Hip Hop - Rappers delight to Rap wars

In August 1979 the first stirrings of a rap revolution when the grooves of a single by studio musicians known as Sugarhill Gang. They recycled a bass line from from a Chic hit 'Good Times' and the song provided interesting monologues from Master Gee and his colleagues. With this rapping was born. The song was a massive hit in the UK. Some at the time thought that this would be a nice novelty record. However, this opened the ears of the world and ended up as one of the most influencing genres of music for generations to come.

Hip Hop help provide a new outlook on black music, it was swallowed up by the swanky disco sounds of the 1970's and many wanted a new sound which was accompanied by its own dress code, language, dance style and attitude. Hip Hop was a way of life. Music was being challenged in the way it was been portrayed by conventional DJ's. The new DJ's were now using dual turntables and mixing records to continue the beat all evening.

While Rappers Delight was aimed purely at dancefloor music, later music to follow left messages and thoughts which would prick consciences. Grandmaster flash big hit 'The Message' had this exact effect. Hip Hops origins began in the South Bronx and with the influences of Malcolm X many tried to send over that message across other cultural boundaries and embrace other cultures.

Bronx activist Afrika Bambaataa drew on the 1970's Krautrock theme with his twin decks and his Roland drum machine, Run DMC collaborated with rock band Aerosmith and the Beastie Boys helped broaden the appeal across a racial divide as they were all white. From humble beginnings many were now able to influence generations with there thoughts and social comment. Producers and mixers such as Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa began to put sound on record. DJs and MCs began to rap impromptu which began to publicise them, the club or the sound they were making.

However, not only did the music play a part. Break dancing and Graffiti were manifested from Hip Hop. Dancing was an important part of hip hop and it gave the chance for people to show off in the neighbourhood thus encouraging competition between dancers. Former New york street gang leader Afrika Bambaataa recognised this as a more viable option than fighting. Using his influence gained from his notorious Black Spades gang, he st up dance competitions and created Zulu Nation to help the growing number of dance crews.

The same went with graffiti and spontaneous expression with many tagging (customised initials on visible surfaces) to Bombing (painting murals on subway trains) Graffiti became a political statement back then and many authorities tried to clamp down on it.

Once Hip hop went wide, marketing men became the decision makers rather than the kids themselves and the rawness and unpredictability which underlined it has now been lost as the years progressed.

As Hip hop progressed a more intimidating sound was being formed by the likes of Public enemy and NWA. Public enemy were very much a political influenced sound who wanted to be heard all the way to the White House. NWA were more militant were Gangsta rappers whose taunting of the police piled on the controversy which has dogged hip hop for many years. There album Straight outa Compton chronicled a neglected world in south central LA and after the Watts riots the area slipped into decay with the ruling Bloods and Cripps gangs ruling the roost. The Police had lost control and NWA were intending to send that message to the masses.

Whatever the rumblings that have occurred Hip Hop is perhaps still the last genuinely monumental development in popular music. Recommended Listening