A Hip Hop Timeline

Hip Hop started in the streets of South Bronx. Around the early 1970's, a revolutionary DJ named Kool Herc was playing music for a club one day. When he was playing the disco music, Herc noticed that the crowd got a lot wilder during the break part of a song. The negative about the break part is that it only lasts for about a couple of seconds. Herc then cleverly devised a way for him to constantly play the break part over and over again. This looping eventual led to the birth of Hip Hop culture and Kool Herc became its founder. Hip Hop back then, was basically a New York thing. There was block parties all the time. DJs would mix records together, and attract massive crowds to gather. Around the end of the 1970's A group called "The Sugar Hill Gang," was able to release the first Hip Hop track titled Rapper's Delight.
Hip hop in the 1970's was basically an underground thing. But in the 1980's, that is when Hip Hop became known all over the country. Many artists started coming out, such as Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, but one of the most notable Hip Hop groups would be Run DMC. They were the first superstars of Hip Hop. Run DMC were the ones that actually brought Hip Hop into the mainstream. Another notable Hip Hop artist to come out that era was the Rakim, proclaimed as the God emcee. He basically established up the foundations to the art of emceing. Another important Hip hop group to come out of that era was Public Enemy. They were basically know for their musical propaganda against the Government and political raps. Also, another key group that came out at the time was N.W.A. They are the ones that founded the gangsta rap movement. Also, since Hip Hop was a New York phenomenon, when N.W.A launched their album, they were able to make Hip Hop a national thing. The 1980's were important years of Hip Hop.
The late 80's and mid and early 1990's were the Golden years of Hip Hop. Notable artists of that time period including Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Wu-Tang Clan contributed to the expansion of the culture. Basically Hip Hop started going downhill after rise of commercialism. Many artists started rapping about wealth and women rather than talking about politics. Rap at that time wasn't taken too serious as before. That is when all of these pop rappers started becoming popular. Another event the hurt the culture was the East Coast Vs. West Coast beef started by Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. This event separated the nation into two and left Hip Hop divided. Sadly, both Tupac and Big were murdered which created a devastating blow to the Hip Hop music industry.
Now, true Hip Hop lives in the underground. Few emcees such as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and groups such Hieroglyphics help preserved the culture's true essence. As the mainstream part of the culture, it sinks lower and lower. They are not losing money, but rather losing intelligence and respect from the true culture. So in other words, the 50 Cents, the Lil Jon's, and the Nellys are the ones that are killing the culture. Their unintelligent raps are giving Hip Hop a bad name. It's about time we revert back to our old ways and live true to the real Hip Hop.
To learn more about Hip Hop icons,

I suggest you watch the Hip Hop Honors on Oct. 17th. 9p.m. E.T. on VH1

http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/hip_hop_honors/2006/