This Friday (11) marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop – a relatively short journey from its inception at a small party in the Bronx to becoming one of the most popular and influential genres in the world.
In New York City and across the country this weekend, shows and celebrations will be held to commemorate the date. Major platforms, including Netflix, Apple, and Spotify, will also pay tribute to the rhythm with special documentaries, podcasts, among others.
A bit of history
The multibillion-dollar industry was born at a back-to-school party in an apartment building in the Bronx on August 11, 1973. Since Jamaican DJ Kool Herc first played at that party, hip-hop has grown far beyond what was expected.
Young people in New York created hip-hop as a means of expression and solidarity during a particularly difficult time for the city — marked by little interest and investment in communities, high rates of violence and poverty.
Today, hip-hop is the most listened-to genre in the world, says Shain Shapiro, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Music Ecosystems. If this trend continues, hip-hop’s share of the music industry as a whole will represent about $33 billion by 2030.
In addition to its direct popularity – record sales, streaming, successful tours, and festivals – hip-hop has built a vibrant and constantly evolving culture that spans various sectors. For example, breakdancing will be an Olympic sport in Paris next year.
The rhythm has also helped some of the world’s most valuable companies build their brands and retain customers, including Apple, Nike, and Block. That’s why it’s very difficult to quantify its true overall economic impact.
Loss of meaning
But some argue that with all this growth, the roots of hip-hop as a means of expression against oppression have been lost along the way.
“I think we are at a crossroads and that’s why the 50th anniversary is so important,” said Elena Romero, a longtime journalist and hip-hop documentarian whose new series, “Hip-Hop Subway: The L Line,” premieres this Friday on CUNY TV.
Romero says that while it’s important to honor the creators of hip-hop, “we also need to examine where we are, how we benefit, but where we have failed to support our community.”
Source: AXIOS