Hip-hop is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, but how did it develop into what it is today? And furthermore, how did it become the No. 1 most-consumed type of music across the globe? The latest episode of Billboard Explains dives into the origins of the genre.
To get to the core of rap music, one should start in New York City. In the 1970s, block parties became a staple for several communities throughout the city, and DJs started making popular dance breaks in music tracks through a dual turntable system and mixer in order to keep parties going. DJ Kool Herc formally established the genre on Aug. 11, 1973, at…
