SSC 223G Test 1 Content: Evolution of Hip Hop

Key Figures in Hip Hop History

  • Foundational DJs and Artists:

    • DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell)

    • Afrika Bambaataa and Zulu Nation

    • Grandmaster Flash (and the Furious Five)

    • Fab 5 Freddy

    • Grandmaster Caz

    • Sylvia Robinson and Sugar Hill Records

    • Lee Quinones

    • Rock Steady Crew and Dynamic Rockers

    • Wendy Clark (aka Lady B)

    • Coke La Rock and Clark Kent

    • DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore

    • Kurtis Blow

    • Doug E. Fresh

    • Pete Rock

  • Influential Artists and Developers:

    • Run-D.M.C.

    • Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin (Def Jam)

    • Ice-T

    • Eric B & Rakim

    • Large Professor

    • J Dilla

    • RZA

    • DJ Premier

    • KRS-One

    • Dapper Dan

    • Queen Latifah

    • Public Enemy

    • MC Lyte

    • N.W.A.

    • Dr. Dre

Evolution of Hip-Hop Culture

  • Early 1980s: A Turning Point in Music Production:

    • The early 1980s marked a crucial period for hip hop's music production due to the increasing affordability and accessibility of synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines.

    • Roland TR-808 Drum Machine: This iconic device allowed music producers to program original drum patterns, moving away from the sole reliance on DJ breakbeats. It became synonymous with the powerful bass drum sound associated with hip hop.

    • This technological shift led to a decrease in the significance of DJs and an increase in the prominence of music producers.

  • Ikutaro Kakehashi (Taro):

    • The Japanese engineer, founder of Roland, and creator of the TR-808 drum machine, Ikutaro Kakehashi, is considered by some to be a founder of hip hop due to the profound impact of his invention.

  • Advancements in Sampling Technology (1980s):

    • Sampling technology saw substantial evolution throughout the 1980s.

    • DJs and producers experimented with early samplers like the Linn 9000, E-mu SP-1200, and the Akai MPC60. These tools allowed them to perform, rearrange sections, sequence arrangements, edit, and mix music in innovative ways.

    • Samplers enabled artists to piece breaks together digitally, offering an alternative to using turntables for this purpose.

    • Later, better samplers like the AKAI S900 offered increased memory, higher sampling rates, and improved editing capabilities, facilitating advanced techniques such as layering sounds, looping, sequencing elaborate arrangements, and adding effects.

  • Turntable and Mixer Technology Progression:

    • The 1980s and 1990s also saw significant advancements in turntable and mixer technology.

    • DJs continued to use scratching techniques to generate new sounds.

    • The Technics SL-1200 turntable was particularly popular through the mid-1990s, embodying the classic "Two turntables and a microphone" setup.

  • The Golden Age of Hip Hop (Mid-1980s to Mid-1990s):

    • This period is widely regarded as the Golden Age of Hip Hop.

    • Hip hop expanded beyond its primary association with New York City, spreading across the United States and evolving into a global phenomenon.

    • It achieved greater diversity, influence, stylistic innovation, and mainstream success.

    • The culture's growing popularity led to the emergence of new scenes and distinct regional styles of hip hop.

    • Reliance on Sampled Music: The Golden Age was characterized by a heavy reliance on sampled music. Artists extensively used samples from diverse sources without significant legal impediments at the time, including jazz, blues, rock music, and even sound clips from 1970s martial arts films, as exemplified by R.Z.A. of the Wu-Tang Clan.

  • Mainstreaming of Hip Hop Culture:

    • From the mid-1980s onward, hip hop fashion became integrated into the mainstream. Clothes, shoes, accessories, and hairstyles became widespread forms of expression in North America and globally.

    • Street language associated with hip hop also crossed over into mainstream use, adopted by people not otherwise involved in the culture.

  • Legal Challenges and Industry Shifts in the 1990s:

    • In the 1990s, original owners of music began pursuing legal actions to seek compensation for the use of their copyrighted samples.

    • Following numerous lawsuits, the U.S. government enacted several copyright enforcement laws.

    • These laws mandated that artists clear all samples in advance to prevent future legal disputes.

    • Consequently, hip hop producers shifted their focus towards creating original sounds rather than heavily relying on samples.

    • This legal and artistic change resulted in hip hop music becoming less dependent on its traditional jazz and soul influences.