hip-hop
hip-hop
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˈhɪpˌhɒp/
Syllable Breakdown:
hip: /hɪp/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative (as in hat)
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in it)
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive (as in pin)
hop: /hɒp/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative (as in hat)
/ɒ/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in hot - British English pronunciation) or /ɑ/ (as in father - American English pronunciation)
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive (as in pin)
Word Form Variations
Noun (singular): hip-hop
Noun (uncountable): hip-hop
Noun (plural): hip-hops (less common, but used to refer to multiple genres, styles, or specific instances of the culture)
Verb: hip-hop (to perform or engage in hip-hop)
Adjective: hip-hop (relating to or characteristic of hip-hop)
Adverb: hip-hop (in a manner characteristic of hip-hop)
Verb (past tense): hip-hopped
Verb (past participle): hip-hopped
Verb (present participle): hip-hopping
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A cultural movement and musical genre that originated in the 1970s among African American and Latino youths in the Bronx, New York City. It is characterized by four core elements: MCing (rapping), DJing (turntablism), breakdancing, and graffiti art.
Synonyms: rap, rap music, hip-hop culture, rap-hip-hop
Antonyms: (There are no direct antonyms, as this is a specific cultural term. However, one could consider a different cultural genre as an opposite in context, such as) classical music, rock and roll.
A style of street dance that evolved from the hip-hop cultural movement, including various forms such as breakdancing, locking, and popping.
Synonyms: breakdancing, street dance, b-boying, b-girling
Antonyms: ballet, ballroom dancing, tap dancing
Verb
To perform or create music, lyrics, or other art forms characteristic of the hip-hop genre.
Example: "The artist will hip-hop all night at the club."
Synonyms: rap, freestyle, MC
Antonyms: (None are direct antonyms. One could use a term for a different musical activity, such as) sing, play classical music.
Adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or inspired by the hip-hop culture, its music, fashion, or lifestyle.
Example: "He was wearing a hip-hop-style baggy jacket."
Synonyms: rap, urban, street
Antonyms: formal, conservative, traditional
Examples of Use
In Books:
"Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation" by Jeff Chang is considered a seminal work documenting the culture's origins and evolution.
In Newspapers & Online Publications:
"Hip-hop is now the most popular music genre in the U.S.," read a headline in a Forbes article (September 2017).
A New York Times review of a concert stated, "The rapper’s performance blended classic hip-hop beats with modern electronic flourishes, earning a standing ovation from the crowd."
Rolling Stone magazine featured an article titled, "How Hip-Hop Took Over the World," exploring its global influence and commercial success.
In Entertainment Mediums & Platforms:
The television show "The Get Down" on Netflix is a fictional drama that chronicles the birth of hip-hop in 1970s New York.
The movie "8 Mile" starring Eminem is a semi-biographical film that centers on a young rapper's life and the competitive world of hip-hop battling.
Spotify and Apple Music feature countless playlists dedicated to different subgenres of hip-hop, such as "90s Hip-Hop," "Trap," and "Lofi Hip-Hop."
In General Public Discourse:
"I love that new hip-hop track from Drake. The beat is incredible!"
"My friend is taking a hip-hop dance class at the gym. He’s getting really good."
"The sneakers he was wearing had a real hip-hop feel to them—all oversized and brightly colored."
10 Famous Quotes Using Hip-Hop
“I'm not saying that hip-hop needs gay rappers or anything, but they need to stop being so close-minded because that will just cause the genre to fail.” (A$AP Rocky)
“Hip-hop has done so much for racial relations, and I don't think it's given the proper credit.” (Jay-Z)
“Rock and roll is not an instrument, rock and roll isn't even a style of music; rock and roll is a spirit that's been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, R&B, heavy metal, punk rock and, yes, hip-hop.” (MC Ren)
“The beautiful thing about hip-hop is it's like an audio collage.” (Talib Kweli)
“Personally, I just think rap music is the best thing out there, period. If you look at my deck in my car radio, you're always going to find a hip-hop tape; that's all I buy, that's all I live, that's all I listen to, that's all I love.” (Eminem)
“I guess hip-hop has been closer to the pulse of the streets than any music we've had in a long time.” (Quincy Jones)
“I'm a hip-hop fan.” (Steven Seagal)
“My heart is in hip-hop, my heart is in telling stories.” (J. Cole)
“I now believe that hip-hop is the most important musical movement since the Beatles.” (Tupac Shakur)
“When you talk about hip-hop, you're talking about the whole culture and movement.” (Afrika Bambaataa)
Etymology
The word "hip-hop" is a fun and creative term that came from the very culture it describes. It's a combination of two simple words: "hip" and "hop."
The story goes that the term was popularized in the 1970s by Keith "Cowboy" Wiggins of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. He was reportedly teasing a friend who had joined the U.S. Army, and he would mimic the rhythm of marching soldiers by singing "hip, hop, hip, hop." He would then perform this beatboxing rhythm in his shows, adding it to his rap performances.
The word "hip" at the time was already a slang term meaning "up-to-date" or "fashionable," so it was a perfect fit for a new, trendsetting culture. "Hop" referred to the lively, rhythmic jumping and dancing that was a key part of the new music and dance style, particularly breakdancing.
Over time, this playful phrase, "hip-hop," stuck and became the name for the entire cultural movement, which included not just the music but also breakdancing, graffiti art, and DJing. The first known use of the term in a broader context is often credited to Afrika Bambaataa, another founding father of the movement, who began using it to describe the entire subculture.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hip-Hop
Old-school hip-hop: Refers to the early styles and artists of the genre, typically from the 1970s and 1980s.
New-school hip-hop: Denotes the later styles and artists, generally from the mid-1980s onward, often with a different sound and lyrical focus.
To go hip-hop: To adopt the styles, clothing, or attitudes associated with hip-hop culture.
Hip-hop head: A dedicated fan or expert of hip-hop music and culture.
Hip-hop nation: A term used to describe the global community of people who follow and are involved in hip-hop culture.
Rap and hip-hop: A common pairing used to refer to the musical genre, sometimes used to distinguish the rapping element from the broader culture.
Get your hop on: A phrase encouraging someone to dance, often to hip-hop music.
Keepin' it real hip-hop: An expression used to describe something that is authentic and true to the roots of the culture.
Hip-hop hopscotch: An original phrase suggesting a lively, rhythmic, and unpredictable style of movement or thinking, inspired by the word's etymology.
Spittin' rhymes, hip-hop style: An idiom describing the act of rapping with a particular flair and lyrical rhythm characteristic of the genre.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hip-hop from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
