HIP-HOP

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HISTORY OF GENRE

The history of hip-hop began in the late 60’s and continues to evolve and develop to the present day. Since hip-hop began 30 years ago, This genre has cultivated into a particular movement and culture. Hip-hop culture originated in new york amongst black and Latino people in the ghetto.

However it is considered that the real birthplace of hip-hop was in the south Bronx, which is one of the poorest quarters in new york. Africa Bambaataa, a DJ was the one who gave hip-hop its name a few years after ‘hip-hop’ was invented.

In 1967, Clive Campbell also known as kool herc, was considered to be one of the founders of hip hop and was later referred to as the “DJ”. Clive Campbell was known as the “master” of the music system.

SUB-GENRES & HYBRID GENRES Hip-hop has many components, however, Its main

components are rap (MC'ing), break-dance, graffiti, street types of sports games.

On the other hand, there is about 47 different sub genres and hybrid genres of hip-hop, a few are freestyle rap, Grime, Gangsta rap, ghetto house etc. From the list below we can see how far hip-hop has expanded over the years that its been founded, showing that it has a range of sub-genres and hybrid genres allowing it to have a higher range of a target audience and leading to a higher income, profit wise.

ICONOGRAPHY OF GENRE

Hip-hop has a range of different icons that are featured in music videos and are really common today. Iconic features such as Money, Basketball, Clothing, shoes, women, guns and other merchandise. The use of the different merchandises being used allows more publicity for the Hip-hop and the music video itself.

This allows Hip-hop to stand out and be recognisable for their specific target audience, as this allows their target audience to easily identify what the music genre is. Furthermore, the use of iconography allows the use of advertisement of new products that are commonly found in Hip-hop. This also shows the artist’s wealth and property.

LEADING ARTISTS

The top five leading artists in Hip hop are:

1. P’Diddy (Sean ‘diddy’ combs)

2. Jay’Z ( Shawn Carter)

3. Dr Dre (Andre Young)

4. Birdman (Bryan Williams)

5. 50 cent (Curtis Jackson)

RECORD LABELS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM1. P’diddy is associated with Bad boy records which he founded in 1993 and operates as a division of

universal music group, and is distributed by interscope records.

2. Jay-z has been with several different record labels, in 1995 Jay-z co-founded Roc-a-Fella nation with Kareem Biggs and Damon Das. Later on in 2004 Jay-z was named president of Def jam records leading to Jay-z and the other co-founders selling their remaining interest’s in Roc-a-Fella record and Jay-z taking control over both record labels. However, Jay-z vacated from the position of president at def jam records in 2008 and then announced that he would be leaving on May 21, 2009. Jay-z was then later offered to sign with the record label, live nation, also he created Roc nation and partnered up with stargate to form the record label StarRoc.

3. Dr Dre also has been with several different record labels, Dr dre began with Kru-Cut records in 1984 with the musical group World Class wreckin’ Cru, Then in 1986, Dre met rapper Ice Cube and collaborated together to record songs for Ruthless records, however Dr dre left due to a dispute with Eazy-E. Although Suge knight Dre’s bodyguard founded death row records and Dre signed with death row records, but left in 1996 due to a contract dispute and due to his belief in, Suge knight being corrupt. Later that year Dr Dre formed his own Record label called Aftermath records under the distribution label for Death Row Records, Interscope Records.

4. Birdman founded cash money records in 1991, with his brother and is linked with republic records and Universal records.

5. 50 cent joined jam master jays record label Jam Master jay records, where Jay mentored him, however in 1999, 50 Cent left Jam Master Jay records and then moved to Columbia records, but was dropped due to his song “ghetto Qu 'ran. In 2003 Interscope records granted 50 cent to have his own label, G-unit records. On February20, 2014, 50 Cent left shady records, Aftermath entertainment, Interscope records and signed to Caroline and capitol records with his G-unit record label.

ISSUES/REPRESENTATION

Hip hop music is commonly associated with negative stereotypes, such as gang violence, murdering and drug abuse this is due to the iconography of hip hop, such as the misogynistic view of women, the use of profanity, the use of weapons.

Furthermore, Hip hop is commonly stereotyped as a black music genre, as music is commonly produced by black males or females, however this changed over the years as there is now a diverse audience of people who enjoy and listen to hip hop.

Moreover, hip-hop music, videos, magazines and so on, portray African Americans as being violence-prone, criminal, promiscuous and stupid.