![]() ![]() ![]() That’s why DJ Kool Herc- who’s being promoted a lot lately as the guy who “invented” hip-hop at a Bronx street fair on August 11th 1973- doesn’t actually have any official studio recordings to his name, for instance. Many of the very first hip-hop artists had no intention of actually recording and releasing their music it was mainly seen as local block party material, not something that was destined to be a legitimate commercial product. If alternative history if your thing, you could cook up a fair few scenarios in which hip-hop (a) never becomes a big thing outside of New York City and/or (b) doesn’t materialize into much of a legitimate musical genre at all. :: “ Rapper’s Delight” – The Sugar Hill Gang :: Josh Weiner, Washington DC influenced the game for all time during that period, and “Juicy” is among the strongest bits of evidence to support that fact. He only got to rap for a few short years, but the Notorious B.I.G. Plus, the interpolation of the song “Juicy Fruit” by ’80s funk group Mtume is one of the most absorbing samples to be featured on any hip-hop song ever. ![]() But for those of us who have outlived Biggie Smalls, the fundamental message of “Juicy”- that once you overcome its hardships, the finer things in life are worth savoring- remains so easy to appreciate and respect. had less than three years to live, it brings a proverbial lump to the throat to hear him rap about how gratifying it was to have overcome the profound bleakness of his Brooklyn upbringing and finally be able to enjoy himself as a successful rap star. “ D amn right, I like the life I live, ’cause I went from negative to positive and it’s all good!” Knowing the Notorious B.I.G. :: “ Juicy” – The Notorious B.I.G. :: Josh Weiner, Washington DC You’ve just go to stay strong and not give up, which is a message that can resonate within us all. “Keep Ya Head Up” serves as that reminder to stay strong, because even the toughest of times have got to come to an end eventually. The song is a direct dedication to Latasha Harlins (an unarmed 15-year-old Black girl who was shot and killed in 1992) as well as a love and support letter to Black women everywhere. “Keep Ya Head Up” is just one of the few songs he wrote regarding these tough subjects. Oftentimes using words to recite the harsh realities of this world and the things he witnessed with his own eyes. Inspired by the events in his life, he picked up a pen and wrote about it. Born in NYC, but resident of California, Tupac (2Pac) lived and breathed the air of the West Coast’s hip-hop scene. Among these artists, Tupac Shakur is one of the most recognizable. The genre itself is composed of some of the most prolific artists in the game. With origins deep within the Black community, it is easy to understand why many of the most known rappers are Black and or African American. This August, we are commemorating the 50th anniversary of one of the world’s most diverse and culturally expressive genres: Hip-hop. :: “ Keep Ya Head Up” – Tupac Shakur :: Jada Moore, Virginia. ![]()
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