Innovations and Evolutions: The Origins of Rap Music
Innovation and Evolutions of the Origins of Rap Music: From Performing in Block Parties to Ensuing Political Voices in America
Music connects us all. It’s a form of self-expression. There aren’t rules to fabricate a melodic tune. The genre of rap is surprisingly new, dating back in the 70s. Such music was used by urban youth as a form of self-expression and recreation. In 1979, the first rap song was released on the radio and became popularized in the media. After its sensation, rap artists articulated their lyrical music to demonstrate their struggles, where it could be described as conscious rap.
From Block Parties: Emerged in New York, 1970s
New York experienced an economic collapse due to the diminishing population of the manufacturing industry and construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway (Icon Collective, n.d, Hip Hop Culture Origins). This disrupted shift compelled the white middle class to relocate to the suburbs, displacing and segregating communities. The unforeseen circumstances had deteriorated African American, Puerto Rican, and Caribbean communities. Disruption in the urban life brought crime, gang violence, and poverty.
Thus, impacting businesses that caused economic opportunities and forms of entertainment to diminish. The despair and disruption of life caused urban youth to utilize abandoned buildings and parking lots for block parties to be used for recreational purposes and self-expression. Deejaying, emceeing, breakdancing, and street art were amongst the four elements that urban youth instituted as enjoyment (Newman, 2020, para. 6). Consequently, block parties became the groundwork of early rap music.
DJ Kool Herc (founder of hip-hop music) observed that dancers grew a liking of the section of a song called the break (Olson, 2018, Dancing in the Streets). A break occurs when all instruments stop except the drums. Herc discovered the break section on two records where he began to switch back and forth between them resulting dancers to act wild (Olson, 2018, Dancing in the Streets). These dancers initiated dance-battles against one another during the breaks. Though, they became “replaced” when MCs, known as masters of ceremony, came into the musical scene. MCs worked on the microphone as the DJs played the records. These MCs rhymed to the beat of the music where their rhymes became longer and sophisticated (Olson, 2018, Hip-Hop Nation). We now have the first rappers. I must also emphasize that MCs and DJs were either members or former members of gangs, and they used music and dancing as an alternative form of gang warfare.
The rise of hip-hop music grew from local areas to clubs. Proprietors of venues acknowledge the potential of such music, that record and film producers had also noticed and began to capitalize the culture (Orejuela, n.d, para. 3). Introducing Slyvia Robinson of Sugarhill Records, creating the first rap song to be presented in the mainstream media. The song, “Rapper’s Delight,” composed by Sugarhill Gang was released in 1979. Their impact ensued numerous rap songs in the market. Record companies assembled partnerships with independent labels and producers that specialize in rap music. MCs evolved to the rap industry, whereas DJs had gone underground.
“Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang, originating in America. Released in September 16, 1979
Immediately, we are hit with a groovy beat. Its smoothness and steady beat becomes a great song for dancers to utilize. Though it is exceptionally long, the consistency does not change, creating the perfect song for breakdancers to ensue their dance battles in block parties and such. The beat isn’t the only groovy element within the song, but the lyrics convey expressions that makes people break out into a dance. Lyrics such as:
“Now, what you hear is not a test, I’m rappin’ to the beat and me, the groove, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet.”
And, “But first, I gotta bang-bang the boogie to the boogie. Say up jump the boogie to the bang-bang boogie. Let’s rock, you don’t stop. Rock the riddle that’ll make your body rock.”
Are one of many lyrics that expresses joy and dance. It is not a surprise that this song became a hit in America.
To Political Rap in Mainstream Media: 1980s
“Rapper’s Delight” transformed the scene, as it attracted a newer set of audience. It was so innovative that it placed on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 36 in America (Newman, 2020, para. 7).
In the 1980s, were the birth of conscious rap that challenged cultural, social, political, sociopolitical, philosophical, economic consensus, social issues, and conflicts (Wikipedia, 2023, Conscious hip-hop). It was a subgenre that was used for political expression and activism. The Civil Rights Movement became the rise of political expressions in rap music (Sound of Life, 2022, para. What Fueled the Rise of Political and Conscious Rap). The struggles endured by Black Americans had increasingly made it difficult for the world to listen. Thus, music became the creative outlet to express issues, invoked in the community.
“The Message,” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, originating in America. Released in July 1st, 1982.
For instance, Grandmaster Flash (another founder of hip-hop) released “The Message” that combined elements of a groundbreaking beat with social critique, that created hip-hop as another form of medium of political thought (Newman, 2020, para. 8). Opposed to the upbeat music that manifested into Rapper’s Delight, The Message’s beat seems to be a bit slower. It’s quite hard, sharp, dramatic to complement the lyrics that is being conveyed. Lyrics in The Message conveyed issues, aiming to inspire and promote social change. Such as:
“Broken glass everywhere. People pissin’ on the stairs, you know they just don’t care. I can’t take the smell, can’t take the noise. Got no money to move out, I guess I got no choice.
This could be connected to the economic crisis citizens of New York had experienced.
Or, “I can’t walk through the park cause it’s crazy after dark. Keep my hand on my gun cause they got me on the run. I feel like a outlaw, broke my last glass jaw. Hear them say “You want some more?” Livin’ on a see-saw.”
This could also be connected about the rampant violence that became a consequence of the economic collapse.
We could definitely see a noticeable shift between the songs, as one could be described as a “life of the party,” and the other communicating disdain. This could be said to the beat, as one is groovy and steady, whereas the other is heavy and slow.
Conclusion:
Conscious rap served as a platform for rap artists to communicate to a wider set of audience, discussing issues of police brutality, racism, corruption, and more (Wikipedia, 2023, Political hip-hop). It became more than dancing music. Conscious rap became a venue of raising awareness for disproportionate communities to communicate to the rest of the country.
I had always known rap music was always political, since I have listened to Tupac, Ice Cube, and Kendrick Lamar. Though, its origins was unknown to me. I was surprised to learn that rap music originated from block parties, a way for urban youth to self-express and used it as a recreational activity for entertainment. In such a short period, from 1979 to 1981, you could see a difference how rap music evolved into a political narrative for artists to transmit to the rest of the country. Rap music that was used for dance had become a threshold for social change. It’s innovative as music became a creative outlet for artists to express the harsh realities of life.
“This is the way we can amplify ourselves and give ourselves a presence in our world and in a society that continually represses us.’ Hip hop has become that amplifier.” – Murray Forman, hip-hop historian and professor at Northeastern University (Newman, 2020, para. 5).
References
“Conscious Rap’s Origin Story: The Music & Movement Revisited.” Sound of Life, 19 Aug. 2022, https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/mixtape/conscious-rap-origins.
“Hip Hop History: From the Streets to the Mainstream.” ICON Collective Music Production School: LA & Online, 23 July 2025, www.iconcollective.edu/hip-hop-history.
Newman, Cameron. “Hip-Hop’s Origin Story Is One of Political Struggle, Creative Resistance.” The Hoya, 15 Nov. 2020, thehoya.com/guide/music/hip-hops-origin-story-is-one-of-political-struggle-creative-resistance/.
Olson, Tod. “The History of Rock and The History of Rap.” Scholastic Action Magazine, Scholastic Action, 1 Oct. 2018, action.scholastic.com/issues/2018-19/100118/the-history-of-rock-the-history-of-rap.html?language=english#670L.
Orejuela, Fernando. “History of Rap & Hip-Hop.” Timeline of African American Music, timeline.carnegiehall.org/genres/rap-hip-hop. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
“Political Hip-Hop.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_hip-hop.
I knew rap was fairly new, but it shocked me that it only started in the 70s. I will say, I don't particularly care for earlier rap, opting for newer artists like Eminem. I prefer the speed of Eminem to the Hip-Hop style of the 70s. However, I can still appreciate early rap for the innovative new genre it is. I admire you addressing the more strenuous side of rap, the side that addressed brutality and other political pieces. I do wonder, however, what distinguishes rap from hip-hop, as I believe they are separate genres. Is rap a subgenre of hip-hop, or are the names of the two interchangeable as needed?
ReplyDeleteHello! I really like what you had to say about rap, I also did my blog this week about rap. I definitely prefer more of a modern rap 2000's to now. But it was nice to learn about some of the older rap, as someone who grew up listening to it, I did not know all of this and it is interesting to hear about, especially when you talked about new york block parties and how rap emerged. I think you would really like some of Salt-N-Pepa's music, while it is a little less on the rap side, I think you would appreciate some of the musical elements and flow of the song. Thank you for sharing all of this valuable and eye opening information about rap music.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! I really appreciated the background information you gave on how and why the rap game developed. It really set the story. One thing I like about rap is that it still utilizes pushing the boundary to this day, with rappers using their platform to exercise their right to talk about the unjust things happening in our world. Great analysis!
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