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4: America During Hip Hop's Formative Years

  • Page ID
    395539

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    This week focuses on the general economic climate of the United States during hip-hop's formative years and beyond. The assigned chapter "America's Outcasts: The Employment Crisis discusses America's changing economy in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, and its impact on hip hop generationers. The assigned video "Hip Hop Lives" by KRS-One is an ode to hip hop's transcendent impact on the world and a journey through hip hop's past and present. Pay special attention to the scenes in the video and combined with the "knowledge" (which is the honorable 5th element of hip hop) being given by the MC, you'll see each of the other four core elements of Hip-Hop illustrated: (MC'ing, Breakdancing, DJ'ing, Graffiti).

    This module will:

    • Analyze United States' society during hip hop's formative years
    • Introduce students to early hip hop culture

    At the end of this module, students will be able to:

    • List the five core elements of hip hop
    • Recall the economic status of the United States during Hip-Hop's formative years
    • Identify the connection between the United State's economic situation and Black hip hop generationers labor, criminal, and social behaviors

    • 4.1: America During Hip Hop's Formative Years - Readings and Media
      This page explores the emergence of hip-hop culture in the Bronx in the 1970s, focusing on socio-economic challenges and community spirit. It highlights key figures like DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash, who innovated DJing techniques that influenced hip-hop music. The rise of b-boying and street art reflects creative responses to gang culture and urban decay.
    • 4.2: America During Hip Hop's Formative Years - Classroom Activity
      This page describes a classroom activity involving the video "Hip Hop Lives" with KRS-One. Students will watch the video to identify hip hop elements and then participate in a class discussion about its overarching message, promoting critical engagement with the content and its importance in hip hop culture's early development.
    • 4.3: America During Hip Hop's Formative Years - Assignment
      This page examines the origins of hip hop in the 1970s Bronx, framing it as an artistic and cultural movement born from socio-economic struggles faced by African Americans. It details hip hop's various forms, including DJing, MCing, breaking, and graffiti, emphasizing its role in promoting self-awareness and social commentary. The page also highlights hip hop's adaptability and continued significance across different cultures, reinforcing its identity as more than just an art form.


    This page titled 4: America During Hip Hop's Formative Years was last modified on Wed, 02 Sep 2026 05:37:18 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .