Hip Hop Culture Quiz 1 Study Guide

Key Terms in Hip-Hop Culture

  • B-Boy/B-Girl: Original terms for dancers performing the street dance style known as breakdancing.

  • Sample: A digitized portion of an existing sound recording, such as a vocal part or instrumental, incorporated into new music.

  • Toasting: The practice of performing musical or rap-like over a new song to create a fresh composition, with roots in Jamaica's sound system culture.

  • Selector: A DJ respected for their expert knowledge and ability to pick records that create a specific vibe.

  • Soundsystem: A person or group of people with a sound system of speakers and power amplifiers capable of broadcasting music in public.

  • Break: An instrumental passage in funk and soul music where the lead instruments and vocals stop, emphasizing just drums and bass.

  • Dub: A remix of a recording where the original vocal track has been partially or completely omitted, originating in Jamaica.

Significant Groups and Individuals in Hip-Hop

  • Funky 4 + 1: First hip-hop group with a female emcee, Sha Rock.

  • Cold Crush Brothers vs. Fantastic Five: Notable rivalry; Cold Crush known for sophisticated lyrics, while Fantastic Five was stylized and crowd-friendly.

  • Sugarhill Gang: Released "Rapper's Delight", the first commercially successful hip-hop song in 1979.

  • DJ Kool Herc: Father of hip-hop; hosted the first hip-hop party at 1520 Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx. Coined phrases like "You Rock & you don't stop".

  • Sylvia Robinson: Co-founder of Sugar Hill Records, credited with producing "Rapper's Delight".

  • Russell Simmons: Co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, pivotal in making hip-hop mainstream.

  • Grandmaster Flash + The Furious Five: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, known for the hit song "The Message".

  • Afrika Bambaataa: Founder of the Zulu Nation, which promoted hip-hop culture and peace.

Key Events and Concepts

  • Birthplace of Hip-Hop: The Bronx, NYC, where hip-hop culture originated.

  • NYC Blackout of 1977: Marked by looting, considered to have accelerated the growth of hip-hop culture by making DJ equipment more accessible.

  • 4 Elements of Hip-Hop: DJing, Rapping (MCing), Breaking (B-Boying/B-Girling), Graffiti.

Notable Songs and Contributions

  • "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow: First solo artist to sign with a major label, becoming a hit in 1980.

  • "Planet Rock": Released in 1982, significant for its fusion of hip-hop and electronic music.

  • "It's Yours" by T La Rock: First single on Sam Records, contributing to hip-hop’s early catalog.

  • "Rapture" by Blondie: First No. 1 song in the US to feature rap vocals, broadening hip-hop’s audience.

Cultural Significance and Legacy

  • Impact of DJing and Turntablism: Techniques developed by pioneers like Grandmaster Flash shaped modern music.

  • Movies and Documentaries: Films like "Wild Style" (1983) and "Style Wars" (1983) served as critical records of early hip-hop culture and its elements, focusing on graffiti, dance, and performance.

Ethical and Philosophical Implications

  • Hip-hop as a voice for social change, addressing issues like economic injustice, cultural appropriation, and representation.

  • Discussion of ownership and copyright in hip-hop, highlighted by copyright infringement claims like those made by The Sequence against Sugar Hill Records.

Conclusion

  • Hip-hop culture evolved from the streets, providing voice and representation, significantly impacting modern music and society. Understanding its history is crucial for grasping its current form and future trajectory.