Althogh hip-hop started in New York in the 1970's, its influence has been felt all around the world in the short period of time that it has been around. All four elements of the culture have spread quickly to engulf generations across all nations. B-boys, emcees, dj's, and graffiti artists have become a part of life in unexpected places like Germany, France, and Japan, to name a few. It is amazing to think that hip-hop started out in one small burrough of New York, and is now a worldwide phenomenon.
Of course before it ever went global, hip hop was exclusively part of American culture. It quickly went from coast to coast with originators in the East like Kool Herc, to innovators on the West like Dr. Dre. Troughout the years, hip hop would spread further across America with southern and midwestern artists popping up. Nowadays, you can't turn on the tv or the radio without seeing or hearing some form of hip-hop. Be it graffiti in advertisements, or a dj scratching in a pop song, the effect that hip hop has had on our culture has been monumental. The effect that it has had clearly stems from the poverty and hardships that people were feeling in the black community during that era. The music conveyed a strong message and feeling that many listeners immediately grasped on to.
Although it took the rest of the world a few more years to fully understand hip-hop culture, once they did, they fully embraced it. They immersed themsulves fully into all things hip-hop. Japan, for instance has many dj's that can scratch with the best of them and Germany has embraced graffiti with spray painted locales throughout many of its cities. There are also many global competititions, highlighted by the battle of the year in which teams of b-boys from different countries battle to decide who can "break" the best. Its been just over thirty years since its inception, but hip-hop is still going strong. In thirty more years, hip-hop may have fully taken over every part of the globe.
Songs To Sway You: International Edition
Teriyaki Boyz- Cho Large
Blitz the Ambassador ft. Cornielle (Native Sun)- Best I Can
Dizze Rascal- Stand Up Tall
What is "hip hop culture"?
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