Hip Hop Culture

Hip Hop Culture originated in African-American during the late 1970's it was a way for young teenagers to express themslves throught music, dancing, but in a form of rapping, breakdancing and graffiti.

Five cultural points:

DJing: One of the few first hip hop dj's was kool Dj Herc who created hip hop through the isolation of "breaks" mixtape Dj's have also emerged creating mixtapes with different artists and add exclusive songs an one disc.

Mcing: Also know as emceeing, spitting bars, rapping or just rhyming. Mcing is performed in time to the beat of the music, lyrics that have meaning like poems.

Graffiti: is recognized as a visual expression of rap music ranging from simple signatures to elaborate wall art.  In America around the late 1960's it was commonly used to express social and political messages. Graffiti is also well identified with the term tagging, forms of imaging or lettering to identify the artist.  Street gangs are also known for tagging to mark their territory .

Breaking: also called B-boying or breakdancing is a dynamic style of dance which developed as a part of the hip hop culture. in 1939's earl tucker invented a type of dancing called snakehips its involving one moving their hips in a fashion intended to look  like the person had no skeleton. Breaking is one of the major elements of hip hop culture.

Beatboxing: is the vocalpercussion of hip hop culture. it is all about art of creating beats, rhythms and the using of human mouth as its a way of creating hip hop music.

SUB CULTURE INTERVIEW

1. Where is your home town?

Los Angeles, California

2. How would you describe your fashion style?

Smart/casual Hip Hop, I'm not into the sagging pants, but I like to represent my culture and have an obsession with coordination, from my watch to hats to my shoelaces.

3. Do you have a job? If so what do you work as?

Upcoming music artist, I class my music as sexual RnB.

4. Do you think its just as important as an artist to write as well as perform?

Yes, I feel as an artist you should be able to express yourself creatively which would mean you should be writing your own material.  There are so many artists in the industry at the moment that are just props for their label.  As an artist who can write you have other avenues like writing for others.  Ne-yo was well known in the industry as a writer before he started singing himself.

5. What clubs/ bars do you go to?

I haven't really visited too many venues in London, but in California I frequent most of the Los Angeles clubs like The House of Blues, Cabana Club, The Living Room etc.  I also like hanging out at different spoken word and open mic venues which are usually coffee shops during the day.  

6. Do you think Fashion and Music go hand in hand?

Fashion and Music have always gone hand in hand and always will. A lot of music is inspired by fashion and many fashion trends have started from music.

7.What labels do you wear?

With me its not about labels, its if I like something. If it happens to have a label then cool. I'm more about originality and like to make an outfit work with a mixture of old and new.

8. Where do you shop?

Everywhere and anywhere, from department stores, high street shops and thrift stores.

9. Three things you couldn't live without?

My wife

Magic shave

BBQ sauce

10. What inspires you? 

Life, creative children, those living life to the fullest

11. What makes you cry?

Onions.