This week, JP Lime’ own Scholar, via poetry, touches on why August is especially important in hip hop history.
As briefly covered in our upcoming August 2015 Rap Flashback, August 11th, 1973 in many circles is considered the unofficial birth of Hip Hop. To summarize, the legendary founding father of Hip Hop, DJ Kool Herc deejay’d his sister’s birthday party on this date to a much larger crowd than he had previously played for in the past. Having mastered break beat technique, where he used two turntables to switch back and forth between the same record (as opposed to the traditional dual turntable switch from one record to another), Kool Herc made quite the impression at this particular gig.
As History.com puts it, “by the summer of 1973, DJ Kool Herc had been using and refining his break-beat style for the better part of a year. His sister’s party on August 11, however, put him before his biggest crowd ever and with the most powerful sound system he’d ever worked. It was the success of that party that would begin a grassroots musical revolution, fully six years before the term “hip hop” even entered the popular vocabulary.” It is with that in mind, to celebrate yet another glorious year in Hip Hop’s timeline, that I offer some lyrics from many moons ago. Simply titled “Why I Write”, this particular verse in many ways embodies how I feel about Rap music and why I’ve immersed myself in not just the music, but Hip Hop culture as a whole. Thank you Kool Herc, happy birthday Hip Hop, and please enjoy.
Why do I write?
To pick fights with the likes of cats who attack, and might cap if I don’t clap faster…
I might…
Pick up my notebook and write ‘em a rhyme so in time I’m in the minds of all of these rat bastards…
I vent…
Thoughts and emotions, all my energies channeled, travelin’ through my blood…
Visions of a scholarly thug…
Represent…
Though I’m livin’ in an age of war, I was raised poor, so constantly I’m strivin’ for more…
Get the hint?
I am The One, style’s hotter than suns, outshinin’ the moon / Ignorance, she’s meeting her doom…
‘Cause At last…
We have a savior for Hip Hop’s past…
Reinventin’ the present, stressin’ all the lessons I’ve had…
Over the years…
Picked ’em up ‘cause my eyes weren’t shut…
How the media is biased and will drive you nuts…
And sincerely yours, I don’t give a f*ck anymore…
If you’re clearly poor, what is it that you have to live for?
All your peers out to get you, the come-up is ruthless…
The struggle kills gradually, the hood’s living proof…
‘Cause in the hood many dudes are toothless / our youth are out to get each other…
Sets killin’ sisters and brothers…
But I Still Love H.E.R.
I write so I can keep her alive…
‘Cause many other cats abuse her, they paint her demise…
But all the thug sh*t, it ain’t in her eyes…
When I stare into her soul…
I can see clearly that her heart is of gold…
That’s Why I write…
Leave A Comment