The Evolution of the Hip Hop Culture and Music
In Nelson George’s textbook, “Hip Hop America,” he states, “hip hop is nothing, however, resilient” (12). The durability and elasticity that is found in hip hop, among other African American forms of music, has enabled the genre to adapt to the changing environment of Americans. In the 1970s, the beginning of hip hop, the atmosphere entailed innocence and a fun-loving environment. However, as drugs were introduced and mixed in the scene, the recipients of hip hop cared less about humanity and more about greed. As a consequence, hip hop created its downfall. The hip hop culture of the past, what is now called, “old-school” rap, provided a channel for vital cultural expression as well as economic opportunity for disadvantaged and neglected young blacks (Hall). In spite of that, present hip hop, which will be used interchangeably with rap, has less of a positive effect and only appears to degrade and perpetuate traditional stereotypes of blacks and continues the tradition of exploitation for the profit of large corporations and others outside the black community (Hall). The positive and negative effects of hip hop are fused in its past and present culture, and the generational gap reviews hip hop culture based the goals of the era, its authenticity, and the marketing strategies of the creators and owners.
In its activation, hip hop’s spirit was in parks and community centers, which celebrated nostalgia as the true essence, money was not a goal (George 20). Because money was not a determining factor, the genre was more concerned with cultural expression implementing Creativity into the work and the culture. With every form of black music, such as work songs, blues, jazz, and funk – blacks have used song and dance as an outlet from marginalization and oppression and hip hop is no different. In the 1970s there was a Black Golden Age happening. The lower class of minorities were leaving the urban, industrial...