In a dorm room at NYU, he set up shop with another hip hop lover, Rick Rubin. In that room, legendary artists such as the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J were established, not to mention the even more renowned Def Jam Records. Rick Rubin was all about hip hop at this time, so much so that he persuaded the university to give him independent study credits for starting his own record company out of a dorm room. He did graduate with a Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree in Film and Video, although it has been said that he mainly did it to fulfill his parents’ wishes.
Plainly, the Hip-Hop press has a responsibility to the culture it covers. It should challenge the culture while celebrating it. The Hip-Hop press shouldn’t lower their journalistic standards or “dumb down” just to sell magazines. I hate to say this, but some of the best pieces I’ve read on Hip-Hop have come from mainstream publications which really have no authority to speak on matters of Hip-Hop.
It is actually hard to live in the ghetto. I know what I am talking about: I have lived there for years, struggling as a single mom to raise my kids in a very hostile and dirty environment. The ghetto is a place that teaches you about life. I have dealt with realities some of you could barely ever swallow, not even in your dreams. I am not talking that way to raise your pity, I want you to understand that living in the gutter far from being a fairy tale.
These days, everyone from the average everyday person to sports athletes and celebrities such as Daddy Yankee, Fat Joe and Jay Z all rock the plain hip hop tee. When you hear the phrase “plain hip hop tee” this refers to a higher quality tee made of cotton that comes extra long, tall, thick and is made as heavy as 6.1 oz to as much as 7.0 oz! The best way to see the difference is to experience one for yourself. Look at a regular tee that is in your drawer right now and compare that to one that you get from good hip hop clothing stores. You will see an amazing difference almost immediately!
A real underground authentic culture of hip hop lovers still exists. If you look hard enough were actually everywhere. Most of us may wear shirts and ties because we are grown now. I can certainly tell you this. The highly skilled hip hop culture that I’ve grown up around does not and will not present itself of MTV and certainly doesn’t live at any self proclaimed radio dial location.
Finally, start with the basics then increase the complexity gradually. If you want to learn hip hop music production, this is the best way. Once you are happy with your drum beat, you need to develop the percussion and sampling elements of your song. You need both to add emphasis to your sound and create a great work of art.
Alongside the Kangols and gold chains of LL Cool J and Slick Rick, there were the afrocentric clothing representing black unity. Queen Latifah not only taught men to put ladies first, but she also taught girls to stand up for themselves with unity. And even if they were fed up, Tupac told the ladies to keep their head up.
The name “Hip Hop” is said to have been coined by Keith “Cowboy” Wiggins. Wiggins was a member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, a Hip-Hip group formed in 1978 in the South Bronx. They were a large part of the genre’s early development. Other artists signifying the beginning of Hip Hop include The Sugar Hill Gang. Signed by Sylvia Robinson, they have been recognized as the first popular rap group. Their song, “Rapper’s Delight,” is still popular today. The first female group to release a Hip Hop single was known as The Sequence, releasing “Funk You Up” in 1979. Other popular female artist’s from the early days of Hip Hop include Salt ‘N Pepa, pop songs 2022 MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Oaktown 357.
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