Abstract
This paper discusses the hip-hop culture that originated in the United States in response to the oppression of African-Americans. This paper explains that this art form is therefore deeply integrated with the social consciousness from which it arose. The paper examines how other cultures adopted this art form and then illustrates the subsequent implications.

From the Paper
"On the surface, there are four physical aspects that can be attributed to hip-hop as a culture. These include deejaying, breakdancing, graffiti and rhyming. These, according to, Richardson, are not the heart of the culture. Instead, the central message is the platform from which the technical, teachable aspects arise. The message relates directly to the struggle, the poverty, the oppression and the hardship suffered by the African Americans who were refused the rights of other Americans as a result of their skin color. This is a very specific group of people who created a specific culture. The technical aspects merely exist as an outlet for a specific kind of creativity."

Tags:graffiti, deejaying, breakdancing