The Case:
A hip hop enthusiast from New York City has always heard that 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx is the birthplace of hip hop.
The story goes that on August 11, 1973 DJ Kool Herc, a building resident, was entertaining at his sister’s back-to-school party, and tried something new on the turntable: he extended an instrumental beat (breaking or scratching) to let people dance longer (break dancing) and began MC’ing (rapping) during the extended breakdancing.
This, the contributor believes, marked the birth of hip hop. The music led to an entire cultural movement that’s altered generational thinking – from politics and race to art and language.
History Detectives sets out to examine an inner city environment that helped lay the foundation for a cultural revolution.
Related Content
Feature:
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also in Season 6
Bonus Army Stamp
Is this stamp connected to a moment when the U.S. Army fought fellow soldiers in the nation’s capital?
-
Related Investigation
Silent Film Reel
Could this film reel could be a silent movie once lost forever to history?
-
Related Investigation
Josh White Guitar
What role did this guitar play in the transformation of the music industry in the 1960's?
-
Also in Season 7
Crazy Horse Photo
Is this the only photograph of a Native American legend?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Seadrome
Did floating airports dot the Atlantic before modern air travel?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Vicksburg Map
Could this mysterious map have been at the front lines of one of the most explosive battles of the Civil War?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.