Hip-hop was born out of the inner city by Black and Latino youth, so by definition its history is also Black History. As the culture has grown over the years its seen numerous great moments in its nearly 40 year history. Within that history are occurrences that profoundly affected the way the world perceives Black culture, for the better.
DJ Kool Herc
August 11, 1973: Clive “DJ Kool Herc” Campbell throws a back to school party for his sister Cindy in the rec room of 1540 Sedgwick Ave in The Bronx, NY. Herc goes on to pioneer the technique of using two pairs of the same records in order to extend favorite musical passages or “breaks” — but on that particular night, hip-hop is born.
Run DMC
1986: Run-DMC‘s album ‘Raising Hell’ is nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group category. Hip-hop wouldn’t get its own category until three years later (DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince won Best Rap Performance for ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’). It’s been a love/hate relationship with the Grammys and hip-hop ever since.
Yo MTV Raps
August 6, 1988: Yo! MTV Raps debuts and brings hip-hop videos to a national and worldwide audience. Hosted by Fab 5 Freddy and Dr. Dre & Ed Lover, the show’s format (interviews, videos, freestyles) becomes the template for all hip-hop video shows that followed on broadcast TV, cable and now the Internet. But we can’t forget Ralph McDaniel’s local NYC gem ‘Video Music Box’, which premiered in 1983.
John Singleton
July 1991: It wasn’t the first film helmed by a director from the hip-hop generation (we’ll take Spike Lee and Mars Blackmon), but John Singleton marked a new breed of Black filmmakers with swagger. Some of the films that followed in its wake; ‘CB4,’ ‘Menace II Society,’ even ‘Friday’ owes a debt to the precedent ‘Boyz N Da Hood’ set. From Master P‘s low budget flicks to 50 Cent‘s Oscar dreams, hip-hop has maintained a long love affair with the movies.
R.I.P. Notorious B.I.G.
March 9, 1997: Sporting a larger than life persona and a flow that is effortless, Christopher “The Notorious BIG” Wallace brings the East coast back to rap prominence. But while out in Los Angeles, the Notorious B.I.G. is gunned down while leaving a Vibe Magazine party. The East Coast/West Coast beef has reached its apex, and unfortunately hip-hop has gained yet another martyr.
What’s your favorite “Black in the Day” moment?
Jade West “Always on a Musical Quest”
Producer of the Russ Parr Morning Show M-F 6-10am
Producer of Straight Talk Live with Nathan Ivey Sunday’s 8-10am
On-Air Sunday’s 10-1pm
