KNOWLEDGE: Real Hip Hop

Hip hop is not just a genre of music; it is a lifestyle. Hip hop is the coming together of different people from around the world, in other words, the unity of people.

The media and society has depicted the hip hop culture as being negative. For example, in music videos they show the rappers with all this money, cars, and women around them. But this is NOT Real Hip Hop!

Brief History:
The hip hop culture is a movement which started mostly by African and Latin Americans in the Bronx, New York in the 1970s. Hip hop has four major elements which are MCing (rapping), DJing, graffiti writing (graffing), and bboying (break dancing). Also, there are other elements such as beat boxing, fashion, and slang.

Hip hop was based around DJ’s and MC’s which created a rhythmic beat and style of singing. Then, the original style of dancing and dressing soon followed. Graffiti writing comes into hip hop as a form of visual art. Also, beat boxing is a unique vocal technique which mimics the DJ’s beats. Over the years there have been a few tune ups to each element.

Hip hop has a mixture of genres which can be a way of understanding it such as funk, disco, soul, samba, scat singing, performance poetry, and blues.

Watch the video below and it will give you some insight on hip hop…

Passion & Goal

Art in Culture

Culture can mean many different things; it can be someone's upbringing, religious faith, art forms, and/or community's traditions. Culture gives people a sense of belonging. For most individuals, to be a part of something is very important.

In this case, culture influences the different types of art forms that we engage in. As for me growing up in Miami, I am greatly influenced by the Hispanic culture; the food I eat, music I listen to, as well as, the way I dress.

The most influential forms of art, in my opinion, have to be music and dancing. Each culture has their own genres of music and way of dancing. Like for Cubans, their most popular genre of music is Son and form of dancing is Salsa. Dominicans are known for Bachata, Puerto Ricans for Reggaeton, and Columbians for Vallenato. Music and dancing allows each individual to bring their culture no matter where they live or where they are at.

Culture also has a major roll in fashion. The way we dress allows us to show our background to others. For example, in India the women wear saris which the material is in vibrant colors and in Japan the traditional clothing are kimonos.

In Miami we have many different cultures so it is easy for us to be a part of something and have a sense of belonging.

Dancing Expresses...

Dance

Dance is a passion,
There's millions of dance moves,
Just like fashion,
You must know some,
Like the worm,
Or the twist,
But be careful don't break your wrist,
You can dance in heels,
Or tennis shoes,
Dance to the blues,
Or country rock,
Dance down the block,
Even around town,
Dance to whatever sound you hear,
Dance in a gown,
Or a t-shirt,
Dance with a group of four,
Never ignore the dancing rhythm,
Or you'll regret that forever,
Dance whenever you please,
When your hugging a tree,
Or running from bees,
Dance is an art,
Dance with your heart,
If your smart,
Don't give up dancing,
So don't drift from your dancing skill,
It's a great gift.

-Mariah Clary

Why I Decided To Start Blogging About the Arts?

I am a student at Saint Thomas University and in my "Online Media and Blog" class I have to create a blog talking about something I am passionate about. I decided to do my blog on the arts like fashion, music, dancing, and visual art because I believe that these four categories have saved my life in one way or another. If they have helped me through my hardest times maybe they can help others as well. The arts allow you to express your inner most feelings and desires that can not be expressed in any other way.

Since I was a little girl I have had a passion for color, texture, movement, and sound. Hearing music and watching my mother dancing as a little girl open my love for sound and movement. Every move and beat represents a different emotion and feeling. Sitting in my room for hours drawing out designs of clothing for my Barbie’s was when I started my passion for fashion. Drawing was not only expressing my adoration for fashion but also the feeling that the vibrant colors I would use would enhance my feelings towards visual art. Combining all the elements, I would put on fashion shows with my Barbie’s and it allowed me to take my mind off of everything I was going through in my life.

Have you ever heard a song from so long ago,
with so many memories tied to it that it made you cry?
And didn't you wish you can go back in time
to when everything was simple and carefree?
Those are the songs that are the soundtracks of our lives...
The ones that bring back our past
best friends, 1st loves, broken hearts, and memories
Good and Bad!
-Anonymous


Isn't life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?
–Andy Warhol


Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky,
in the street,
fashion has to do with ideas,
the way we live,
what is happening.
-Coco Chanel