90s Hip Hop and Rap free essay sample

Rap and hip-hop first started to come together in the 1970s, but didnt really materialize and become popular until the 1990s. With a huge surge in popularity and growth in the 1990s, it seemed that rap and hip-hop had started a cultural phenomenon that still has noticeable effects easily seen today in music and also in pop culture. A cultural phenomenon is an idea, trend, or movement that shapes and defines that time period. During the 1990s, rap and hip-hop spread like wild fire across the nation, from the inner cities to the suburbs to anywhere where you can find a radio. Rap and hip-hop brought a different kind of lyrical rhythms and upbeat, energetic music that most people weren’t too familiar with. This cultural phenomenon didn’t only bring changes to music; it also brought along chances in fashion as well as a whole new culture and mindset. Modern day rap is an evolved form of music and storytelling that began thousands of years ago in Africa with the â€Å"griots†, who were village story tellers who played a simple handmade instrument while they told stories about family, village events, and nature. As they would play their instrument, they would also talk and the two things would mix together, the words flowing with the beat and rhythm of the instrument playing. Alongside the griot tradition, rap also has roots in the days of slavery, when the African American slaves would sing in the fields. It was the new sounds and catchy rhymes that captured audiences across America, and began to shape a new culture entwined with rap and hip hop culture. Some of the major influences to this new cultural phenomenon were Tupac Shakur, Notorious BIG, and The Fab 5 basketball team. As was made most tragically evident by the 1996 and 1997 slayings of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG, two of gangsta raps brightest lights(20). Also, The baggy shorts, the black socks, the swagger, the way they played the game a young, soon-to-be prodigy soaked it all in around the time he was first picking up a basketball. was said by LeBron James remembering the Fab 5(Berger). Through the work of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious BIG, young consumers think they are promised a thug life by joining a gang; and soon these begin to believe that the gangsta lifestyles as an acceptable lifestyle (20). James also talked about the Fab 5 dressed in black socks, baggy shorts, and the swagger in which they played the game. He said the style quickly flooded through the African American culture, and became a fashion style. Overall, there was an enormous influence from just a handful of people. Tupac Shakur is one of the most prominent figures of the 1990s rap and hip-hop scene. Through his gang affiliations, spellbinding lyrics, and his very mysterious death in 1996; Tupac turned into an Internet Icon and is still very popular and talked about today. His words and actions helped to mold the rap and hip-hop scene of the time. Young black youth were taking Tupacs rap lyrics for truth, and started joining gangs, mimicking their rap heros actions. He depicted injustices afflicted to him or his friends in his songs; showing the world that even after segregation was ended, racism was still prevalent towards young black men and that something needed to be done about it. He inspired black youth to stand up for their rights, and became a leader in a political resistance for blacks rights. Another iconic member of the 1990s rap and hip hop cultural phenomenon was Christopher Wallace, A. K. A: Notorious BIG. Mr. Wallace was lyrically one of a kind and he made sure that he was always dressed in the latest fashion. Through his ingenious, lyrically written rap songs, he motivated many young African American youth with his stories and life experiences; becoming triumphant over the people who were holding him down. His songs inspired many of the youth to try to make positive changes in their lives for the better, but at the same time he also rapped about gangs and sent a negative message to some of the other youth. When they would listen to Notorious BIGs positive songs, they tried very hard to make legitimate living and stay off the street and out of gangs. Also, Notorious BIG was known for having a very colorful wardrobe. He played a very large role in shaping the fashion scene of the 1990s rap and hip-hop phenomenon. He helped to create the fashion that goes hand in hand with rap. Notorious BIG was one of the most influential rappers during this era of music. The third group that had a surprisingly large amount of influence on the rap and hip-hop phenomenon of the 1990s was the Fab 5. The Fab 5 was a college basketball team that played for the Michigan Wolverines; the players being Chris Webber, Juawan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. This team was first team in the history of the NCAA to start five African American freshmen, and they created fashion styles and promoted rap and hip hop during the 90s. The baggy shorts, the black socks, the swagger, the way they played the game said Berger describing some of the fashion styles that the Fab 5 created. These simple wardrobe changes made such a big impact that still- to this day- that baggy basketball short and black socks are still high fashion in the basketball and hip hop world. Also, the basketball superstars promoted rap and hip hop. They would talk about their favorite musicians to listen too in their interviews, and would describe the way it made them feel. With the influence they had over people, the black youth would listen to the music they would trying to be more like their role models. Just like Notorious BIG, the Fab 5 had quite the impact on the fashion during the 1990s. Overall, the rap and hip-hop cultural phenomenon of the 1990s was dominated influentially by Tupac Shakur, Notorious BIG, and the Fab 5 college basketball team. Each of them helped to mold what hip-hop is today, from the sounds of the music to what is popular to wear. Not only did they shape hip-hop the genre, they also helped to shape the culture that goes along with it, everything from what to think and how to dress. Tupac inspired the youth to stand up for their civil rights; Notorious BIG influenced striving to live a good life, and to stay off the streets; and finally, the Fab 5 changed basketball and hip-hop fashion forever.  If the rap and hip-hop scene of the 90s hadnt taken place, pop culture today would be extremely different. For example, we wouldn’t have such great talents such as Nicki Minaj or Justin Bieber.