History of Hip-Hop: Rubble Kings and Beyond - Essay Sample

Introduction

The history of hip-hop can be traced back to the 1960s based on the views of different scholars. It can be described as a musical practice that emerged from young people who sought their views on cultural, political, and economic aspects to be heard. Different dancing styles and rap characterized hip-hop culture. Currently, it remains highly valued, especially by Americans of different colors, particularly African-Americans. Rubble Kings portray a common name in hip-hop history. The wild style involved the first video featuring hip-hop. The role played by Jeff Chang in the furtherance of hip-hop cannot be overlooked. In this regard, the focus of this study is to compare the nonfiction piece of work on hip-hop to understand based on wild style, Rubble Kings, and Chang.

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Discussion

The nonfiction history discussed in this paper involves Physical Graffiti-History of Street Dance Jorge by Pabon. The material describes various events and views associated with the history of hip-hop. As provided by Pabon (n.d.), the hip-hop culture has diverse meanings, and different authors have given agreeing and disagreeing chronological events about it. Of interest to note in this work is the need to investigate how hip-hop history originated. The primary history regarding hip-hop culture provides that locking and popping originated in New York. B-boying and b-girling are noted to be the significant forms of dance that characterized hip-hop in the 1980s. The other form of dance that cannot be ignored in classification is Brooklyn up rocking.

The hip-hop culture is highly regarded to have started in New York ghettos in the 1970s (Forman & Neal 250). The DJ beats were highly regarded as the drivers that set rhythms during the period. Dancers portrayed tactical movement to remain relevant in the mainstream of competition. The MCs were crucial in establishing relevant rhythms that attracted young people. Rockin and Breakin are common slangs that followed the rollout of hip-hop. Percussive rhythms facilitated impressive rap that dancers would perform in the streets. Rocking was also considered an aggressive way of portraying rap and rhythms to win people. Top rocking was an upright form of dancing. Other aspects associated with hip-hop culture include capoeira and martial art styles that were infused in dancing to make it more aggressive. The dancers from different cultures associated themselves with their dancing style. Also, individuals would come up with their creative way of movement during the dance and infuse with humorous aspects to remain competitive among other peers. Floor rocking was also infused with top rocking to become drops of different natures, including back swipes and front swipes, among others.

Brooklyn is considered to have introduced a new dancing style in the 1960s. According to Pabon (n.d.), Brooklyn up rocking involved the new dancing style, which was more confrontational and involved competition between components. The period was characterized by war dances, including the presence of weapons. Also, dancers had to employ wit in outstanding their components and avoid being harassed. Other dancers across the US came up with creative styles and rhythms. Unfortunately, the original contributors are not mostly regarded due to poor tracking of history. In the 1970s, more sophisticated methods, including musical instruments, were introduced (Hogan, 2018). Other countries joined in hip-hop, and concerts became available. The east and west sides are regarded as the major contributors to developing hip-hop.

Connection With Rubble Kings, Wild Style, and Chang

Rubble Kings' assertions show that hip-hop originated in the Bronx. As provided by Pabon (n.d.), the analysis by Rubble Kings considerably connected with the beginning of hip-hop, including the formation of gangs associated with the upcoming of hip-hop. The political and social atmosphere in the Bronx was unfavorable to the minority. Further analysis shows that "Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by Jeff Chang portrayed the same aspects believed by Rubble Kings to have contributed to the development of hip-hop culture. The 1970s provided a challenging atmosphere in the Bronx due to war that displaced many businesses (Meyerson, 2019). The economic situation became more challenging due to the presence of diverse ethnicities that would not agree on sharing resources or living together in harmony. Landlords would burn their properties to attract insurance benefits (Soraya, 2015).

Violence was the norm in the Bronx, leading to the upcoming of ghetto brothers and other groups that engaged in street confrontations. According to Soraya (2015), the situation was getting out of hand in the Bronx due to the loss of property and deaths witnessed. As a result, a peace treaty was signed among the warring groups after holding the Hoe Avenue Peace Meeting. DJ battles ensued henceforth instead of violent confrontation, the situation that marked a new development of hip-hop culture. The competition was no longer about fighting but displaying prowess in hip-hop rhythms and dancing styles. Therefore, the assertions by Rubble Kings agree with the nonfiction work that hip-hop originated in New York. Also, aspects of warring groups, competition, economic, and social disputes contributed to the development of hip-hop culture.

Jeff Chang focused on communities to illustrate the rise of hip-hop. As provided by NBC News (2014), Chang tried to narrate his story when he joined the US at 18 years old. The US was characterized by ethnicity, and people were profiled based on their origin. Asian-Americans and people of different colors were considered inferior in society. As a result, different community-based groups were formed to agitate for their rights. The Musical elements were characterized by the struggle to be treated equally. Marginalized communities sang about the social, economic, and political atmosphere in the US. Racial segregation is part of the aspect that developed various groups which portrayed their concerns in the society. Chang is highly regarded as a writer and activist whose assertions about the background of hip-hop cannot be ignored. Therefore, he noted multiculturalism and how it has contributed to different styles of hip-hop rhythms and dance movements.

Wildstyle is factored in the first hip-hop film. According to Sachs (2009), Charlie Ahearn documented the first film in 1982, showcasing the moves danced by hip-hop dancers. The style is considered the only independent film that was solely based on hip-hop. Foreign TV stations from countries such as England, among others, became the channel of disseminating hip-hop films. Street kids were trained on dance moves, and various DJs and MCs collaborated in making more films, including the current ones. A clear analysis of this study shows that hip-hop culture has had different attributes associated with communities and struggles to be recognized without violence. The nonfiction work noted in this study shows great relation to Rubble Kings, Wildstyle, and Chang in developing hip-hop. However, it gives general and detailed information regarding the background of hip-hop culture.

Conclusion

The focus of this study was to compare the nonfiction piece of work on hip-hop to understand based on wild style, Rubble Kings, and Chang. According to the discussion, hip-hop has developed since the 1960s to the current situation after passing through various changes. Different communities of young people sought entertainment platforms for expressing their views which lead to the development of the hip-hop culture. The nonfiction work shows how various people contributed to the creation of hip-hop culture. Various styles of rapping and dancing were introduced. Film making for hip-hop songs was developed as time progressed. The wild style became the first hip-pop film to be viewed. The study has explored the views of Rubber Kings regarding the background of hip-hop culture. The role played by Jeff Chang and his assertions have been discussed too. Further research on this study should focus on the development of hip-hop culture in certain countries and its impact.

References

NBC News. (2014, November 12). Jeff Chang on Hip Hop, Street Art, and Racial Justice in America. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jeff-chang-hip-hop-street-art-racial-justice-america-n239936https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jeff-chang-hip-hop-street-art-racial-justice-america-n239936

Pabon. (n.d.). Physical Graffitti.. the History of Hip Hop Dance by Popmaster Fabel. Retrieved from https://www.daveyd.com/historyphysicalgrafittifabel.html

Sachs, A. D. (2009). The hip-hopsploitation film cycle: representing, articulating, and appropriating hip-hop culture.

Soraya Nadia McDonald. (2015, July 1). 'Rubble Kings' traces origin of hip-hop in the Bronx. Retrieved from

Forman, Murray, and Mark Anthony Neal, eds. That's the joint!: the hip-hop studies reader. New York: Routledge, 2012. Retrieved from http://sites.psu.edu/comm292/wp-content/uploads/sites/5180/2014/10/FormanNeal-Thats_the_Joint_The_Hip_Hop_Studies_Readerbook.pdf

Hogan, M. (2018). Music Technology of the 1970s : A Timeline. Retrieved 20 December 2019, from https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9940-music-technology-of-the-1970s-a-timeline/

Forman, Murray, and Mark Anthony Neal, eds. That's the joint!: the hip-hop studies reader. New York: Routledge, 2012. Retrieved from http://sites.psu.edu/comm292/wp-content/uploads/sites/5180/2014/10/FormanNeal-Thats_the_Joint_The_Hip_Hop_Studies_Readerbook.pdf

Meyerson, h. (2019). How the Bronx came back (but did not bring everyone along). Retrieved 20 December 2019, from https://prospect.org/economy/bronx-came-back-but-bring-everyone-along/

NBC News. (2014, November 12). Jeff Chang on Hip Hop, Street Art, and Racial Justice in America. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jeff-chang-hip-hop-street-art-racial-justice-america-n239936https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/jeff-chang-hip-hop-street-art-racial-justice-america-n239936

Pabon. (n.d.). Physical Graffitti.. the History of Hip Hop Dance by Popmaster Fabel. Retrieved from https://www.daveyd.com/historyphysicalgrafittifabel.html

Sachs, A. D. (2009). The hip-hopsploitation film cycle: representing, articulating, and appropriating hip-hop culture.

Soraya Nadia McDonald. (2015, July 1). 'Rubble Kings' traces origin of hip-hop in the Bronx. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-rubble-kings-bronx-hip-hop-documetary-20150701-story.html