Hip-Hop wasn’t always as lucrative as it is today. In fact, there was a time when it wasn’t even a genre. On its 48th anniversary, I cover how Hip-Hop’s foundation voiced against racism and the right to freedom of speech.
Hip-Hop’s foundation
It all started on a Saturday, August 11th, 1973, in the Bronx, New York (USA). A DJ by the name of Kool Herc threw a house party using a two-turntable.
At that time, Disco dominated the scene, and before that Jazz. However, what made this party special was the technique he used. Admittedly, Herc looped two different instrumentals to “break” a new sound.
Along with Hip-Hop came breakdancers who synchronized their bodies to the beat. Thirdly, graffiti enlightened not only the streets but also presented appealing visuals on album covers. Therefore, the pillars of rap are as follow:
- DJing
- Breakdancing
- Graffiti
- But what about rapping?
Even though it took years for rappers to establish themselves, solo MCs and crews started to build Hip-Hop’s foundation. By the end of the decade (1979), the rap group “The Sugarhill Gang” released the genre’s first commercial hit record with “Rapper’s Delight.”
As a result, it expanded across musical borders allowing rap group Run D.M.C. to partner with Adidas in 1986. Thus, becoming the first group to sign a deal with a fashion brand.
Furthermore, rapper Dr. Master P taught about ownership. That is, becoming an entrepreneur by creating his label “No Limit Records” in the ’90s. Undoubtedly, a lucrative genre to be in until looking at the whole panorama.
Racism
Despite the rappers’ delight in music, the flip side of the coin told a different tale. Namely, the living conditions of the listeners (consumers) were oppressed. The black youth faced unemployment, poverty, and racism.
Regardless of the abolishment of slavery by 1865, activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. (1968) were killed for voicing the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, racism never stopped. As a matter of fact, it only got worse.
On March 3, 1991, a civilian named Rodney King was brutally beaten at the hands of the police. So, if camera recordings weren’t enough evidence to condemn, who was willing to clash for equality?
Hip-Hop began fighting back through lyrics. Songs such as N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” (1988), Public Enemy “Fight the Power” (1989), and Body Count’s “Cop Killer” (1992) gave the community a voice to stand up against injustices until they tried to ban the genre.
Freedom of speech
Indeed, feared as a part of a revolution, rap albums were labeled as violent, obscene, and censored. For example, Ice-T’s “Rhyme Pays” (1987) was the first LP to have “Parental Advisory” on its cover.
In addition, the rap group 2 Live Crew’s “As Nasty as They Wanna Be” (1989) sent them to trial for obscenity. Also, buying or distributing the record was punishable. Fortunately, after going back and forth, they won the case by vouching for the “First Amendment.”
In conclusion, what started as genreless music sparked a movement by fighting racism and ultimately the right of freedom of speech for civilians and the future generation of artists.
Happy 48th birthday to Hip-Hop!
Celebrate and watch The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” in the link below.
- Photo by Mike Von (Unsplash, nd). ↩︎
