The year was 1973 when DJ kool Herc unveiled a new type of music that was taking shape. So guys join me in wishing Hip Hop a happy 50th anniversary.
As usual, we must dive deep into what this really means with a little history, Hip hop music is a genre of music that originated in the 1970s. More often than not people interchange Hip hop with rap.
I would point out that one is a subset of the other. Rap is a part of hip-hop. Although hip hop may have started in 1973 Rap started way before that. According to one of the greatest producers of all time, the great QUINCY JONES. (Recipient of 30 Grammys)
“FEW RAPPERS REALIZE THE GENRE SPRANG FROM WEST AFRICA GRIOTS THROUGH DELTA SLAVES SONGS TO JAZZ POETRY AND COMEDIC TRASH TALK OF THE DOZEN”- Quincy Jones
Quincy was right, in tracing the origins of rap to the motherland! and if you see this man’s credentials, there is no need to argue with him, although we are in a political climate where a few people might disagree with this statemate, I don’t know about you I’m not going to argue with one of the best producers of all time.
In West Africa, communication through music and storytelling was the norm since it was very much a part of the culture and the oral traditions of west African people. It is no wonder that rap made its way through all forms of black music, from Jazz, Soul, R&B, and even country borrowed an aspect of rap which I will call the art of storytelling!
Our ancestors used to say “There is a song for every occasion”There is even a type of drum in Africa called Talking Drums. Those are used to send messages and communicate with people. The player of those drums must be skilled in sending messages, drum patterns must imitate human speech. As we are well aware, drum patterns are just as important to any rap song as the lyrics to the song itself.
Hopefully, our brothers and sisters all over the world will celebrate our ART!!!!
