Hip hop culture

Hip hop is a cultural movement that began among urban African Americans and Latinos in the Bronx New York City in the early 1970s, and has since spread around the world. The four main aspects, or "elements", of hip hop culture are MCing (rapping), DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing. Some consider beatboxing the fifth element of hip hop; others might add political activism, hip hop fashion, hip hop slang, double dutching (an urban form of rope skipping) or other elements as important facets of hip hop. The term has since come to be a synonym for hip hop music (or rap music) to mainstream audiences.

DJing

Main article: DJing

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DJing (turntablism) in hip hop refers to the art of using turntables as a musical instrument. Records/albums are used as tools to create many different styles of music. Some of the techniques used include cutting, scratching, body tricks, needle drops, and blends or mixes.

Related Topics:
Cutting - Scratching - Body tricks - Needle drops

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Traditionally, a DJ will use two turntables simultaneously. These are hooked to a DJ mixer, various other pieces of electronic music equipment, amplifier (or receiver), and speakers. The DJ will then perform various tricks between the two albums currently in rotation using the above listed methods. The result is a unique sound created by the seemingly combined sound of two separate songs into one song. A DJ should not be confused with a producer of a music track (though there is considerable overlap between the two roles).

Related Topics:
Turntables - DJ mixer - Amplifier - Receiver - Speakers - Albums - Sound - Songs - Producer

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Famous DJs include Grandmaster Flash, Mr. Magic, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Scratch from EPMD, DJ Premier from Gang Starr,DJ Scott La Rock from Boogie Down Productions, DJ Miz, DJ Muggs from Cypress Hill, Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC, Eric B., Tony Touch, DJ Clue, DJ Shadow, DJ Q-Bert, Mix Master Mike, DJ D-Styles and DJ Spooky.

Related Topics:
Grandmaster Flash - Mr. Magic - DJ Jazzy Jeff - DJ Scratch - EPMD - DJ Premier - Gang Starr - DJ Scott La Rock - Boogie Down Productions - DJ Miz - DJ Muggs - Cypress Hill - Jam Master Jay - Run-DMC - Eric B. - Tony Touch - DJ Clue - DJ Shadow - DJ Q-Bert - Mix Master Mike - DJ D-Styles - DJ Spooky

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Before coming into their own as music makers, an MC's role was to get the crowd into the DJ's mix. Hip hop used to be, above all, about getting one's audience to dance. In Europe this attitude has been more enduring than in the U.S., where MCs quickly became hip hop's central focus. Disillusioned with this new culture, some DJs further explored the art of spinning records, creating the turntablist scene.

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A DJ needs turntables, a good sound system, and scratch fodder, which typically comes in the form of vinyl records. Some early recorded rap music does not contain any sampling or DJing, however; for example, none of the members of the Sugarhill Gang were actually involved in the DJing scene in the Bronx and thus couldn't have done any, which explains the session player remake of "Good Times".

Related Topics:
Turntable - Sound system

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