If you're a fan of Hip Hop, then you know there's more to the genre than just rap. From beats and lyrics to fashion and dance, Hip Hop is a culture all its own.
Here are 20 Hip Hop facts that'll give you a better understanding of the music and the movement. Enjoy!
1. Hip hop is a genre of music that was created by Afro-American and Latino youths in the South Bronx, New York City in the 1970s
2. Hip Hop combines elements of rhythm and blues, jazz, funk, and soul.
3. The first rapper is believed to be DJ Kool Herc, also known as the founder of Hip Hop music.
4. The first Hip Hop record was released in 1979. "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugar Hill Gang was considered the first Hip Hop Record.
5. Hip Hop music is often characterised by its lyrical content, which often deals with topics such as poverty, violence, and racism.
6. The early Hip Hop movement was heavily influenced by elements of Jamaican music, including reggae and dub. DJs would play records at dance clubs, and MCs would rap over the music, often improvising their lyrics.
7. Hip Hop culture is often associated with rap music, break dancing, and graffiti art.
8. Hip Hop Dance is a style of dance that developed alongside Hip Hop music. Hip Hop dancers often perform in crews or battles, which are competitions between groups of dancers.
9. The Hip Hop dancing style called B-boy, emerged in the early 1980s. It’s characterised by its flashy, acrobatic moves and its focus on headspins and freeze frames. B-boy dancing has been featured prominently in many Hip Hop music videos and films, and it remains an important part of Hip Hop culture today.
10. One of the key features of Hip Hop music is the use of sampling, where snippets of other songs are reused in a new context. This can create a sense of community and belonging among listeners, as well as a sense of nostalgia.
11. Sampling is also used to create new sounds, which can make Hip Hop music sound fresh and exciting.
12. There are many different subgenres of Hip Hop, including trap, gangsta rap, and conscious rap.
13. Some of the most popular Hip Hop musicians include Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake.
14. The top 3 most streamed Hip Hop songs on Spotify are "God's plan" by Drake, "Rockstar '' by Post Malone ft. 21 Savage and "Lucid Dreams” by Juice WRLD.
15. In 2021, 38% of all Spotify streams were Hip Hop, making it one of the most popular and successful music genres on the streaming site.
16. The fastest rapper in the world is American rapper Twista, who can rap at a rate of 11.2 syllables per second.
17. On the other hand, mumble rap is a style of rap music that is characterised by its unintelligible lyrics. The term was coined in the 2010s and the style became popularised by artists such as Lil Yachty and Desiigner.
18. One of the most iconic figures in Hip Hop is the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., who is best known for his album "Ready to Die" featuring famous rap songs like "Juicy" and "Gimme The Loot".
19. Lil Wayne is a popular American rapper who was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He rose to fame in the mid-2000s with his album Tha Carter III, which won him multiple Grammy Awards.
20. Tupac Shakur was one of the most famous rappers of the 1990s. He was born in New York City in 1971 and raised in Los Angeles, California. He began his career as a member of the rap group Digital Underground before going solo in 1991. His albums "All Eyez on Me" and "Me Against the World" were both certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Those were our 20 facts about Hip Hop.
Want To Know More About Hip Hop? Why Not Experience Our Hip Hop Brunch?
The best way to find out more about Hip Hop is to experience it.
Luckily we host many Hip Hop Brunches across the UK.
That's Hip Hop music, dancing, plus delicious brunch food and bottomless drinks!
Check out our next eventshere.