50 Years of Hip-Hop 

By: Emily Eade

Throughout the years came the creation of different genres of music. Some are known as fads whereas others are still thriving today; hip-hop is one of those genres. Throughout the 50 years of hiphop, we’ve seen musicians from Tupac and Jay-Z to Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. These are just some of the most inspiring artists that this genre has ever seen. 

The foundation of hip-hop came together during the early 1970s, founded in the Bronx borough of New York City, by the pioneer DJ Kool Herc. During a dance bash in August of 1973, DJ Kool Herc used his imagination and spun the same record on twin turntables, switching between the two to isolate and extend percussion breaks, only to create hip-hop. 

Not only is hip-hop a genre of music, it is a cultural movement. This movement reached widespread popularity during the 1980s and the 1990s, the famous genre was a way to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo. A common element seen through the music is the fight for racial equality. This was commonly seen through the music of artists such as Tupac, and N.W.A. 

Tupac was known for addressing present-time social issues that had afflicted the inner cities. The rapper came to fame in 1991, which led him to become a central figure in West Coast hip-hop. Tupac’s raw lyrics were full of violence, profanity, and describing life in the ghetto. Tupac to this day is known for being one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time influencing people from Lil Wayne to Kendrick Lamar. 

N.W.A. is known for popularizing the gangsta rap sub-genre of hip-hop and making it increasingly prominent in the West Coast scene. The West Coast band was founded in 1986 by Easy-E, members such as Ice Cube and Dr. Dre would later join the group. Thanks to the group’s hardcore lyrics against law enforcement and politics made the band notoriously known. The group would influence famous acts such as Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. 

Hip-hop is a sense of culture to many. This genre and or community provided adolescents with a sense of belonging and identity. Artists such as Tupac and N.W.A. would help the youth feel a sense of community. The movement encouraged a sense of unity during the height of economic hardships and racial discrimination. While going through these challenging conditions, young artists who felt lost would turn to music, dance, art, fashion, and more as a way to express themselves, their experiences, and emotions.