Over the summer the beloved music genre, Hip Hop, celebrated 50 years of song and rhythm. Since then, people have taken a bigger look at some of their favorite songs and what they really mean. Some can be seen as a form of identity or giving a life lesson, others show emotion or just bring people together. But why is Hip Hop so important and what are its effects on the youth?

Hip Hop as we know it was invented in 1973, at a back-to-school party in the Bronx, New York. It originated with a man named Clive Cambell, more famously known as DJ Kool Herc. The snippets and loops of music were different, yet it was creative in its own sense. It was something that would soon unroll into an amazing and inspiring phenomenon for generations to come. Now, according to RapReviews.com, “Rap and hip-hop music account for 21.7% of the total music consumption in the U.S. That’s over 50% more than the interest rates registered in R&B or Country music.” Along with this, Hip Hop has evolved into many different subgenres and placed itself as the topic of discussion in many real-world events. Popular artists like Tyler the Creator, Playboi Carti, and Lucki are a few popular rappers of today who have cultivated their own sound and greatly differed from the original sound most people associate with Hip-Hop.
The music genre covers every person in some way and everyone can associate themselves with it to express themselves intriguingly. Godwin junior Issac Kasay says “Hip Hop reminds me of my childhood, it’s a whole culture.” Godwin freshman Jonathan Savath stated, “The music reminds me of home, my dad.” Hip-hop has been home to some of the most powerful stories ever written, and those stories have impacted listeners profoundly. You can associate different emotions and messages with certain songs, which can lead to lasting effects on people.

Rap and hip-hop have had a significant effect on the black community but have spread beyond just black people in America. It has made its way into everyday media like TV, movies, inspirational quotes, and so much more. It’s also created different types of fashion and art as well as our concept of language. To say hip-hop is huge is an understatement, hip hop and rap shapes our lives in ways you wouldn’t even think of. Music as a whole brings people together and embodies our emotions in the form of sound and words. To rap or show yourself in the form of Hip Hop has to be the most raw and uncut expression of your body and mind without saying it directly, and that is a beautiful thing.