Let's just start this out by telling you that hiphop culture is my culture, and just talking about it is hard for me to do because it's how I live my life, even if I'm unable to do any of the elements I know how to listen and watch, and I don't know if I can completely convey how I feel.
Let me start by clearing up. I am not talking about just rap music (even if that is a tag haha) I mean the culture, not the music, and some people maybe be asking, what is this girl talking about? Well let me tell you most people do ask me that when I say hiphop culture, maybe I'm just dealing with a smarter crowd and you can skip the rest of this, well most of it.
I cannot tell you when hiphop began, late 60s early 70s in the bronx and jamaica, think aafrika bambaataa, that sort of person and time period.
Hip hop has 4 concrete different element, rap music, b-boying (break dancing) writing (graffiti) and DJing.
There will always be a bunch of different fifth elements floating around, but those aren't so much of a broad understanding, where as the first 4 definately are.
My historical hiphop knowledge is seriously lacking, which is why I plan on picking up can't stop won't stop at my next library visit in about and hour or so.
Pretty much I am here to tell you that I am very very sick of people only thinking of the music on the radio, as hiphop, it is so much more than that, more than a lot of people know, more than even I know, it's something I learn about everyday, it really is the life I live.
It is a culture, my culture, my life. I discovered it with a group from St. Paul, Heiruspecs, and then of course Atmosphere who I've since turned my back on (unless you pop in an old sad clown or a headshots or anything before sevens travels, basically).
I don't know what more to say about it, I guess I could go on and on about how much the media twists and turns the image of hiphop, and how hard it is to make people take you serious with a post like this, or with a project that involves hiphop, but seriously, check out your local scene. I know the mid-west has a really good scene, at least of nerd rap, or emo rap. (ok there are definately other kinds of course)
Don't settle for your main stream radio station, no matter what kind of music you're into, there is a scene for it where you live, or at least within your area, you just have to talk to the right people, or go to the coffee shop by your house and check out the fliers
I (think i) promise, you will not be dissapointed.















