The story of Hip Hop

What is hip hop?

"I said a Hip, a Hop, the hippie, the hippie to the hip hip hop, and you don't stop the rock it to the bang bang boogie, say up jumped the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat"

Those lyrics are from the song "Rapper's Delight," which has to be one of the most famous songs in hip-hop history. In 1979, the rap group Sugar Hill Gang released this song as their first single, which later became a Top 40 hit. Hip-hop is a form of musical expression and artistic subculture that originated in African-American and Hispanic-American communities during the 1970's in New York City. Since it's birth, hip-hop has grown to become what is now known as the largest urban culture throughout the world. Hip-hop music emerged with disk jockeys creating rhythmic beats that were accompanied by "rap", a patterned style of chanting or poetry to the beats and bass of the background music. An original form of dance called b-boying, graffiti art, and particular styles of dress also arose among fans of this new culture. Since, these four elements of the hip-hop culture have developed over the course of history to create a brand that has become a symbol of self-expression, social change, and a fly lifestyle. Just like the drop of a fresh beat, this history behind hip-hop continues to leave its mark in today's movies, music, and fashion. Now, some thirty plus years later, hip-hop is still keeping us jumping to the boogie of the beat. Enjoy and stay FRESH!!

Sugar Hill Gang's album cover in 1980.

Sugar Hill performs at the legendary show "Soul Train" in 1981.