The first of the four original elements of hip-hop, graff-writing (aka graffiti), is said to have originated in Washington Heights in the late 60’s/70’s. The significance of graffiti to hip-hop culture is tremendous; as it was the cornerstone of inner-city self-expression
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Recent Articles
The Anthology of Rap
When we talk about rap music’s evolution and its influence on popular culture, we engage in endless debates over contrasting styles of rhyme, cadence, wordplay and symbolism. Often overshadowed by the beat and all the hype surrounding the music, are the lyrics at the heart of hip-hop’s pulse. Drop the beat and the baseline and
The Northern Touch: The Rebirth of Canadian Rap
Any hip-hop fan from Toronto can tell you where they were when the rap single “Northern Touch” dropped in ‘98.
I was in the eighth grade when the single, featuring Vancouver artists Rascalz and Thrust and Toronto emcees Kardinall Offishall, Choclair, and Checkmate, started getting major play on MuchMusic (think Canada’s version of MTV). Rocking the
MC = Middle Class? A Culture Expanding and Maturing
Though a bit dramatized, a scene from HBO’s turn-of-the-millennium mob hit “The Sopranos” exemplifies how hip-hop artists and the industry were viewed at the time the culture hit the mainstream.
In the final season, Tony Soprano is recovering from a nearly fatal bullet wound at the hospital when he overhears a conversation between a music agent
The Elements of a Hip-Hop Classic
Hip-hop has been defined by classic albums since its inception. Magazines such as The Source started rating classic albums with their signature “five mic” designation, but they were few and far in-between. Since then, hip-hop fans have put it upon themselves to discuss and dissect what constitutes a classic hip-hop album.
Early on, the makeup of
Looking Back: Cassette Tapes and Hip-Hop
Over the last decade music listening technology has evolved so rapidly, it is easy to forget about the original medium that propelled hip-hop from a strictly local art form to a global phenomenon: the cassette. Back in October, Sony officially discontinued production of the Walkman Cassette Player, signifying the end of an era. Although the
