How HIP HOP Started

Hip hop means many different things.  It was first used to refer to the culture and way of life of urban city New York City.  But, since then, the term has taken on a life of its own.  The most popular meaning of hip hop is now music.  Hip hop or rap as it is also called has several origins.  In fact, there is no one origin that can be called the only one.  There are several histories about how hip hop got started.

DJ Kool Herc is credited as being highly influential in the pioneering stage of hip hop music.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First of all, the influences that helped to inspire hip hop are thought to be traced back to African culture, but it isn’t until the multicultural mix of New York City that the music began to flow.  But, even if we do not have a clear picture as to when hip hop was started, we do know that there are some major players in its history.  

For example, one type of hip hop called dub is traditionally Jamaican style.  Other forms such as Reggae are evident from the 1960’s.  Through development with artists such as U-Roy, Dr. Alimontado and Dillinger that most began to change to incorporate a more obvious baseline and percussion element.    Blues music also came to light inspiring another turn in the culture.  

When we talk about the term of hip hop, we are often brought back to Kool Herc, a DJ when he began working with Afrika Bambaataa.  There are many more people that fold into the story of how hop hip hop got started.  If you want to take it back to decades ago with the combination of African music, reggae and blues you will find a line of wonderful artists.  Or, with the urban culture of inner city New York, there is another line of artists that have made their mark.  One thing is clear, though; hip hop continues to make history for years to come.  

To find more information about how hip hop got started, you can find a wide range of information available to you right on the web.  And, with so many people needing this information and wanting to know the roots of this music genre, it is safe to say that what you need to know is available to you here, on the web.

Author: Brent Wilson