African Heritage & it's inpact on the Hip-Hop culture

Have you ever wonder where African Americans got their rhythm from? Hip-Hop is one of the most prominent music genres/cultures found in the African American community. Rappers, Djing Poets, graffiti artist, and break dancers all are aspects of Hip Hop culture. The definition of Hip Hop is an expression of ones struggle through words,dance, and music. Containing the same cultural similarities as the ancient African culture and oral tradition, Hip-Hop was what kept the community together. (Davey D.). Kinship was always a custom prevalent in African culture, Slaves would be tortured and tormented by their slave masters and they looked to each other for the emotional support. It protected them from psychological destruction. It was a way of survival for them during their separation from their native land and their original families. Many of their cultures were denounced so kinship and extended family was a way of rebuilding their life and dealing with issues(Revelations). Hip-Hop takes the same role in African American culture today. For years hip-hop has been used to express the aggression and the push for unity in African American neighborhoods. MC-ing was a way of expressing music to a beat so that people could feel the words instead of just hear them. A lot of rap during the evolution of hip-hop really focused on issues that African Americans dealt with on a day to day basis. whether it be racism,violence,drug abuse,sex, or simply partying. Djing is one of the main elements that started the hip-hop culture, this brought people together, and let them listen to music that had meaning to them. Dj's during the hip hop era made the parties a more unified experience with their catchy phrases and nicknames and nursery school lines. This was a way African Americans could relax and enjoy each others company. Break dancing was a way in which they expressed through movement to entertain, to create cliques, and get social status in their community. Just as in africa and their ritual dances, was a form of helping individuals understand their roles in relation to the community(New World Encyclopedia). In break dancing they different crews would battle showing off different movements that expressed a more nonviolent approach to battling. Graffiti was the expression of a more urban art work in that era, it was expressed on public places throughout cities acknowledging certain groups or affiliations. African art expressed different people and communities, they symbolized different things. Hip-Hop and African culture is not only parallel but a more modernized way that African American keep a close tie to their culture and their beliefs. The expression of their struggle and love for their community.