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B-Boying/Breakdancing Origins
Breakdancing becomes popular among the African American and Latin American youths in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. Breakdancing referring to the breaks in the rhyme and rhymes of a rap or song, and dancing along with them. -
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How did hip-hop affect American Culture and Youth
Rap culture has influenced our day to day lives and affected American Culture on many levels since it started its popularity in 1970 to today. From Rap and RnB starting off in the streets/Ghetto letting the black community let their voices be heard by singing and rapping about the problems they faced in society, to today’s rapping about drugs, sex, guns and women. In wide regards, some say rap is on a teeter-totter between if rap got better or worse based on how it is perceived by society today -
DJ Kool Herc Changes the DJ ing game
18-year-old DJ Kool Herc, DJs a party hosted by his sister, after their parent's music did not agree with the crowd, Herc changed it up with some percussive funk records. This would change the rapper and DJ music from forever. -
Grandmaster Flash changes his ways
On the 25 May 1974, GM Flash, witnesses Herc in action and drops his work as a Graffiti artist, and begins DJ ing. Soon later does he from the group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. -
"Rap music" becomes a thing
Music industry coins the term "rap music" and shifts its focus toward emcees over DJs -
Sugarhill Gang - Rapper's Delight
Sugarhill Gang performs "Rapper's Delight" on television, resulting in the mainstreaming of rap music on tv and would go on to become the first known rap hit, reaching #36 on Billboard -
Cool Moe Dee vs Busy Bee Rap Battle
CMD VS BB on live tv bringing to light the conjunction of fighting and rapping, a fight without violence -
Gangsta Rap Becomes a Norm
Ice T helps pioneer gangsta rap in the west coast by dropping his rapcore singles “Body Rock" and "Killers." -
Def Jam Records
Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin team up together to start and launch one of the most important record labels ever, Def Jam Records, soon to produce for the most famous rappers ever. -
Michael's Moonwalk
Michael Jackson performs his famous moonwalk at the Grammy's borrowing b-boy elements from the L.A. Breakers, Venice Beach boardwalk B-boy group. -
Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys release Licensed To Ill with Def Jam Records and became it the first rap LP to top the Billboard album chart. -
Public Enemy
Public Enemy shocks the everyone after releasing, "Yo! Bum Rush The Show", signalling the genesis of politically-charged hip-hop music -
TV finally accepts Hip Hop as music
After years of being neglected by the mainstream media, hip-hop and rap get their own show on MTV, "Yo! MTV Raps." -
Straight Outta Compton
N.W.A releases their gold album, "Straight Outta Compton," pioneering the gansta rap movement -
A Tribe Called Quest
Manhattan-based friends would later form A Tribe Called Quest -
Big Sales for N.W.A.
N.W.A’s sophomore album "N**** For Life" sells over 954,000 copies in its first week of release. Making it reach #1 on the pop charts. This album forms a way for many more hardcore rap albums that would follow. -
Wu-Tang Clan is Formed
Wu-Tang Clan release 36 Chambers. The line-up consists of Prince Rakeem (The RZA), Raekwon, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Genius (GZA), U-God, Master Killa and Inspectah Deck. -
Tupac Signs a deal
2 Pac signs a deal with Death Row Records after Suge Knight posts a $1.4 million bail. -
Eazy-E Dies
Eazy-E (Member of NWA) dies from aids -
Tupac Shakur dies
Tupac Shakur is fatally wounded after sustaining multiple gunshots as he rode in a car driven by Death Row Records CEO Marion "Suge" Knight near the Las Vegas strip. Tupac died 5 days later and him dying rekindled the debate on whether rap promotes violence or is just how the streets are. -
Missy Elliott breaking Boundaries
Missy Misdemeanor Elliott or Missy Elliott redefines hip-hop and R & B with her first album, Supa Dupa Fly. This broke the mould, as Missy became a successful female producer, she then would go on to become the highest selling female rapper of all time. -
The Notorious B.I.G. Dies
The Notorious B.I.G. born Christopher Wallace is shot and killed March 9, after a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Some considered this a retaliated murder in regards to Tupac being shot. -
Eminem jumping Hurdles
Being backed by producer and rapper Dr. Dre, Eminem zooms past racial hurdles, as a white male rapper, and drops his album, "The Real Slim Shady LP" -
Obama and the Rap Game
In the months leading up to the 2008 presidential election, Democratic nominee Barack Obama galvanizes hip-hop artists into action. -
Eminem Breaking Boundaries Pt 2
Eminem became the first rapper to headline Wembley Stadium -
Lil Peep Dies
Rapper Lil Peep dies from a drug overdose, on Xanax. This becomes widespread news, in regards to drug use of younger kids listening to his music other similar to him. -
XXXTentation Dies
XXXTentation dies in a robbery after being shot. News spread like wildfire, due to rappers age only being 20 and his career was beginning to pick up. He was under fire the year before fro abuse against his pregnant girlfriend.
