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Hip Hop Facts & Worksheets

The creative and cultural phenomenon known as hip hop has influenced everything from politics to fashion. Hip hop music is one of the primary expressions of this culture.

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The creative and cultural phenomenon known as hip hop has influenced everything from politics to fashion. Hip hop music is one of the primary expressions of this culture.

See the fact file below for more information about Hip Hop, or you can download our 25-page Hip Hop worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

  • Hip hop is a style of music most frequently distinguished by a powerful, rhythmic beat and a rap vocal recording. 
  • One of the most popular music genres in the US, the genre started in New York City in the 1970s as a cultural interchange between Black, Latino, and Caribbean youngsters.
  • Most people use the term “hip hop” to refer to rap music, but it also refers to a particular style of clothing, particularly the baggy pants and loose apparel that have become popular since the 1980s.
  • More than the music and the fashion, it is a full-fledged culture and a genre in its own right. 
  • Hip hop has its own culture and is now a way of life for some people.

HISTORY: HIP HOP IN THE 1970s to 1980s

  • Beginning in New York City in the 1970s, hip hop music has a diverse history.
  • 1970s: The Bronx neighborhood of New York City was the birthplace of early hip hop music.
  • It began as a cooperative effort by intersecting Black, Latin, and Caribbean American youth groups during block parties, which were neighborhood events where DJs played soul and funk music. They’re frequently credited as the first producers of contemporary hip hop and rap music.
  • Techniques including longer percussive breaks (called “breakbeats” or simply “breaks”), turntable techniques, scratching, freestyle, and improvised vocals based on Jamaican “toasting“ were included as an experiment.
  • 1979: “Rapper’s Delight,” a song by the hip hop group Sugarhill Gang that peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard charts in 1979, is now regarded as the first hip hop hit and established hip hop as a legitimate genre.
  • 1980s: Numerous musicians started introducing fresh concepts to the genre, such as drum kits, more intricate sampling, metaphorical rap lyrics, and more extensive collaboration with other genres like electro music. Hip hop also gained popularity abroad, particularly in the UK, Japan, and Australia.
  • 1984: The term “new school hip hop” originated from several hip hop albums that stressed drum machine beats, minimalism, shorter tracks (that were better suited for radio), and socio-political criticism. These artists moved away from “old school hip hop’s” party rhymes and funk influences.

HISTORY: HIP HOP IN THE 1990S TO 2000s

  • The Golden Era: Hip hop’s golden era was in the late 1980s and early 1990s when several artists achieved enormous popular success while making significant breakthroughs with each new record. Gangsta rap, a subgenre of rap that focused on the way of life of inner-city youngsters, also gained popularity during this time.
  • Commercialization. Hip hop gained popularity in the late 1990s and gave rise to several well-known performers, including Lil Wayne, Timbaland, Nelly, Puff Daddy, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, DMX, Eminem, and 50 Cent. 
  • Alternative Hip Hop. Many musicians used more overtly punk, jazz, indie rock, and electronic influences in the 2000s. Outkast, Kanye West, MF Doom, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane, Juicy J, The Roots, Kid Cudi, Mos Def, Drake, Aesop Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Gnarls Barkley were some of the notable or emerging artists at this time.
  • Contemporary Hip Hop. At the turn of the century and into the current era, the growth of online distribution and streaming services led to an explosion of artists, mixtapes, and experimentation. Waka Flocka Flame, Cardi B, Future, Migos, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, 21 Savage, and Lil Uzi Vert are some of the artists who have become well-known in recent years.

HIP HOP ELEMENTS: DJING / TURNTABLISM

  • One could argue that DJing is the most significant component of hip hop because a disc jockey, specifically Bronx-born Clive Campbell, better known as DJ Kool Herc in the genre, is credited with helping to establish the culture.
  • The “Merry-Go-Round” technique he popularized was accomplished by using two recordings of the same music and a mixer to alternate between them back and forth. The “Merry-Go-Round” served as the model for contemporary hip hop music.
  • Theodore Livingstone and Grand Wizzard Theodore, both from The Bronx, were DJs who pioneered new techniques in the 1970s. By unintentionally using the “scratching” technique, which involves rubbing a record back and forth on a turntable to produce sound effects, Livingstone unknowingly invented it. In the end, scratching came to be associated with hip hop DJ sets.
  • The techniques of scratching and track mixing served as the building blocks for turntablism, the art of the turntable. DJs that practice this craft demonstrated their abilities, including mixing, scratching, and “juggling” a variety of rhythms, with DJ Steve Dee among its pioneers. 

HIP HOP ELEMENTS: MCING / RAPPING

  • The integration of rhymes and “punchlines” along with an MC’s vocal prowess and delivery led to the development of the musical genre known as “rap” in the end. Individuals who express themselves in this way are referred to as “rappers” or “rap artists.”
  • Rappers can perform solo or in groups with other people, including one or more DJs. The first rap performer to be signed to a major record label and to find commercial success is Kurtis Blow.
  • Rappers either have their own “flow” and delivery style or are influenced by other rap artist styles. Flow refers to how a rapper performs or conveys style, rhymes, and rhythm. And the rapper’s performance is entirely determined by his or her delivery.
  • Rap musicians will also use a range of styles, themes, and subject matter. Some rappers, especially those that express a hard-core, “gangsta” type of rap music, will employ profanity in their songs. 
  • Rappers will typically deliver verses that they have already written, but some will also “freestyle,” which is when the rapper improvises and performs the words live without having memorized them beforehand. Freestyle is undoubtedly the best type of rapping, especially when two people are competing against one another.

HIP HOP ELEMENTS: BREAKDANCING

  • On the dance floor, the blending and playing of different breaks created such a lively intensity that some people started to do various acrobatic feats. 
  • This developed into the discipline of breakdancing, also known as breaking, and people who practice it are known as breakdancers, breakers, or break-boys and break-girls. The latter, abbreviated as b-boy/b-girl.
  • Breaking consists of four phases, with “toprock” being the first. At this phase, all foot movements are performed while standing. Setting up the breaker is more of a “warm-up” before executing the acrobatic maneuvers of the following phase, “downrock.” 
  • In the second part, the performer is at floor level and uses both hands and feet while demonstrating speed and control. As a result, breaking moves known as “power moves” are introduced in the third phase.
  • In the third phase, the breaker employs strength, power, and balance to perform maneuvers like the “windmill” or the “headspin,” which are among the sport’s defining techniques.
  • The entire performance leads to the fourth phase, the “freeze.” In this stage, the breaker assumes an “acrobatic” position and stops moving, creating a “freeze.”

HIP HOP ELEMENTS: GRAFFITI ART

  • Graffiti on walls and other surfaces has merged into the urban landscape. “Graffiti” is the word used to characterize these scrawls.
  • Although the practice of putting one’s name on walls was the first, tagging subway trains gained the most popularity because trains moved throughout the city and could be seen by many people. 
  • Many taggers began using spray paint as the years went on, enabling them to paint on a larger scale. The conventional tag changed and gained dimension, depth, color, and design with the application of spray paint. The “piece,” a shorthand meaning “masterpiece,” emerged with
    this evolution.
  • Hip hop culture-related graffiti is based on the letters, especially the piece. Additionally, it is based on the writer’s actual name, typically a street name or a nickname. 
  • Hip hop’s visual component is graffiti, but individuals who practice this form prefer to be referred to as “writers” rather than “artists” because they are technically “writing” their names but doing so creatively. 
  • Graffiti is letter-based; therefore, it can use anything from straightforward typefaces to extremely complex “wild-style” fonts. 

Hip Hop Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Hip Hop across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hip Hop. The creative and cultural phenomenon known as hip hop has influenced everything from politics to fashion. Hip hop music is one of the primary expressions of this culture.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Hip Hop Facts
  2. Find the Hip to the Hop
  3. Hip Hop Truth
  4. That’s a Rap! (Part 1)
  5. That’s a Rap! (Part 2)
  6. Hip Hop OOTD (Part 1)
  7. Hip Hop OOTD (Part 2)
  8. The Golden Era
  9. Graffit-me
  10. Hip to the Rap
  11. Break a Leg!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of hip-hop?

Hip-hop originated in the South Bronx, New York City, during the 1970s. It emerged as a cultural movement encompassing elements such as rap music, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti art. The genre was initially a form of expression for African American and Latino youth in economically distressed areas.

Who are considered some of the pioneers of hip-hop?

Pioneers of hip-hop include DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa, and Run-DMC. These artists played a crucial role in shaping the early sound and culture of hip-hop.

How has hip-hop culture evolved over the years?

Hip-hop culture has evolved significantly since its inception. Initially an underground movement, it has grown into a global phenomenon. The music has diversified into various sub-genres like gangsta rap, conscious rap, and trap. Additionally, hip-hop has influenced fashion, language, and social activism.

Who are some iconic figures in modern hip-hop?

Modern hip-hop has seen the rise of many influential artists. Some iconic figures include Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Drake, and Travis Scott. Each has made significant contributions to the genre and has a substantial impact on contemporary popular culture.

How has hip-hop contributed to social and political activism?

Hip-hop has often been a powerful vehicle for social and political commentary. Artists like Public Enemy and N.W.A addressed issues such as racial inequality and police brutality. In more recent years, artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole have continued this tradition by using their platforms to raise awareness about social and political issues.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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