What is Hip-Hop?

We've talked about the essence of hip-hop in class, what it's really about. Many things have been said: Hip-hop is a business. Hip-hop is a culture. Hip-hop is about the next. Hip-hop is about truth, authenticity and keeping it real. It is hard to say what hip-hop truly is.

From the historical perspective, hip-hop is comprised of four key stylistic elements: rapping, DJ'ing, break dancing, and graffiti drawing. This perspective does not follow the recent trends in hip-hop unfortunately. Many contemporary hip-hop artists have strayed away from these roots. It can even be argued that these artists are not actually hip-hop even if mainstream society considers them to be.

So how else can we look at hip-hop? I believe it is important to look at it from an evolutionary perspective. Certain elements will grow over time from their roots, and other elements will fade out over time as they become less relevant to the current times.

While this may upset those loyal to the foundations of hip-hop, it is necessary for hip-hop to stay alive by re-inventing itself to become the next time and time again. Every time it is the new next, it has to be something different than what it used to be. It's evolution keeps it relevant and alive.

So what is hip-hop? It's hard to say. At its foundation it is a way of life about creating meaning and expressing it. Beyond that, I believe it will keep changing and find a new way to create meaning and express it. Some will make it a business; others will make it a hobby. Some will think of the next; others will stay with the past. Hip-hop is ultimately what you make it to be, and the possibilities are endless for those willing to seize them.