Behind every perception, there is a conditioned response. At the root of that response, you will find culture. Aside from the common misconception that culture is directly linked to race or ethnicity, it is quite evident that culture can stem from any existing group. What I would like to venture on is the unpredictable world of Hip Hop. I will journey throughout the culture uncovering issues concerning the corporate view that is pushed through mainstream networks, as well as the underground scene where "truth" takes on new meaning. I will travel across decades to compare the differences between traditional Hip Hop culture and the flashy bravado that is prevalent today. Ultimately, I will unveil the culture who's subtle undertones can dictate the reaction to every stimulus that America can provide.
In the late 1970's, an alternative form of music was arising. The beat of the music was simple, but the lyrics held a new style. Unlike anything before, these lyrics were much more up tempo. The number of words in a song were almost doubled through 16 bars. More important than the style of this music was the content. In the lower ends of the New York ghettos the rituals took place for the first time. You would find crowds of people loitering on the street corner with an aggressive murmur coming from within. If you studied etiology, this is where you would find the origin of Hip Hop. At the focus of this circle is the only form of background music, the beat boxer. This person used only their mouth to supply the beat, a framework that would evolve to be the foundation of the Hip Hop infrastructure. There has been appreciation throughout rap music to prove the continuity of this building block. Fast forward to 2001, and you still have rappers giving praise to the beat. An underground rap group from Los Angeles named Dilated Peoples wrote, "never forget that the real backbone of Hip Hop, is disc jocks.
