WORD, A HIP-HOP TRIBUTE

  This episode is a tribute to the history of HIP-HOP. It goes over the origins
of HIP-HOP,  the artists, producers, entertainers, fashion, culture and influencers
of the genre.

Transcript

Now, let's go into music.  Go into sports. Music. Life. Love.  Hip Hop. It's an artistic and cultural phenomenon, once again created by African Americans.  Just like gospel, blues,  country,  jazz, bebop, R& B,  rock and roll,  and disco.  African Americans are the inventors,  the pioneers.  and inspirations for another genre of music. 

That music this time is hip hop music. Hip hop music was created in  1973 in the Bronx by DJ Kool Herc.  Other cultural  phenomenons and entertainers  were Kurtis Blow,  Grandmaster Flash in the Period 5,  Grandmaster Cass,  SugarHill Records,  producers like Larry Smith,  DJ and producer Marley Marl.  They gave us an idea  of what hip hop music should sound like. 

Then you add Run DMC,  LL Cool J,  KRS One,  Big Daddy Kane,  Rakim,  Chuck D.  Ice T  and Roxanne Shante. These individuals became prominent lyricists in the course of hip hop. And they inspired others to want to be lyricists themselves.  From them you heard Biggie Smalls. Tupac Shakur,  Nas, Jay Z,  Tribe Called Quest,  Busta Rhymes,  Wu Tang Clan,  Dr.

Dre,  Ice Cube. Snoop,  Eazy- E.,  MC Lyle, Queen Latifah,  Money Love,  Lauryn Hill,  Mary J. Blige,  Eminem,  Kendrick Lamar,  OutKast, Jermaine Dupri,  Common,  Master P,  Lil Wayne,  Fat Joe,  Big Pun,  you also heard Missy Elliott,  Pharrell Williams,  Timbaland,  and last but not least, Uncle Lou. HIP-HOP has provided a platform for all of us. 

It has made a lot of individuals millionaires and sometimes billionaires.  HIP-HOP gave us an idea that we could be label mongers.  Producers.  Songwriters  Involved in fashion, owning fashion lines  I also want to salute and give a shout out to  Fab 5 Freddie, Rap City, MTV Raps And The Source  These were elements where we saw HIP-HOP on a consistent basis and read about it in the Source magazine. 

Hip hop has taken us to the stratosphere.  It is not only a great music in America.  It's a great music internationally. It's known all over the world. So I would say to all of you, Use hip hop music to take yourself to places you've never been. And beyond.  All hail the hip hop.  50 years of HIP-HOP and counting.