According to a recent edition of Webster's Dictionary, hip-hop is "the popular subculture of usually black urban youth, especially as characterized by rap music" (313). Furthermore, it defines rap as "a kind of popular music marked by the rhythmical intoning of rhymed verses to an insistent beat" (Webster's Dictionary, 547). It is amazing to see how far this fairly new genre of music has grown and developed, from its humble beginnings in the south Bronx to its widespread popularity today. During its thirty years of existence, the rap industry has continually changed, morphing its various styles, forms, and subjects. Even to this day, the world of hip-hop is evolving. Therefore, it is easy to see why the history of this music is already filled with many significant events and figures, able to fill countless pages with rich information. When looking at these important people and moments, the record of rap is most easily analyzed when it is broken down into the three decades it covers.
The 1970's - The Beginnings.
In the early seventies, "rap" was virtually non-existent. The decade was dominated by clubs infected with the glitzy beats and tunes of artists such Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summers, and the Bee-Gees. Although this music appealed to everyone, many inner-city teenagers who could not afford the glamorous clothes and expensive entrance fees were excluded from participating in this disco revolution. However, around 1973, several ingenious men from the south Bronx found an alternative, utilizing rhythms and melodies from existing records to create a unique sound of their own.
One of these pioneers was DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell), known affectionately as the godfather of hip-hop (Blow, 2). He is distinguished as being the first person to bring the sound of rap to the streets. Emigrating from Kingston, Jamaica, he brought his unique mix of reggae, jazz, and funk, filling the streets of Harlem and the Bronx with a new sound that no one had ever heard before.
