50 classic clips to celebrate 50 years of hip hop

Hip hop turns 50 and the party is on here with a selection of clips. There are 50 classic American rap clips, which are not meant to be a list of the best recordings, but to serve as a representative track for the party, organized in order of sonic affinity in a playlist like a video/mixtape. Try listening without skipping tracks – this works best on the premium version of YouTube (no ad breaks).

The date chosen to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary is August 11, 1973, when the young DJ Kool Herc organized his first party in the Bronx, New York, setting up two turntables to keep a selection of funk, soul, Latin and reggae playing without stop – an adaptation of sound systems from his childhood in Jamaica, where traveling sound equipment used DJs to turn the streets into instant parties.

The American refinement, hip hop, gave birth to the culture of DJs, who soon started creating new music from songs from different records, and MCs, who started enlivening parties with shouts and slogans to accompany the beats, before becoming a rapper, not forgetting the street-dancing b-boys and graffiti gang, who created the look of the era.

The genre evolved rapidly, but remained a secret for several years. The first rap (featuring MCs and a band) was only recorded in 1979, surprising the world unaware of the success of New York block parties, but the real impact came in 1981, when DJ’s first authentic hip hop ( “Adventures on the Wheels of Steel”, by Grandmaster Flash) went disco, creating a revolution of new possibilities for pop music.

The 50 clips below capture the evolution of hip hop over the decades, ranging from pioneers like The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five who helped make the genre famous, to more recent artists like Jay-Z and 50 cents. keep pushing the boundaries of the genre. The lineup includes groundbreaking recordings such as the first recorded rap, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, and the groundbreaking track that brought social awareness to rap: “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five. Also featured are iconic hits like 2Pac’s “California Love” and Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” showcasing the expansion of hip hop into mainstream culture.

The selection spans a variety of styles and sub-genres, from self-aware rap by Public Enemy and KRS-One to West Coast G-funk (or gangsta rap) by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Warren G. Electro is also represented by Afrika Bambaataa , the Miami bass of L’Trimm, the alternative rap of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest, the hardcore rap of DMX and Wu-Tang Clan, and the female rap of Salt-N-Pepa and Queen Latifah , among others wait. It’s a comprehensive look at what many call the “old school,” a school with many different classes.

Detail: This is only the first part of the audiovisual anniversary celebration. A new selection of 50 clips continues the story – and the party – next weekend.

Source: Terra

Earl

Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.