The humble journey of Hip Hop began at a back-to-school party on August 11, 1973 in the Bronx, New York. A Jamaican American named DJ Kool Herc played music such as James Brown and other classics. However, he created something new. He used two turntables to play the same record – swapping between the two – to extend the breakbeat of the song. The breakbeat is an instrumental portion of a song where the percussion and / or rhythm are highlighted. This was a favorite of dancers, so the DJ wanted to prolong this section of the record.
About This Series
Hip Hop is not just about the music. The elements of Hip Hop includes DJing, MCing, Breakdancing and Graffiti writing. In addition to these, some Hip Hop scholars today include Literature and Knowledge of self in these elements. In this series, we will explore the history and celebrate this amazing cultural movement. Click the links below to learn more:
Happy 50th Anniversary!
Some said it wouldn’t last, but over the past 50 years, Hip Hop has stood the test of time and continues to thrive to this day through music, fashion, language and the overall influence of the culture. You are truly golden!
Learn more about the history of Hip Hop
at the Universal Hop Hop Museum, The Kennedy Center,
and The 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.
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