Hip hop is a complex and interesting genre of music and a fascinating subject to study for those interested in urban studies and social history. Hip hop is also notorious for commercialism, especially as it applies to rap music. Numerous critics of rap music, both hardcore fans and haters, claim that it lacks substance, commercialism and that the genre lacks the creativity of other styles of music such as classical music and jazz. This review will focus on hip Hop theory and the business uses of hip hop samples in making their hip hop beats more marketable and popular.
The underground culture of hip hop first began to gain attention with the formation of the Peace Corps in 1967. Through touring across the country, the members of the Peace Corp. were able to meet and connect with people who lived and worked in the Lower East Side of New York City, the Bronx and other working-class neighbourhoods. During this time, the idea of a “scene” or “verse” developed, characterized by a consistent and organized group of people who practised a particular style of urban music. The core of this “community” was made up of mostly African-American and Latino men who identified as “zcrews”, or slang for crew.
As the popularity of underground music increased, it became increasingly necessary for these cultural groups to form an official union, the Independent Groove Crew (IGC). Joining forces, the IGC realized that they had a common goal: to unite the people of their community through their collective vision and creative production. By using samples from popular music, the IGC created its own sound, distinct from the typical underground beat. At the same time, the IGC united the various aspects of the underground into one cohesive unit, thus becoming known as the “origins of hip hop”.
According to numerous hip hop artists and cultural historians, the origin of hip hop can be traced to two major cultural events: the slave trade and the Civil War. On a larger scale, the slave trade brought thousands of blacks and Native Americans to the United States, thereby transforming the country into a multicultural melting pot. Slavery contributed significantly to the development of rap music, especially in the form of soul, gospel, and jive. It also brought an influx of new influences, including European, Caribbean, and Latin influences. One of the most significant contributions of the slave trade to hip-hop was the assimilation of African slaves into America’s black communities, a process that forever changed the ethnic and cultural makeup of the African-American community.
In summary, the purpose of this review is to discuss the business uses of hip-hop music. Hip hop is considered by many to be one of the most influential and important forms of contemporary music. This article discusses how radio DJ’s use hip hop as a marketing tool. Although hip hop is often promoted by rappers and music groups, it has evolved to the extent that it can be used by businesses as well. In fact, hip hop radio stations have become mainstream phenomena that can be used to market and sell a variety of products, such as clothing lines, music, and videos. For instance, hip hop DJ’s have become popular business persons who are able to speak on specific issues through their music.
This review is the subjective opinion of a member and not of law. This article was written to share my observations while participating in a hip-hop radio station that plays music from different types of cultures and areas. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in an Ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and are included with every reproduction. Any other reproduction is void.
Sophie is a journalist and critic who delves into hip-hop’s golden era, analyzing lyrical content, production styles, and the impact of groups like Crown City Rockers.