| Hip hop music is part of hip hop culture predominately | | | | been likened to what rock music lyrics used to be, |
| among African Americans and Latinos (the other two | | | | and in some cases have taken the place of rock and |
| elements are graffiti art and breakdancing). The | | | | folk songs within the culture. Hip hop lyrics contain |
| reasons for the rise in hip hop music are found in the | | | | many references that the listeners can relate to. Hip |
| changing urban culture in the United States in the | | | | hop lyrics that tell of excess wealth and luxury of |
| 1970's. Beginning in the 1980's, hip hop culture began | | | | artists may connect to a group of individuals with |
| its spread across the world. By taking the time to | | | | such dreams. |
| explain a fertile culture expression, students of hip | | | | As in the language, hip hop lyrics are poetry, but |
| hop music place at our disposal some of the most | | | | poetry with something more added to it. Some hip |
| intriguing investigations of a powerful art form. | | | | hop lyrics are extremely articulate in that they |
| More than a musical style, hip-hop is a history of | | | | express a certain subject in a different form. Though |
| American culture, and a testimony by its artists of | | | | it is true that many hip hop lyrics are slang it is also |
| their life experiences. In 1985, when Run-DMC | | | | true that much of our commonly spoken language is |
| ordained themselves the "Kings of Rock," in their | | | | slang and sometimes vulgar. Hence, allowing us to see |
| lyrics of their hit song of the same name, they | | | | that there is a difference between descriptive and |
| probably never imagined that one day they would be | | | | prescriptive language. |
| recognized as such. As the pioneers of hip-hop music, | | | | Adding to the hip hop music and song lyrics, dancing |
| they convinced the world to dance to poetry with a | | | | is another element of the hip hop culture better |
| beatbox. They invited anyone who would listen to | | | | known as the hip hop dance style. Hip hop dance is a |
| "Walk This Way" in "My Adidas," all the way to the | | | | collaborative movement that continually grows and |
| top of VH1's list of the "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists." | | | | evolves through individual improvisation. Hip hop dance |
| And in the words of the great Run-DMC themselves, | | | | is an art form that has the nation and world trying to |
| "It's like that! And that's the way it is! Huh!" | | | | one-two step or breakdance to krumping. |
| VH1's "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists" serves as a | | | | Hip hop music and dancing, or breaking, rose in the |
| platform for hip-hop music's superstars of the past, | | | | 1970's and 1980's, centered on urban communities of |
| present and future to acknowledge their hip-hop | | | | young dancers and musicians and their popular culture. |
| peers. Proof that hip-hop music has woven itself into | | | | Hip hop dancing continues to evolve into many |
| the fabric of American music and culture. | | | | different forms today, heavily influenced by the |
| "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists" features archival clips, | | | | evolution of music and its popularity in the media. |
| classic performances and exclusive interviews with | | | | Hip-hop is a strenuous dance style that involves using |
| the some of the world's greatest entertainers. It also | | | | the entire body to create sharp, expressive |
| represents VH1's recognition of hip-hop music as a | | | | movements. As in all dance forms, hip hop dance is a |
| significant music form and the integration of the | | | | technique with defined steps and movements that |
| genre into our music programming repertoire. | | | | must be learned and practiced. |
| The lyrics found in hip hop music are expressions that | | | | Hip hop music is a popular style of music. It is |
| are linked with cultural and societal feelings of an | | | | everywhere from commercials to television sitcoms. |
| individual. Hip hop lyrics are known for their | | | | Hip hop culture and music range from those akin to |
| conversational quality. Hip hop lyrics are used to teach | | | | mainstream popular music to the blues version of the |
| stylistic features, imagery, assonance, alliteration, | | | | human condition. There is a big influence of R&B |
| rhythmic structure and rhyme are taught while basic | | | | in the hip hop music industry that provides an |
| literacy (vowels, consonants, blends, syllables and | | | | exhilarating experience to the listener. This urban |
| spelling) is embedded. | | | | culture is sweeping the world in music, movies and |
| Hip hop lyrics typically employ inner-city slang with | | | | clubs. It is truly an American minority creation which |
| poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance and | | | | deserves more credit and recognition as an art form |
| rhyme. The slang of hip hop lyrics may include words | | | | rather than as a fad which should just fade away |
| like, yo, dis, flow, phat and homie. Hip hop lyrics have | | | | with time. |