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…

The Latin Influence on Music in Miami

Miami is known as a melting pot. It has many types of cultural backgrounds but the Latin influence is a lot stronger then the others. Out of all the forms of art Latin’s influence music the most in Miami. Latin music has a wide variety of genres. There is no one style of music for the Latin culture. Each country has their unique sound or slight variation.

Like stated in my previous blog, Cubans are known for Son, Dominicans for Bachata, Puerto Ricans for Reggaeton, and Columbians for Vallenato. Each of those countries does have many more music genres but those are the most popular. Latin music may include Samba, Cumbia, Merengue, and Spanish Rock.

Miami’s diversity in cultures leads to beauty and variety. It allows us to embrace our individual identity. The music is beautiful, and it allows us to show our acceptance towards different cultures.

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.

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