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Culture Page

The roots of

HIP HOP
HIP HOP
HIP HOP
HIP HOP
HIP HOP
HIP HOP
HIP HOP

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Read the text. Are the statements 1-5 below true, false or not mentioned in the text at all? Write T, F or NM.

Hip hop is commonly known as a type of T he O l d S c h oo l , 1 9 7 0 - 1 9 8 4
The Old School, 1970-1984
music, but in actual fact it’s a whole culture, After his debut, Herc became Kool Herc, the
including MCing (rapping), DJing, breakdance, most famous DJ of the era known as the ‘Old
graffiti, fashion and language. But where did School’. He joined up with two MCs to become
hip hop begin? the team Kool Herc and the Herculoids. The early
DJs also came up with techniques that many
Cool nights in the city hip hop and pop artists would use in the future,
The roots of hip hop go back to Jamaican such as scratching. Scratching involves moving
immigrants in New York City in the 1960s and a vinyl record back and forth while it is playing.
particularly to two teenagers, Clive and Cindy Meanwhile, MCs were turning their rhymes into
Campbell. Clive and Cindy grew up in New spoken word poetry, or rap.
York City listening to the rhythms of funk and
soul. This music was great for dancing, and The Golden Age
people would often get together to dance at In the 1980s, hip hop became popular across
house and block parties. Every party needed a the USA. Bands such as Public Enemy had
DJ, who chose and played popular songs, and hits with songs that protested against different
an MC, who encouraged people to dance and issues. Many hip hop artists today still rap about
entertained them between songs by telling jokes issues such as poverty and violence. On the
and inventing rhymes. Clive Campbell, better West Coast of the USA, hip hop became known
known as Herc because of his great strength, in cities like San Francisco. Hit rappers such
hoped to become a DJ. as Ice-T and Dr. Dre developed their own style
The party that became a legend and helped make the music popular across the
country. Breakdance began in New York City,
Hip hop was invented at a party one Friday where breakdancers were known as b-boys
night in 1973. Cindy was the host and Herc and b-girls. B-boys would entertain the crowds
was the DJ. Herc noticed that when there was at block parties. The dances could be very
an instrumental break in a song, party guests competitive, as two rivals tried to outdo each
danced like crazy. So he decided to make the other on the floor.
breaks longer by playing the same section of
drumbeat over and over again. He also played Hip Hop goes global
two records at once and mixed the two rhythms Hip hop is now popular in almost every country
together. The guests loved it! In fact, so many around the world; it has certainly come a long
people came to the party that it had to be moved way since the first block parties. But one thing
outside to Cedar Park. And that’s how Herc and hasn’t changed: fans still can’t get enough of
Cindy helped invent a new kind of popular music. those beats and rhymes!

1. Herc started off as an MC.
2. Herc came up with hip hop when he realised that people didn’t like the music he was playing.
3. Hip hop artists still organise parties at Cedar Park today.
4. When DJs were using the scratching technique, lots of vinyl records were damaged.
5. Lots of hip hop songs which had to do with social problems became hits.

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