Quando VIBE Magazine pubblicò il suo iconico numero di debutto nel settembre del 1993, il team editoriale decise di immortalare in copertina un allora giovanissimo Snoop Doggy Dogg, nonostante Doggystyle, suo disco d’esordio, non fosse ancora uscito. Non solo, il titolo di quello storico primo numero non lasciava spazio ad alcun dubbio: il 1993 era “l’anno in cui l’hip-hop e l’R&B conquistarono il mondo”.
MIKE TYSON E LA CULTURA HIP HOP
Mitch Green si rimette in piedi e strappa lo specchietto retrovisore dell’auto, facendo infuriare Mike Tyson che scende dalla limousine e gli sferra un montante destro, divenuto il marchio di fabbrica del pugile. Il pugno lo fa letteralmente volare in aria. Green ricade su sé stesso di testa, accartocciandosi poi come una bambola di pezza. In quel momento l’auto di Tyson parte a tutta velocità, mentre Iron Mike è convinto di aver ammazzato a mani nude il suo contendente.
Disco King Mario
By 1971, Disco King Mario was an eminent DJ in the Bronx.He was known for his superior sound system and his love for combining music and a good time. Mario came up during the era where you had to be tough enough to bring your equipment out, because of how prevalent gangs and violence were in the Bronx in the early 70s. But the Disco King was respected all over, from neighborhood mothers to the grimiest gangsters. He is a major part of the creation of Hip Hop.
How Nina Simone Became Hip Hop’s “Secret Weapon”
In 1996, the Fugees burst on the scene with “Ready or Not,” and most listeners were not ready: for the ominous, eclectic, Caribbean-inflected production, the…
The origins of hip hop
When we hear “hip-hop” or “rap” (we hardly hear just one of those term separately, because of their common origins), we talk about a musical…
PHASE 2’s Party Flyers
In the South Bronx in the 1970s, hip-hop culture was just beginning to form at large musical gatherings called jams. In abandoned buildings packed with…
From Prodigy to KDot
Legendary photographer Estevan Oriol has taken more than a half-million photos throughout a career that has spanned over 25 years. The legendary photographer sat down…
FIGHT THE POWER
In the first episode of Ava DuVernay’s Netflix drama When They See Us, a couple of dozen black teenagers pour into Central Park on the…
How Gil Scott-Heron made way for a generation of rap revolutionaries
Even if you’re not familiar with Gil Scott-Heron, it’s likely you’ve unknowingly encountered his work in some form. The late artist’s poeticisms have taken on a life…
Kurt Cobain’s Undying Influence on modern Hip Hop
In 2019, rappers idolize Kurt Cobain more than they idolize rap legends. The art form has been heavily influenced by SoundCloud rap; a subgenre which…