G
iven its current worldwide popularity, it’s hard to comprehend that hip-hop originated more than 50 years ago in the impoverished
neighbourhoods of New York, where street
parties were regularly held to boost the morale of the city’s African-American communities.
It wasn’t until the release of Rapper’s Delight in 1979 that hip-hop finally transcended the ghettos into the mainstream, and in the ensuing decade it became a global phenomenon, growing exponentially as sampling and beatbox technology evolved. From old-school rhyming through to hard-hitting social commentary, we return to this golden age of hip-hop, when rappers and turntablists alike were finally recognised as skilful and credible artists.