All About Hip Hop

All About Hip hop
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Hip hop music
Hip hop music is related to the griots of West Africa; traveling singers and poets whose musical style is reminiscent of hip hop. Some griot traditions came with slaves to the New World. The most important direct influence on the creation of hip hop music is the Jamaican style called dub, which arose in the 1960s. Dub musicians such as King Tubby isolated percussion breaks because dancers at clubs (sound systems) preferred the energetic rhythms of the often-short breaks. Soon, performers began speaking in sync with these rhythms. In 1967, Jamaican immigrants such as DJ Kool Herc brought dub to New York City, where it evolved into hip hop. In Jamaica, dub music has diversified into genres like ragga and dancehall.
Herc was one of the most popular DJs in early 70s New York, playing at neighborhood parties (also known as block parties). Since Herc\'s first gig on Sedgewick Ave. in the Bronx, he quickly switched from using reggae records to funk, rock and disco, as the New York audience did not particularly like reggae. Herc and other DJs extended the percussive breaks using an audio mixer and two records, and other mixing techniques soon developed. Performers spoke while the music played; these were originally called MCs (Master of Ceremonies or Mic Controller) and, later, rappers. These early rappers focused on introducing themselves and others in the audience, with some improvisation and a simple four-count beat, along with a simple chorus. Later MCs added more complex lyrics, often humorous, and incorporated sexual themes. By the end of the 1970s, hip hop music was beginning to become a major commercial and artistic force and had spread throughout the United States. During the 1980s and 1990s, hip hop gradually became mainstream (a transition usually considered to have been completed in 1992) in the US and, to a lesser degree, worldwide.

DJing
DJing (turntablism) in hip hop refers to the art of using turntables as a musical instrument. Records/albums are used as tools to create many different styles of music. Some of the techniques used include cutting, scratching, body tricks, needle drops, and blends or mixes.
Traditionally, a DJ will use two turntables simultaneously. These are hooked to a receiver, an amplifier, speakers, a mixer (or fader) and various other pieces of electronic music equipment. The DJ will then perform various tricks between the two albums currently in rotation using the above listed methods. The result is a unique sound created by the seemingly combined sound of two separate songs into one song. A DJ should not be confused with a producer of a music track (though there is considerable overlap between the two roles).
Some famous DJs are Grandmaster Flash, Mr. Magic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Scratch from EPMD, DJ Premier from Gang Starr, DJ Miz, DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill, Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC, Eric B., Tony Touch, DJ Clue, DJ Shadow, DJ Q-Bert, DJ D-Styles and DJ Spooky.
Before coming into their own as music makers, an MC\'s role was to get the crowd into the DJ\'s mix. Hip hop used to be, above all, about getting your audience to dance. In Europe this attitude has been more enduring than in the U.S., where MCs quickly became hip hop\'s central focus. Disillusioned with this new culture, some DJs further explored the art of spinning records, creating the turntablist scene.

MCing
Battling is the term in hip hop used when two MCs conduct verbal combat against each other. The purpose of battling is for both MCs to try to diminish each other\'s lyrical skills and gain the favor of the crowd or audience. The level of crowd impression with a particular lyricist is determined by various forms of lyrical delivery, skill, insults and their ability to \"move the crowd\". The crowd meanwhile reacts with gestures such as \"oohs\" and \"aahs\", response to the lyricist\'s \"requests\", or an ovation at the end of a battling session. The crowd then determines who is the better lyricist, thus giving the lyricist recognition and increased confidence to engage in and win more battles.
Most \"true\" battles occur in various underground hip hop clubs, or even in a simple place such as a street corner; these events are usually fixed contests. More well-known \"battle\" MCs such as Canibus may go public with a battle on the radio or produce a \"diss\" record and call out their potential opponent. This can be done by disrespecting their opponent\'s lyrical skill, subject matter, or just plain not liking the person. Most public battles are publicity events used to gain exposure and acquire more fans. Unfortunately some lyricists cross a personal line when battling and what was once fun leads to physical confrontation.
These days this personal line is being crossed frequently and with a great amount of cruelty. Many argue that this part of hip hop has \"gone too far\" and that, as the rapper Nas said, \"No women and children [should be] involved\". Others feel that this is all a part of hip hop. When one MC battles another, he wants to say anything that will make the crowd react, even if it involves the other MC\'s mother or children. It may not be something personal that one MC has against the other; both are simply just trying to win the battle.

Beatboxing
Beatboxing, considered by many to be the \'fifth element,\' is the vocal percussion of hip hop culture. It is primarily concerned with the art of creating beats, rhythms, and melodies using the human mouth.
Beatboxing is hip hop\'s vocal percussion whose early pioneers include Doug E. Fresh, Biz Markie, and Buffy from the Fat Boys. The term \'beatboxing\' is derived from the mimicry of the first generation of drum machines, then known as beatboxes.
The art form enjoyed a strong presence in the 80s. Beatboxing declined in popularity along with breakdancing in the late 80s, and almost slipped even deeper than the underground. Beatboxing has been enjoying a resurgence since the late 90s, marked by the release of Rahzel\'s \"Make the Music 2000.\" The internet has greatly aided the rebirth of modern beatboxing—on a global level never seen before—with thousands of beatboxers from over a dozen countries interacting on UK\'s Humanbeatbox.com.
The art form has radically evolved, extending its reach to include physical theater routines, and has integrated itself into hip hop (and other forms of theater).

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