Rap and Hip Hop Culture

Rap and Hip Hop Culture by Orejuela, Fernando. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780190852283.

Rap and Hip Hop Culture traces the ideological, social, historical, and cultural influences on a musical genre that first came to prominence in the mid-1970s in one of New Yorks toughest neighborhoods, the South Bronx. Orejuela describes how the arts of DJing, MCing, breakin [b-boying], and graffiti developed as a way for this communitys struggle to find its own voice. He addresses raps early successes on the pop charts; its spread to mainstream culture; the growth of "gangsta rap" and mainstream societys reaction to it; the commercial success of rap music from the 90s through today; and the diffusion of hip hop throughout the world as a global phenomnenon. Throughout, this enlightening text highlights key performers, producers, and voices in the rap and hip hop movements, using their stories to illuminate the underlying issues of racism, poverty, prejudice, and artistic freedom that are part of rap and hip hops ongoing legacy.