Concise Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture

Hip Hop music is comprised of several art forms, including MC-ing or rapping, B-boying or breakdancing, Deejaying (music), and Graffiti art (visual art). This encyclopedia examines all four elements of Hip Hop Culture, providing students, scholars, and music fans with a complete history of the thirty-year music genre.

Tracing its early roots from black DJs talking over music in the 1960s, the B-boy dancers in the 1970s, and the scratching and sampling techniques of the '80s, this volume covers the founding of Def Jam productions, the current East Cost-West Coast rivalry, and superstars such as Eminem and 50 Cent. Hip hop fans will find this an indispensable resource.

The encyclopedia includes approximately 100 photographs, discographies after each entry, and a list for further listening at the end of the volume. Additionally, the Hip Hop Declaration of Peace is included.

The early roots of Hip Hop can be traced back to black DJs talking over music in the 1960s, followed by the emergence of B-boy dancers in the 1970s and the development of scratching and sampling techniques in the '80s. The founding of Def Jam productions and the ongoing East Coast-West Coast rivalry have also shaped the evolution of this music genre.

Superstars such as Eminem and 50 Cent have further solidified Hip Hop's place in popular culture, and this encyclopedia provides a comprehensive overview of the genre's history and its four key elements: MC-ing or rapping, B-boying or breakdancing, Deejaying, and Graffiti art.

The inclusion of approximately 100 photographs, discographies, and a list for further listening ensures that this volume is an indispensable resource for students, scholars, and music fans alike. The Hip Hop Declaration of Peace, also included, adds to the depth and significance of this comprehensive encyclopedia.

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