THE CULTURE OF HIP-HOP

by Nompumelelo Nkatha

Hip-hop is not just a music genre, nor is it strictly the derogatory things that the media portrays it to be. It is a style, a swagger, how one dresses, carries themselves, speaks and express themselves and so much more. The culture of hip-hop is one that has taken the world by storm since the early 70's in the mean streets of New York and now has migrated throughout the world. But what exactly is hip-hop? Because of stereotypes, a lot of people see hip-hop as a genre of music consisting of shallow and violent nymphomaniacs producing vulgar and explicit lyrics about sex, money and the derogatory exploitation of women. But hip-hop is a cultural movement with the four historic "elements of hip-hop" of Emceeing(rapping), DJ'ing, Graffiti and Dancing but of cause it has extended elements which are beat-boxing and fashion. Hip-hop has created a platform through which young people can speak their minds about the troubles they are facing in their communities. It allows them to express their anger and frustrations about the social ills of society in a positive manner.