The Historical Development of American Hip-hop Music

The Historical Development of American Hip-hop Music

Streetdancing, which was born in the late 1960s, is the dance of the urban poor in black America. In 1970s, it was classified as a part of hip-hop culture, and it was called the four elements of hip-hop together with graffiti (or writing), DJ and MC. Hip-hop was born in two places at the same time, developed independently, and finally influenced each other into one. One place is new york, the east coast city of the United States; Another location is California on the west coast of the United States.

In the Bronx, new york, poor black teenagers are in the black singer James? Under the influence of james brown, use a dance that simulates gang struggle? On the basis of Up-Rock, a dance composed of top rock, footwork and freeze frame was developed. B-Boying. In the early 1980s, a series of difficult and high-skilled strength movements were constantly innovated. Under the hype of the media, this dance is widely accepted in the name of breaking. Break dancing has a special dance form? Battle, which originated from the previous gang fighting, won the game only by virtue of the creativity of B-Boy or B-Girl without violence. Two break dance teams (Crew, also an organization form from a gang background) participating in the fighting dance are on one side of the substation, and members of each team take turns to jump into the circle to dance, and the party with the highest skill and the most novel action wins.

California's hip-hop originated in the black civil rights movement center? Oakland. In the 1960s, many black groups in Auckland developed a dance based on soul music according to the acrobatics and novel movements of early street performers, comedians or mime, which they called Bugaro. This kind of dance can be arranged for many people to dance together or alone, but there is no certain dance form. Everyone can do their own movements and create their own style. In the 1970s, Funk appeared in California, which injected new vitality into the dance on the West Coast and gave birth to two new dances. One is Lock, which was performed by a young black man from Los Angeles, Tang, in the early 1970s. Campel invented it. This dance is characterized by rapid turnover and sudden pause of wrists and arms. At the moment of pause, the body seems to be locked, hence the name. The other is Sam, a talented teenager in Fresno, California? Created by Sam Solomon, he combined the previous Bugaro dance with crazy music to create a series of dance moves, forming a new dance style, and borrowed the name of Bugaro dance, which he later renamed Bugaro? Samuel At the same time, Sam borrowed from the early robot dance in Auckland and created another dance? Bang bang. This dance is characterized by the continuous contraction and relaxation (pop) of muscles in various parts of the body, which produces a vibrating effect visually. Because of the same music foundation, Oakland dances such as Rock Dance, Explosive Dance, bugallo Dance in Sam and Early Robot Dance are now collectively called Funk Style Dance.

In 1980s, the black dance in new york changed with the rise of hip-hop music. Among a group of talented dancers, such as Henry? Henry Link, Buda? According to the adaptation and creation of Buddha Stretch, a kind of hip hop, R&B can be used. B) Jazz and other music dances are mixed with various styles of dance movements, and a new dance style is born. In order to distinguish the black dance in the 1970s, people named it New School Hip-Hop or Hip-hop for short. Hip-hop inherits the rock tradition of black dance in new york and is characterized by the ups and downs of the body (up & amp； Down), but the rhythm is more soothing and light. It has no standardized dance movements, and dancers can add any ingredients as long as they conform to the music. Because it is based on all black dances in the past, street dance needs all kinds of dance skills. Later, House dance (tap dance, Salsa dance and Capoeira, a combination of dancing and rocking House music), trendy jazz (combination of ballet and hip-hop) and be-bop (combination of house dance and trendy jazz) appeared in new york? They have all become part of the new hip hop.

Hip-hop was introduced to China in the mid-1980s, benefiting from an American hip-hop movie "Break Dance" from 65438 to 0984. )。 1984 coincides with the first craze of American street dance, which has aroused widespread concern in society. Hip-hop suddenly emerged from the underground and was reported by major media, appearing on the cover of National Geographic and prime time of major TV stations. Even President Reagan watched the break dance performance live. Hip-hop movies and TV series have come out one after another, and seven hip-hop movies have been produced in just 1984. The peak of the whole hip-hop craze appeared at the closing ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 1984. When Leonard. When Ricky sang the song "All Night", under the background of fireworks, 200 dancers from 10 danced hip-hop in front of 65438+ 10,000 people, and many dancers turned their heads at the same time (a difficult power movement in break dancing). Millions of people saw this exciting scene in front of the TV.

In China, at that time, video recorders had just started to enter the home, and the video of break dancing was transmitted to young people in China through various channels. The families of young people who first owned video recorders became the spread centers of break dancing. At that time, many people appeared all over the street, with cloth tied to their heads and their feet shrinking back? Motor? One of the leading characters in break dancing, whose name is Bugaro? Bugalo shrimp (a famous dancer in hip hop history), they are like a brain failure, one hand goes to the other for a while? Send electricity? Walk back and forth for a while? Space walk? And then into the air? Cleaning the glass? . In fact, even the American media at that time were confused by the first hip-hop craze, and they put the name of new york Break Dance on the West Coast Dance. The movie "Break Dance" should be called "Crazy Dance" or "Lock Dance", because it was shot in California and basically reflected the dance on the west coast. But in any case, break dancing has a great influence on China. There are a large number of street dancers in China almost simultaneously with the United States, and their level is quite high. The late young dancer Tao Jin was a famous professional dancer at that time, studying and practicing street dance. 1988, he filmed the movie "Rock Youth", in which many hip-hop moves were used, which gained great response among the teenagers at that time. He also went to the United States to learn hip-hop from Pop N Taco, a famous crazy dancer. He was the first person in China, including dancers from Taiwan Province Province, to be introduced face to face by hip-hop masters.

Unfortunately, by the end of 1980s, break dancing had quickly disappeared in China. There are three main reasons for this: First, the influence of the United States. Since 1986, the hip-hop craze has gradually cooled down in the United States. Excessive commercial speculation made hip-hop quickly become the chewing gum left by the public. Pop artists quickly stole the achievements of hip-hop and repackaged them into popular products more acceptable to the public, but the real hip-hop was abandoned. Break dancing has become an outdated thing in new york, and B-boys all over the world seem to be swept away overnight. And second? Break dancing? It has not been correctly recognized by society. Jump? Break dancing? Most young people, except art majors, are students who don't like learning and are active, or idle young people in society. Many of them are called. Rogue? Bad teenagers. The social consciousness in the 1980s was far from being open now (even today, street dance was not fully understood and accepted by the public), and the aversion to stomp the yard cast an unhealthy social image on street dance, which was not treated correctly, let alone guided and fostered; Three is? Break dancing? There was no market environment for growth and development at that time. The first wave of hip-hop craze in the United States was based on large-scale commercial propaganda and commercial development. In the mid-1980s, there were few domestic advertisements, which was far from the commercial packaging and development of hip-hop. Hip-hop dancers have no income except to satisfy their personal interests, and there is no economic basis for lazy survival. As an unconventional literary form, hip-hop can only lose its vitality in China.

Another important early influence of hip-hop in China is Michael? Jackson, there are still many young people imitating his dance steps today. Can you see this? King of pop? The influence of. Actually, Michael? Jackson is typical? Steal hip-hop achievements and repackage them into popular products that are more acceptable to the public? Almost all of his representative dance steps were learned from American underground hip-hop artists. As early as 1974, Michael 16 years old? Jackson as? Jackson V? The members of the singing group sang the song "Dance Machine" on TV and danced robot dance, which made this dance popular in the United States. 1983, Jackson performed a spacewalk in the TV special program of the 25th anniversary of Motown Records Company, which caused a sensation. Since Beyond the Wall, many excellent music videos have been shot in each of his albums, including a large number of dance performances, and dance has become an important part of his music art. Thriller, Bad, and Memory of Time are the three most wonderful music videos of dance performances, among which dance is a new classic of hip-hop dance that combines crazy dance, hip-hop dance and jazz dance. Choreographer is a famous hip-hop master in new york, including Henry? Link and others. And Jackson's dance performance at the concert is even more popular in China, enduring.

Hip-hop revived in the United States in 1990s, which was mainly attributed to the worldwide popularity of hip-hop and the whole hip-hop culture. In 1980s, new york hip-hop artists made great efforts to spread this culture all over the world. Their hip-hop trip traveled all over the United States, went to France and Britain, and 1984 came to Japan. In 1990s, as a new and fashionable cultural form and lifestyle, hip-hop developed rapidly all over the world. 1990 Germany holds the first session? Annual campaign? Street dance competition is now the most important annual street dance competition in the world. With diligence, intelligence and creativity, Japanese teenagers quickly mastered and developed street dance. The achievements of Japanese hip-hop dancers are recognized by Americans, who spread this culture to neighboring areas such as South Korea and Taiwan Province Province. Since the mid-1990s, street dance has gradually spread in Chinese mainland, mainly in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.

Influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan, Guangzhou's hip-hop and its hip-hop culture appeared earlier and quickly became popular in the whole province. The word street dance was first circulated in Guangdong. In fact, there is no word in America to collectively refer to dance in hip-hop culture. Hip-hop is just the name of the west coast of America. In new york, people only call certain dances by their names: hip hop, break dance, pop dance and so on. It was China who unified the name of street dance. Hip-hop people who tend to the east coast, such as B-boys, don't like to use the word hip-hop. Guangdong's street dance is deeply influenced by new york's style, mainly break dancing, and there are also a number of high-level explosive dancers. Because of its early appearance and good economic foundation, Guangdong's street dance level has been ahead of the whole country until the rise of Shanghai and Beijing. Due to years of vicious competition among street dance groups, the street dance market in Guangdong has been declining in recent years. Dancers generally have serious regional concepts and are unwilling to compete and communicate with teams from other regions north of Nanling. They are narcissistic and even arrogant, but Guangdong is still one of the regions with the best hip-hop and even hip-hop cultural foundation in China.

Shanghai's street dance is greatly influenced by Japan, and the level of the new street dance school is ahead of the whole country. Lock dance and explosive dance have their own masters, and break dance is dominated by style and action. Maybe it has something to do with amorous feelings and personality. There are few excellent break dance groups in Shanghai and Jiangnan. Shanghai began systematic and formal street dance training very early, and has trained several generations of street dance students in the past seven years, laying a good foundation for the development of street dance culture in Shanghai and even the whole country. Due to the developed economy, the cultural market acts according to market rules, and the mass base is very good, Shanghai's street dance market has great prospects for development.

Although Beijing street dance culture rose late, it is the most representative. 1996 rpm 1998? Korean Wave? Wind, Beijing is? The hardest hit area? . Is there such a trend in the concept of street dance in Beijing and even the whole country? Korean Wave? From here. After the Korean Wave, a large number of stamping yards emerged in Beijing. They teamed up to imitate and learn the dances of Korean groups and performed in places where teenagers gathered. However, at that time, the combination of stamping yard was relatively loose, and there was no formal market operation, which had little impact nationwide. At the beginning of 2002, the first street dance troupe-Beiwutang appeared in Beijing. Under the standardized management system and market development, Beiwutang has developed rapidly. On heroes by dancing? Become the most famous team in China street dance circle. Beiwutang is the representative of Beijing street dance. Its street dance style is comprehensive, and the level of break dance, crazy dance and new street dance is first-class in China. In addition, with a number of national competitions held in Beijing, Beijing has become a paradise for national hip-hop lovers with its leading cultural influence.

Except for the above three places, almost every place in the country? Stamping the yard can be seen from provincial capitals to wealthy towns and villages, among which Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Shenyang, Chongqing and Kunming are the most active places, and street dance has become the favorite fashion culture for teenagers. Nowadays, street dance in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities has begun to gradually establish its own style, innovate its own street dance culture, catch up with the world's advanced level, and it is no longer a dream to emerge in international competitions.

Why is street dance popular among teenagers in China and the world? First of all, we should start with the characteristics of street dance.

As we know, street dance is a kind of folk dance that was born in American black slums, and its birth environment is full of competition and confrontation. A poor, discriminated and forced by life, black youth must strive to be different and outstanding in his own dance in order to survive. Therefore, competition has become one of the inherent characteristics of street dance. Black dance has a tradition of natural freedom. They have no certain rules and can dance anytime and anywhere. Black people's liberation of their bodies has enabled them to accumulate rich body language. While we are still amazed and puzzled, they have created a huge dance system? Street dance. Therefore, free expression is another feature of street dance. Fighting dance is a form of competitive dance for street dancers. In the fighting dance, everyone wins the competition through innovative movements. For dancers, the freer they think, the more creative they are, and the more creative they are, the more they can win the competition. The characteristics of competition and freedom are unified here. It is the spiritual connotation of hip-hop to publicize personality, express oneself, dare to accept challenges and create what people can't. It conforms to the psychological and physiological characteristics of teenagers, so it is welcomed by teenagers all over the world.

On the other hand, as hip hop? As an important part of this fashion culture, hip-hop is popular among teenagers because of its popularity all over the world. ? Hip hop godfather? Affri card? Afrika Bambaataa said: Hip-hop represents the whole culture. rap, MC and DJ are all part of hip-hop culture, as are clothes and language. Break dancing, b-boy, b-girl, your behavior, walking, appearance and way of speaking are all hip-hop culture. Music, hip-hop music comes from all races, no matter what tone and rhythm, it is hip-hop. ? So hip-hop is not a simple combination of four elements. Nearly 40 years' development has made it a popular lifestyle in the world, even a spiritual symbol, representing the outlook on life of free expression, individuality, enjoyment and courage to challenge. Explosive head, fat pants, fighting dance, tattoo, sports shoes, club party? These are concrete manifestations, and all these things are organically combined to form a life. Hip-hop life is positive and everyone living in it is constantly exploring and improving one or more skills. In order to let more people hear or see his talent, he constantly breaks through the limitations of life, thus making the whole hip-hop culture more energetic. Looking back on ourselves, we can trace back to the past 20 years. Almost all our popular culture came from America. In the face of hip-hop culture backed by a strong economy and liberated ideology, there is no reason why teenagers all over the world should not be eager for it.

The development of street dance in China has begun to take shape, but its further development cannot be separated from the cultivation of cultural market. Obviously, the current cultural market pays far less attention to street dance.

On the one hand, China dance circles still treat hip-hop with a rather conservative concept and refuse to accept it. In fact, if you can accept jazz dance, the acceptance of street dance should not be a problem. Many people refuse to know hip-hop because they don't want to know hip-hop. What are the reasons why you don't want to know about hip hop? This is actually a question of concept, a question of learning attitude, and a question of how to treat all new popular cultures. Hip-hop is a young folk dance with its own aesthetics. Only by understanding it can we know its beauty and use it to make our life better. 1986 famous street dancers from new york were invited to the Tony award ceremony? Mr Wiggers. Performance, this is the first time underground dancers have stepped onto Broadway stage. Since then, street dance has often appeared in Broadway plays. At the end of 2002, the French musical Notre Dame was staged in the Great Hall of the People, in which we saw a lot of street dance moves. However, in the hip-hop craze that began in the second half of 2003 in China, many dance professionals who didn't pretend to understand appeared. They arrogantly and rashly abused hip-hop as a popular stunt. Tv is full of hip-hop plus aerobics, hip-hop plus folk dance and other appetizing works. I hope our director can put down his airs, learn modestly, have a responsible attitude towards others and his own art, and don't let such vulgar and ridiculous things happen.

On the other hand, commercial operators who see the market potential of street dance tamper with the form of street dance at will, making it a cover for making money. It has held two sessions sponsored by China Aerobics Association. National TV Street Dance Competition? This is a typical selling dog meat by hanging sheep's head. There is an essential difference between aerobics and street dance: as a kind of sports, aerobics aims at shaping physical beauty, and requires all its movements to conform to the natural movement form of human body except that it is not necessarily related to music. In aerobics, all anti-joint movements are strictly prohibited; Hip-hop is a kind of dance art, it doesn't have any? Material? Purpose, it is closely combined with music. Generally speaking, the action characteristics of street dance are: breaking through the limits of human body and creating what people can't. For traditional dance, the action of street dance is very strange. Many movements are incredible, or violate the form of human physiological movements, such as turning your head in break dancing, and many other anti-joint movements. Many people will feel that this is not harmonious and cannot determine where its aesthetic orientation is. But that's what street dancers do? Discordant? The act of expressing personality, transmission? I can. Can't you? Information, showing personal value. Discordant individual movements are connected by hip-hop dancers, expressed smoothly in the beat of music, and will also become harmonious. Because one of the rules of street dancers is to make incredible moves as much as possible, but to make people feel very natural, not deliberate. But the new hip-hop dance has become soft and flexible because it incorporates many traditional dance elements. However, grasping and controlling all kinds of distortions, deformations and folds of the body is still the key to dancing well. Many movements in street dance come from imitation. Hip-hop dancers imitate all kinds of social activities and working conditions of nature, animals and people, and even create the whole dance style. It is said that lock dance originally imitated the hand movements of nunchaku routines in martial arts; The famous movement of Bugaro dance? Old man? (the elderly) is an imitation of the walking form of the elderly; Animation is an imitation of the action of animated characters; Fighting step is imitating fighting? Another kind of imitation is that dancers imitate their own ideology. The best dancer dances with thoughts, not with actions. His action is to complete an idea in his mind. This is the highest level of hip-hop and all dances.

And aerobics steals the name of street dance and packages itself as? Fitness street dance? Say hip-hop Pop street dance? , but also created a series of what? Pedal hip hop? Light equipment street dance? Here come these incredible nouns. I believe that if yangko is very popular in the youth market one day, they will dress themselves up as? Fitness yangko? , the somebody else? Popular yangko? Yes In the fitness center, there are so-called everywhere? Street dance? Coach, and invited some unknown foreign coaches to teach in the fitness center? Street dance? . In fact, they only teach a few simple street dance aerobics, and their street dance level is not as good as stamping the yard in the street. In the commercial society, it is natural to make money. However, it is not a glorious thing to make money with such China characteristics, and it is also a wrong guide for young people who seldom like dancing in China, causing great harm.

From the United States to China, the development of street dance has experienced twists and turns for more than 30 years. Although hip-hop has created brilliance again and again in Japan, it has made Americans sit up and take notice; Hip-hop has become a national sport in South Korea and won one champion after another in the world, but it is still in its infancy in China and will be destroyed beyond recognition at any time. Youth culture is the most dynamic and potential culture. We should not and cannot suppress or change their cultural tastes. We can only adopt a respectful attitude, be ashamed to ask questions and learn with an open mind. Only in this way can it help to develop its commercial value, make it develop in the right direction, and finally form a vigorous and healthy youth cultural market, which will benefit everyone.

;