Rap music has found its way onto mainstream pop radio stations, as well as having its own shows on MTV. Understanding the roots of rap music will help in understanding its significance. Part of the reason for delving into the history is because hip-hop and rap is generally associated with African Americans but the roots of the genre did not originate in the black community. Also, rap sprang from social discord but contained no where near the anger that it displays today when it first appeared on the music scene. The definition of rap music places its origins in New York but the story of hip-hop begins in quite a unique way. Hip-hop began with street parties in the Bronx during the seventies (Forward, 1997). In the early eighties, a New York University student named Rick Rubin began to sell rap records (1997). At the same time, a New Yorker called Tom Silverman was selling Afrika Bambaattaa records (1997). Several years later, Rubin, along with Russell Simmons, helped to create the single most successful white rap group of all time, the Beastie Boys (1997). All of them were Jewish (1997). Soon, a whole contingent of Jewish men, along with a few women, were drawn to that music (Forward, 1997). In fact, a Jewish rap group called Blood of Abraham soon surfaced (1997). During the very beginnings of rap, there was social significance. The music and lyrics held some promise as a medium that could shed light on race relations in the United States (1997). While the medium began as a part of the Jewish community, entities such as KRS-One, Public Enemy and Queen Latifah sprang up; each stressing the betterment of blacks (1997). The very beginnings of rap held music of social and political significance. Rap music was not a quick fad like disco. It was in the early nineties that things began to change. It was at this time that Tupac Amaru Shakur was shot, although a review of his life would reveal that he did not live the typical "gangsta" lifestyle; at the same time, he did have a criminal record that included rape (Forward, 1997).
