Explanatory Writing by Jaemin
Hiphop has become one of the most popular music genres. However, hiphop does not refer to music genres but rather to a culture. There are four main aspects of this culture: MCing, DJing, B-boying, and Graffiti.
MCing, which is rapping itself, is the most well-known part of hiphop. To explain, the word MC stands for "Microphone Checker," but sometimes people account it as "Move the Crowd" to mention a great MC. There are three main factors of MCing: rhyme, flow, and message. Rhyming is very important to MC. Proper use of rhyme bestows an MCing rhythm. Here is an example:
"He robbed another and another and a sister and a brother, tried to rob a man who was DT undercover" - from Slick Rick's "Children's Story"
There are rhymes between "another" and "brother," and even "undercover," whith little change in pronounciation, making rhyme with "another" and "brother." Rhymes mak ea song rhythmical. Flow is difficult to be explained; it is a combination of mood and emotion of MCing. Great MCs have their own flows. Finally, all rap contains messages. Unlike other songs, rap has long verses and is very liberal in expression. Therefore, rap delivers a important message, such as a social message, easily.
As there is a conductor in an orchestra, there is a DJ for MCs and B-boys. DJing, which is also known as turntabling, has a role of a conductor in an orchestra. MCs MC and B-boys dance for the DJs. However, these days, DJing is often performed alone. DJs (DJ stands for Disk Jockey) train expert skills and develop their own skills. DJing is becoming a genre of music itself.
Many people might be surprised by a B-boys' performance because B-boys seem as if they float in the air. B-boy's "B" stands for break-dance. There are three kinds of dances in B-boying: breaking, popping, and locking. Breaking is the most well-known kind of B-boying. It is similar to acrobatics. Popping is dance that uses joints. Dancers move their joints separately to the rhythm. Locking is a dance with exaggerated movement. Unlike DJing, B-boying became independent very early on. B-boys, who danced for the MCs originally, have made their own position. They hold BOTY (Battle Of The Year) annually and compete their skills.
Many people might not be able to find direct connections between graffiti and hiphop, but graffiti is a part of the hiphop culture. Many graffiti artists express themselves and their crews through graffiti. Although graffiti artists are not very famous yet, many graffiti artists make crews and show wide activities.
Hiphop, which originated from African-Americans, has now become world-wide culture, and is still increasing its influence. It is combined with other cultures or activities such as basketball. Teenagers who wear so-called 'hiphop fashion' demonstrate how popular this culture is.