Hip Hop Music Headquarters

For all you youngins out there that could use a quick review. Hip hop music as we know it was technically invented by Kool Herc in the late 70's in the Bronx, New York. Kook Herc was Jamaican born and came to the U.S. at thirteen and while living in the projects he would through parties at which he would pick up the mike and "toast" (an impromptu form of boasting common in Jamaica". These parties became legendary and many immitators followed. Kook Herc never sold a single record.

Over time these urban-style gatherings would grow in popularity and people would actually rent venues in order to throw "hip hop parties" where DJ's could show off their skills but cutting up some of the latest popular music (usually music from artists that spoke to hearts of the inner-city).

At first, the main attraction at these parties was the DJ. Lovebug Starski and DJ Hollywood are just a few of the pioneers of the time. The MC would only play a minor role (sort of as a hype-man) in charge of getting the crown to dance and cheer. Occassionally during portions of the song where the beat would break, the MC (or Master of Ceremony) would improvise a few rhymes to get the crowd hyped up but eventually the attention would revert back to the DJ.

In time the MC or "rapper" began to craft more complex rhymes which began to put him on equal footing with the DJ. During this time hip hop music groups like Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five were coming out on the heels of the success the Sugar Hill Gang (which was basically a commercial music industry guinea pig).

Eventually groups like Run DMC, Public Enemy and The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff would emerge and take Hip Hop music mainstream. At this point the DJ was still an important figure in hip hop music but the MC/Rapper began to take a prominent role.

In due time Hip Hop music spread well beyond the East Coast and Westcoast groups like N.W.A. and southern acts like Scarface and UGK began to garner national attention. Gangsta rap had been born in a time where racial hostility was still a big probelm in the U.S.

Many consider hip hop music to have hit its prime during the mid 90's during the time when 2pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Snoop Dogg, Arrested Development, Wu-Tang Clan, and countless other regional and underground acts gained national acclaim.

In the late 90's and beyond most record labels who were owned by large media conglomorates caused a shift in power in the hip hop culture and in hip hop music.

Today Southern hip hop, Midwest Hip Hop, various offshoots of Westcoast Hip Hop, Rap-Rock, Hip-Pop and what some call "nerd rap" have gained tremendous ground and are all fighting for their piece of the pie in this multi-billion dollar industry. Some would argue that even music such as latin-based reggaeton has been largely influenced by the emergence of hip hop music.

We now find ourselves in an era where anything goes. Hip hop music can basically be whatever you want it to be, though most people believe it should contain a certain element of benevolence towards the problems of the opressed, the boasting and flossing has definitely not gone away and in many cases has taken center stage.

Below we've included some sections on hip hop music that we think our visitors will find helpful. Please browse around and as always we welcome your feedback.

Professionally Mixing Hip Hop Music

Best Hip Hop Music Today

Hip Hop Workout Playlist