About Us

Hip hop was born on August 11, 1973, when DJ Kool Herc threw a back to school party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York. Armed with two turntables and a killer sound system, Herc pioneered the “breakbeat” technique, looping the funkiest parts of records to keep the crowd moving. This historic night didn’t just spark a party—it ignited a cultural revolution, giving rise to a movement built on four elements: DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti. What started in the Bronx would soon spread across New York City and beyond, setting the foundation for one of the most influential genres in the world.

By the 1980s, hip hop exploded into the mainstream with acts like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys breaking barriers on MTV and radio. Run-DMC’s Raising Hell and their groundbreaking collaboration with Aerosmith on “Walk This Way” brought hip hop to suburban America, proving it wasn’t just a street movement, it was a global phenomenon in the making. The 80s also introduced socially conscious rappers like Public Enemy, whose politically charged anthems challenged authority and gave a voice to the unheard. Hip hop had evolved from park jams to platinum records, and there was no turning back.

The 1990s took hip hop to another level, ushering in the era of gangsta rap with pioneers like N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, and The Notorious B.I.G. Their raw lyrics reflected the harsh realities of life in urban America while shaping the sound and attitude of an entire generation. As the East Coast/West Coast rivalry dominated headlines, artists like Nas, Jay-Z, Outkast, and Missy Elliott pushed boundaries, blending storytelling with innovation. By the 2000s and beyond, hip hop had transcended music, influencing fashion, language, politics, and pop culture worldwide. From Kool Herc’s Bronx block party to billion-dollar empires, hip hop’s journey is proof that what started as an underground movement is now the heartbeat of global culture.