My Chosen Genre; Hip

Hop

I have chosen the genre of hip hop because I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of it. My main focus is upon
old school and modernised rap. Artists both underground as well as certain mainstream individuals. Hip
Hop and Rap musical genres are closely associated with each other. Hip hop music originated from
Jamaican reggae and dancehall music that was quite popular in the late 1960s. It was mainly created in
Jamaica and was later spread to America and much later all over the world. The music became quite
popular amongst African Americans and Latinos. There are very few musical instruments used in order to
create hip hop music. Most of the sound is synthetic which comes out of synthesizers, drum machines,
turntables, samplers and many more such machines. The genre blew up from the early 1980s onwards
and reached its prime which was in the 90s through to the current era of today. Hip hop has not just been
a musical genre but it has been a movement. It has been a platform through which artists have been
cautioning people about the ills of the society. The reason why hip hop music is so popular among African
Americans is because that is the only way they can reach out to the people and share their problems with
them. Through music, they are able to show the world that they are incorrectly interpreted and wished
they dont be treated as a minority. A notorious group named NWA really put this message out there as
they were the first group within hip hop that spoke out against the society, mainly targeted at the police
of America. Various other artists like Tupac and Biggie also help promote the musical art as they were
two of the most legendary MCs of their time period. They left their trademark within the culture as well
as many other famous artists/groups like Wu Tang, Nas, Big L, Gang Starr, Dr Dre etc. This lead on
to smaller and newer artists exploring and fabricating the genre into what is still being presented by
modern artists like Kendrick Lamar and J Cole today (two artists who are seen as todays version of
Tupac and Biggie.) Hip hop has been a rising force to one and many. Rap music is truly an American
minority artist creation of which students need to be proud. Unfortunately, rap music is not perceived by
many Americans as an art form, but as a fad which they hope will soon fade away. One of my intentions
with my magazine is to show that rap music is not a fad, but a musical art form that has been around for
over 20 years in the United States and still will carry on to future generations including countries across
the world.

Artists/MCs of the Hip Hop

Genre

The artists I have presented are some of the greatest

icons of the past and present era of hip hop. The
people on the left are MCs of the 90s time period
whereas the people on the right are modern day
artists. All of the emcees shown are male, this is
because the genre of rap is mainly aimed and
targeted at men more than women. There is a small
minority of women who show an interest and are a
part of the culture yet many of them are not
recognised. The people I have shown all have a
positive representation and reputation of the genre
throughout the years that they have played their
part. A true hip hop enthusiast would recognise and
have listened to the people I have presented and
most likely agree with my opinion. The people on the
right look up to the legends of rap who are on the
right. The artists of the 90s era have left their
attribute in the culture and it is picked up by modern
artists of todays culture who portray the same ideas.
Although times have passed the features included in
the genre remain the same. Nearly all emcees of
todays date sample music from older artists and
even reference them in their tracks and lyrics.

Hip Hop Mise en

Scene

Hip Hop Inspired

Clothing/Accessories