Hip Hop may sound like some sort of children’s game, or maybe an exercise to tone up your thighs, but it is neither. It is actually a form of music and cultural expression.

It originated as an offshoot of the Rap scene, which came from the urban American Black community. In the 1970’s, many urban Black teenagers were frustrated with the “water-down” music they were hearing on local radio stations. The music was aimed at the more mainstream audiences, and they wanted something bold and different, something to voice their feelings. Thus, Rap was born, and later Hip Hop.

Looking back at the infancy of Hip Hop, it was initially composed of four distinct elements: graffiti art, break dancing, DJ cutting and scratching, and rapping done by an emcee. From there, it evolved its own language, dress style, music and mind set. Over time, the break dancing and graffiti faded from the scene, and some people called Hip Hop and Rap the same thing. That is not the case!

By the 1980’s, Hip Hop had come into its own. It was more complex, the simple rapping of the emcee being replaced by artists who sang metaphoric lyrics, and backed by complex, multi-layered beats. It was at this time Hip Hop burst into the mainstream and went international. Previously, it had been strictly an American phenomenon. At that point in time, he began to appear in England, Belgium, Spain, Greece and other nations. Even Cuba saw the rise in Hip Hop.

There followed a time of great diversification in Hip Hop. Originally, as previously noted, it had been uniquely an urban Black style of entertainment. This changed as Latinos, Whites and women began to enjoy it, and give their own slant to the music. Soon, a number of mainstream groups were releasing albums with Hip Hop aimed at those demographics.

All of this continued into the 1990’s, along with the worldwide growth of the genre. Nations like South Africa, Italy, France and Germany saw Hip Hop rise in popularity and be influenced by the local music styles. Thus, Hip Hop became further diversified. Meanwhile, in the United States, the West Coast began to dominate the scene.

Today, Hip Hop remains an international music style. It has spread into the Scandinavian countries and Tanzania, to name but a few. In America, it remains a popular genre of music with a whole host of performers. And, there are many varieties; some bring in jazz, classic rock or heavy metal to create a whole new sound. Considering that naysayers said in the 1980’s that it was a “flash in the pain” and would not last, it is clear that Hip Hop is a strong and vibrant music style that is here to stay.