Rituals and Stereotypes

Hip-hop is the most popular music around these days. Since the music’s first incision it was considered to be a fad. No one, not even those who were deeply rooted in its elements even thought that it would survive.  The theory was that hip-hop music was a passing fad. How could music that had virtually no melody survive in the dog eat dog world of R&B music? This couldn't be possible could it? Tell that to Run-Dmc, the first hip-hop group to ever go gold or platinum. With smash hits like” Rock Box “and “It’s Like That” this dynamic duo set the music industry ablaze. In theory hip-hop music could never surpass the record sales of mega star rock groups such as Aerosmith, Van Halen, and Death Leopard. Not only did Run-Dmc surpass those groups, Aerosmith re-recorded   an earlier single of theirs called “Walk this Way “with the dynamic duo Run-Dmc and the collaboration sold over 10 million units nationally. The rock giants chose to be assimilated than shun the emerging music. The Roots news was disappointing, but not surprising. Top-notch rappers have a history of puzzling collaborations with cheesy rock 'n' rollers. (Mathis-Lilley, 2008)

                Trying to put the value of hip-hop culture in the proper perspective is like trying to convince the world that the pope is Jewish. No one would ever believe it. The pope is not Jewish and hip-hop will never go anywhere. How could it? It is the building blocks for everything that fun. Hip-hop sets trends; it personifies the greatness in all who chooses to do it as a hobby or a profession. The common consensus among hip-hop moguls is that the music lasted because it was all we had. Most of us come from the slums and ghettos. A big radio and a couple of hip-hop tapes like the Fat Boys and Eric B & Rakim and all of a sudden it was a party. I know guys who went to worked just long enough to buy turn tables and a microphone and then they quit. The theory was if they had this equipment they could throw parties every weekend and charge money at the door and oh how the money rolled in. The Dj actually birthed the rapper because during the time a break beat was playing (the music in between records) select guys or girls would take the microphone and say a verse or two. The rap records actually started as a rapper rapping over a break beat and quickly evolved from there. The rhyming created by rappers is considered by many to be one of the most sophisticated styles of poetry. (History of Rap Music, 2013)