WHAT IS HIP-HOP?

A MUSIC,
HISTORY, ART AND CULTURE
LESSON
A DIFFERENT LOOK AT HISTORY
WHY?
Because hip-hop is a fundamental piece of urban youth
culture, and has become one of the most popular music
genres in the entire world. Why not know more about this
integral part of many of our lives.
 “Hip-hop is a vehicle.”
QUOTES -Talib Kweli, hip-hop
artist, founding member
“The thing about hip-hop is
of Black Star
that it’s from the
underground, ideas from the
underbelly, from people who
have mostly been locked out,
who have not been
recognized.”
-Russell Simmons, co-
founder of Def Jam
“Rap is a gimmick, but I’m
Recordings
for the hip-hop, the
culture.”
-Method Man, hip-hop
artist, member of the Wu-
Tang Clan
WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT HIP-HOP?
• Do you like hip-hop? Why or why not?
• What is hip-hop? What is rap? Are
they different?
• Why do you think hip-hop started?
• What are the stereotypes about hip-
hop?
• What role does the media play in
teaching us about hip-hop?
 LET’S HEAR ABOUT HIP-
HOP FROM THE
FOUNDERS

Kool Herc Invents Hip-Hop

Afrika
Bambaataa
Creates
Culture
SOUTH BRONX, LATE
1960’S
THE BEGINNING OF
HIP-HOP
The Four
Principles
of Hip-Hop
•Peace
•Love
•Unity
•Having
Fun
SO NOW, LET’S SEE
WHAT WE’VE
LEARNED?
1. Where did hip-hop come from?
2. Who invented hip-hop, and under what conditions?
3. What is “the break”?
4. Does hip-hop bring people together, or does it
divide them? How?
5. What was Kool Herc’s message to successful rap
stars? Do you agree or disagree with him?
6. In what way did Afrika Bambaataa create a culture?
7. How do popular definitions of hip-hop differ from
the way artists in the documentaries define hip-hop?
SO LET’S HEAR IT…
Now, you can’t just talk about hip-hop, you have to listen to
the music, to get a feel for the emergence of the basic
elements of djing and mcing….