Hip hop, which is originally a part of hip-hop culture led off by the African Americans of New York city in the 1960s, is very much a part of Indian music today. It identified worldwide attention since the late 1980s. Hip hop can be easily identified through its unique mix of beats and vocal style. The person who raps is called an MC and rapping is called MCing or emceeing. The rapper uses rhyming words to construct and compose the rap and performs in a rhythmic manner to a particular beat. The beats are often derived from other songs with the help of a DJ or a producer. The basic instruments used include a turntable, synthesizer, vocals, drum machine, sampler, guitar, piano etc.

Origin of hip hop

If you trace back the history of hip-hop, you will find that the roots lie in African American music. Also part of the rappers is the griots of West Africa who are groups of travelling singers and poets. The performances of these griots had a great impact on the post-civil rights era of 1960s and 1970s.

Hip hop has been long since considered as an outlet and a voice for those who are deprived of the rights of citizenship. Hip hop culture reflected the social, economic and political realities of their lives. The ones to gain major fame in New York were Kool Herc and the Herculoids.

PS: the article doesn’t give you any exaggerated details about hip-hop. If there is anything that you want to know more about, you can leave a comment.