Whats Your Definition of Hip-Hop? - Hip Hop/Rap Music and Urban Social Network Community

**Mister Official** · 12-24-2006, 12:13 AM

People are saying its dead.. but what do you define it as?

**Al@moe.** · 12-24-2006, 06:55 PM

A culture. And music. You know when shit is hiphop, lets not act stupid. We know that half this garbage shit thats going on today is NOT hiphop.
~!

**Mister Official** · 12-24-2006, 07:53 PM

But define it. Yes.. its a culture.. but what is included within that culture.

**MetrO** · 12-25-2006, 12:38 PM

Hip Hop music to me is music that has a meaning behind the lyrics and pays homage to its predecessors. like back when hip-hop was new it was basically old melodies mixed with new drum patterns, now this new hip-hop sampling hip-hop shit is garbage, and these kids acting like they the first rapper ever without showing respect to thier influences is wack everybody is influenced by somebody.

Hip-Hop as a culture to me is based on everybodys personal location and style, its just peoples expression of themselves but this new fad shit where people just wear shit because they saw a rapper wearin it isnt hip-hop culture its fake, because all your doing is imitatiing somebody else's way of expressing themselves.

but you know thats just MO

**Vick Slate** · 12-26-2006, 03:23 PM

I did a report on hip hop in school...

I'll type it when i get home

**R.D.** · 12-27-2006, 12:55 AM

hip-hop is a music genre.

too much to say and everyone understands if anyone the tru meaning of hip-hop

thats sermon yo!

**jchulo** · 12-27-2006, 11:25 PM

Its music. Its culture. Its a lifestyle. Its owned by the people of Hip Hop. Its the newspaper to the streets. Its the expression of Urban and even suburban people, mostly the youth.

When they say Hip Hop is dead, it is because of many different things. For example, the music of hip hop is much like a business now which is unlike before. We got old white BUSINESS men (not hip hop heads) who are making decisions in mainstream hip hop. They determine what the people hear.

Also, many people of hip hop are in it for the money and not for the music. This corrupts the credibility of hip hop. People are selling out to make a buck.

Also, there's alot of stupidness that is associated with hip hop. In the eyes non hip hop heads, they will see hip hop as bling bling, fresh cars, fake thugs, and stupid niggas constantly shooting other stupid niggas for nothing. Thats cool, but there's much more to hip hop than that. That's what we need to push for in the future of hip hop.

**li520** · 12-28-2006, 01:28 PM

Hip-hop just is!! Its not to be confined to a box or a specifici definition, only because that would limit it!! Hip-hop is breaking, graffiti, battling, rapping, freestyling, fashion, attitude!! All these things are the embodiment of hip-hop!!! In reference to people who dont like certain types of music that are out, are biased to what hip-hop is!! Its open expression!! Im not the biggest fan of the whole snap-music movement, but it is hip-hop!! When rap was first introduced, I recall alot of talking about how good the dj was, and how they were the flyest, freshest, as well as who had the biggest chain!! Conscience rap is very important to hip-hop, but thats not all that it is about!! Diversity is great!!! Gangsta rap is important, but so is good-ole dance music!! Just my humble opinion!!!

**Fero Blaque** · 12-28-2006, 01:46 PM

Hip-hop Isn't necessarily a method to spread a message. As hip-hop Is seen and experienced as a culture music Is just one of the elements of this culture so the message It spreads Is a mere part of the meaning of hip-hop. A great tool yes, but not only for the purpose of telling a story since It consists out of multiple elements. Gangsters and guns and drugs aren't 'hip-hop' but the artists writing about are..so often hip-hop culture Is seen as foul by the outside world while It's only a link to the culture.

Same with many other cultures such as bikers and punk-rockers, affiliation Is not the definition of. The 'definition of' Is a foundation that consists out of different elements : Rhyming, Breakdancing, Graffiti and Beatboxing. The way people dress and act are sub-elements, the way people act within these elements doesn't relate to the hip-hop culture as the hip-hop culture just gives people a voice or moves to express what they feel. What they feel and say Is their personal oppinion. This way, you cannot link drugs and guns etc. to the culture. Ofcourse culture does mean the way people involved act but It's only within these 4 elements. Like they say hip-hop Isn't just music, It's somerhing you live and I truly believe you do.