Hip Hop played a big roll in my life. My fascination with Hip Hop has been with me from my freshman year in High School till this very day. In real Hip Hop there are 4 elements that make the culture possible. There is (MC) Microphone Control, that is based on rhyming on the Microphone. The Next is (B-Boying) the Break Boy, Break dancing to the break of the beat, a type of dance form that consist of your whole body and mind. Then there is (DJ) Disc Jockey, an art form that consist of two turntables and a stereo mixer. Finally there is (Graffiti) Graph... meaning medium. Paint, pen, spray paint, markers....etc., leaving your expressive art so everyone can see what you are feeling or what point you want to make.
Hip Hop started in poverty. Kids back in the 70's didn't know what to do in the streets. Some joined gangs, some got into drugs, some ended up dying, a lot ended up going to jail. The kids began to realize that there are other ways to release frustration, other ways that didn't have to be illegal. And that's when these 4 elements originated. Some say it's a religion. There is a bible, laws, rules, and history to the art. It's crazy to think that something so mainstream now came from the streets of New York and spread across the world. Now Hip Hop is a common household name that almost everyone knows.
I've practically done all 4 elements, studied them, lived by them, and swore by them. Without Hip Hop in my life, I could surely say that I wouldn't be the same person I am today. That's why I had to express to the world how important it is to me in my life. There are 2 Heroes in my life that I've always looked up to in the Hip Hop world. I've always envied them, tried to be like them both but never succeeded. They are what you call the "Untouchables". These two are what makes Hip Hop what it is. "Stapled Legends."
One of my two heroes is DJ Qbert. He's been doing DJ Battles and mix tapes since the late 80's, won over a dozen battles and championships, been around the world, in cinema, cartoons, and video games. One of the main reasons why I look up to him is because he's my ethnicity, he's filipino. I'm so proud to be filipino because of this fact. If you ever get a chance to look him up on You tube or the net, or get really lucky to see him perform in person it's an experience you'll never forget. I've gotten that chance to meet him in person and shook his hand. He actually judged one of my DJ battles in the late 90's.
My second hero is Prince Ken Swift of the Rock Steady Crew. He's been B-Boying since it started back in the 70's. He is the pure essence of what B-Boys are. The Originator. when you see him dance you can feel the edge, the street, the emotion, in his dance and strut. A lot of the B-Boys of today lost the essence. It's not all about spinning on your head, hand, or back for 20 minutes. It's about expressing your feeling in dance. Anger, frustration, happiness, sadness. When you do get a few minutes in your busy lives, make sure you look up these 2 living legends of Hip Hop on You tube, the net, or in any Hip Hop book you can find.
Two great forms of information media that I will recommend is "The Freshest Kids" DVD and "Scratch" DVD. Both excellent DVD's that have the info that you will want to learn if you are interested.
No comments:
Post a Comment