def. Rap was different in the
80’s and early 90’s.
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Do you know the five elements of hip hop?
No I don’t
What is your favorite memory in hip hop?
I don’t know. I don’t have one but when I saw break dancing for the first time that blew me away.
Frank Swisher
What is your fondest memory in hip hop?
My fondest moment in hip hop I met Jaru The Damaja. I was young man in Toledo Ohio with
dreams and goals and then I met an artist that was respected and looked up to everyone I knew.
Jaru was and is hip hop. That was a great feeling.
What does hip hop mean to you?
Hip hop is life?
Saint Charles
What do you think about music videos?
That’s a good question. I have heard this question before but they were more specific to videos
then and now. What I can say is music videos now are made to make for the lack of musical
creativity compared to back in the day videos had a theme of the songs. Songs back in the day
where better songs and displayed authentic concepts.
What does hip hop mean to you?
It still means everything. Economically it was doing well and but has tapered off in the last
couple years almost to an unrecoverable state. I keep that feeling I had when I first found hip
hop sacred. It’s not like that anymore but it’s all I have to reflect on to remember its importance.
Neither Rachel nor Hannah new the five elements of hip hop and I was not surprised.
The then and now aspect of culture plays a big part in these experiences. The knowledge
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element has always been passed down generation to generation using word or mouth but as of
lately placed on the back burner because of mass media. The power of mass media does and will
always have more power of how information distributed to world. (Q-ZERO interview on the
The Dirty Twig Show)
Five Elements
Hip hop is the culture from which rap music emerged. (daveyd.com/raphist page 4)
Everyone has heard some version of the phrase hip hop music. Many blogs refer to rap as hip
hop as a music genre. Davey D explains it perfectly in the first sentence of this paragraph. I can
speak for myself and express that the confusion of hip hop classified as music is irritating. Hip
hop is a culture. It’s not a music genre but rap is one of the music genres within the culture. I
was thinking of a good time to talk about the five elements of hip hop when writing this paper so
I decided to place it here. The element of knowledge is the understanding of hip hop culture and
its originating factors. The most important element of all is knowledge. Mcing are those gathered
in a circle rhyming words in a poetic format with rhythm. Rap is the name of MCing reproduced
recorded sound. Graffiti is visual art painted with a spray can tool. This art work can be placed
anywhere on any surface but is normal placed in large areas such trains and hug concrete walls.
Break dancing is using the entire area of the floor using all parts of the body. A dancer might use
his hands, feet, or knees and may even use his head to prop body in the air. DJing is use of vinyl
recordings placed on turn tables/record players mixing songs together with similar song BMP’s
and creating new songs in the process.
If you are not a part of the hip hop culture the written word may not give you a visual
understanding of the five elements. I was told as a child that you have to see it to believe in it.
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Run DMC said in a interview “they don’t understand that these turn tables are like guitars to us”.
Most of the community of the metropolitan cities didn’t have the money to pay for instrument
lessons. Those turntables turned into instruments, Doug E Fresh the human beatbox turn into the
human percussion and break dancing was self taught. The rock star Prince at the age of 7
mastered the piano and learned to play 20 instruments by the age of 12. He is genius and the only
artist on record to accomplish this but creating an entire type of dance genre requiring the
physical strength using gravity to project the body how you see fit is genius. The five elements
have always been respected amongst those whom have witnessed its power but more so the mass
media has forgotten the essentials parts of the culture that makes it special
Then and Now
When I spoke to the informants they all spoke of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls whom
where pivotal figures in the hip hop world. Both killed but why they were killed is still in
debate. But Hip hop is so much more than famous rap artist. Tupac and Biggie knew this and
spoke of it in their recordings. A part of the culture died with Tupac and Biggie. Those who were
old enough understand the importance of their passing away in 1996 and 97 know this but have
yet to educate the younger generation about the knowledge element. The most difficult issue
about this paper is translating the then and now factor of the culture because its history is so large
and broad. In the earlier portions of the paper I presented information about its origins along with
informants of different age groups and backgrounds. The now era of hip hop is um let me see
ahh,. a portion of the culture but according to the those who witnessed the birth of hip hop
consider the now era of hip hop shameful.(Daveyd.com/raphist page6) The next generation, late
80’s and late 90’s whom where there at its climax don’t acknowledge the now era because of the
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lack of authenticity. The younger generation who knows of artist like Riannah, Soulja Boy and
the popular song called “jerk” receives information about culture differently than the past. The
information is processed and packaged like Mc Donald’s moving fast and skewed. Saint Charles
spoke of the good, the bad and the ugly of the culture. “Fame for a hip hop artist is good
economically, but can be bad if the artist is famous for anything non authentic. It’s ugly when
your famous one minute and gone the next. This means the audience is not interested in the artist
any longer and usually causes the artist to use a gimmick to regain popularity.” Frank Swisher
stated “good ole days are over. The internet has been great for those artists who are not signed to
major labels but bad because it takes away the intimate times the buyer has with artist. Now you
just download whatever’s popular and you don’t really know the artist.” Lil Wayne according
the Neilson BDS radio spins was played over 15,000 times in the last 12 months. Lil Wayne
can’t be the only artist in the world.
Mass Media according Saint Charles and Frank Swisher has exposed hip hop to world but
has transformed it into a monster that will self destruct itself. Record labels used to be on the
right side of the fence and when the music industry realized that it could make money on every
level of the culture it went crazy. There were more female rap artists back in the day and R&B
artist used to sing about love and happiness. Now they sing about cars and money. There are
clothing companies charging 800.00 to 1000.00 for a pair of pants and 150.00 for a t-shirt. DJ’s
vinyl records have been replaced with digital plastic wheels and digital screens that do all the
work and require no talent. 15 years old kids can make a record at home, upload it to you tube,
say superman that hoe and have high school cheerleading competitions perform to the song.
Lyrical skill and content with substance used to be main criteria for a record deal. Today’s
standards have created prerequisites of musical content with superficial lyrics and gimmicks in
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order to secure a record deal. It’s hard to write these things without seeming bias to hip hop’s
back in the day status but truly the challenge is trying figure out what the culture is
metamorphosing into considering its origins. One thing is for sure. Economically and creatively
according to the industry professional’s hip hop dying and some don’t believe it will recover to
its essences to sustain life. That’s a pitiful shame.
Spencer
Works Cited
David Toop. "Afrika Bambaataa." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 22 Oct.
2009 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/46870>.
Anthony Brown. "Jones, Quincy." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 22 Oct.
2009 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/50642>.
David Toop. "Rap." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 22 Oct. 2009
<http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/46867>.
Watkins, S. Craig “Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture and the struggle for the soul
of a movement. Ebook 9780807009918. Boston, Mass Beacon Press 2005.
Alim, H. Samy. Roc the Mic Right : The Language of Hip Hop Culture. Ebook 9780203006733.
New York, London Taylor & Francis Routledge, 2006.
Myles, Rachel Personal Interview October 25, 2009
Myles, Hannah Personal Interview October 25, 2009
Charles, Saint Personal Interview October 15, 2009
Swisher, Frank Personal Interview October 15, 2009