What does Hip Hop Mean to You?

In the last post you provided a definition of what Hip Hop is.

Lets view the following videos:

















Let's look at what Grand Master Flash, one of the Founders of Hip Hop says about Hip Hop:

http://www.daveyd.com/whatisflash.html

As one of the pioneers of who was known for his ability to mix music I mixed anything from Billy Squire to Michael Jackson to Thin Lizzy to Sly And The Family Stone to Glen Miller to Tschochosky..

When I laid this foundation down.. the key was we could take almost anything musically just as long as it had a beat to it.. so that the rhymer who flowed over the top of it could syncopate.. For anybody to say that whatever they're doing in Florida is not hip hop..or whatever they're saying in LA is not hip hop.. Who are these people to say that?.. There were songs that Bambaataa played that to this day I still don't know.. They were so funky.. Some of the ones I got the priviledge to know..I was suprised...You take a song like 'Apache' for example which was considered to be one of the hip hop main themes..Those were a bunch of white guys.. The Incredible Bongo Rock Band were white guys.. There was one person there who was Black.. He was King Erickson who was a percussionist...

For anybody to say 'this is not hip hop' or 'that is not hip hop' is wrong. That is not the way the formula was laid down.. It was for the people who were going to continue this to take anything...by all means necessary and string it along...

Grand Master Flash is saying that there is no one correct definition for Hip Hop. Do you believe it is correct or incorrect? If so, why? Also, explain exactly what hip hop means to you?

Information collected from the following sources

Davey Dave's Hip Hop Directory:

• http://www.daveyd.com/whatiship.html
• http://www.daveyd.com/whatisflash.html
  

The H2Ed Guidebook
A Sourcebook of Inspiration &
Practical Application

Lesson 2: Something You Live - Identity, Perspective and
Experience by Adrian Worrell has taught in the Greater Toronto Area since 1999. In that time, he has designed courses for students of diverse cultures and learning styles. He currently teaches
English and Mathematics at Milliken Mills High School.

What is Hip-Hop?

We will review some artist definitions of Hip Hop provided by Davey Dave:
http://www.daveyd.com/whatiship.html

and each come up with our own definition. As you formulate your definition of Hip Hop, try to think about the following questions:

Is it music?
Is it culture?
Is it both/neither?
What are the 4 elements of Hip Hop?

What is Hip-Hop in your own words?