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2.6.18Hip-Hop: A Brief History
Origins
Modern hip-hop represents a genre that has come full circle. It’s as popular today in its African homeland as it is everywhere else in the world.
Hip-hop originated centuries ago in West Africa with the advent of griot (pronounced GREE-oh) culture. Today, as in the past, the Wolof griots of Senegal dance, recite poetry, narrate epics, and play percussion instruments such as drums and clappers. Their function is to impart stimulation and energy to governing nobles.
The slave trade brought the griot oral tradition to the Caribbean and the American continents.
Modern hip-hop’s immediate precursor was Jamaican sound system culture—dance parties featuring DJs (rapping over the music) and toasters (rappers).
Some Jamaican DJs, notably Kool DJ Herc, emigrated to America (Brooklyn) and brought sound system culture with them.
In the 1970s, hip-hop musicians introduced several key innovations, such as separation of the roles of DJ and MC, breakbeat DJing, and scratching.