Fifty years on and hip-hop is at last receiving the recognition it deserves.
Born in 1973 at a house party held in the Bronx in New York City, the genre known for its playful, potent wordplay and innovative musical accompaniments is, arguably, the most popular sound of today. Transforming the lives of generations of African-American artists born in economically disenfranchised communities, hip-hop attracted fans from the world over with anthems expressing local concerns.
This year the popular genre celebrated its jubilee with various events, from the Grammy Awards and Billboard Awards, to a giant open-air concert at New York’s Yankee Stadium featuring pioneers Run DMC, The Sugar Hill Gang, Slick Rick and Lauryn Hill.
Meanwhile, a large hip-hop museum is being built in New York. After a ground-breaking ceremony in 2021, the reported $349 million facility is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and will feature memorabilia and artists' testimonies tracking the genre's evolution.
This month, the celebration extended to Dubai as part of the Sole DXB music and culture festival.
With the latest iteration marking the milestone, The National spoke to some of hip-hop’s most influential artists and thought leaders in attendance about how hip-hop will evolve over the next 50 years.
Revered rapper Big Daddy Kane
Big Daddy Kane, viewed as one of hip-hop's first stars, is regarded as "the rapper's rapper" and released the seminal tracks Smooth Operator and Ain’t No Half Steppin'.
The latter 1988 song is one of the most influential rap songs to date.
The complex rhyme scheme, peppered with clever metaphors and stylish narrative influenced generations of artists such as Jay-Z and Nas.
While pleased with hip-hop’s stature as a cultural force, Kane says the genre can maintain that status only if new generations of artists focus more on the quality of their work.
“While in hip-hop today being a lyrical MC is no longer a necessity, I would like to see more well-rounded artists,” he says.
“By that I mean an artist who knows how to make hit records, one that’s focused on what they are saying on the record as opposed to the hook.
“And one that has the kind of look where his fan base wants to dress like them. These abilities will give an artist the longevity to stay in the game.”
Author Vikki Tobak
For more than two decades Vikki Tobak had a front-row seat watching hip-hop's growth, having started her career working for a music label before serving as superstar Jay-Z’s first publicist and then moving into journalism and writing hip-hop history books.
Her latest title, The Streets Win: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Greatness, a collaboration with rapper LL Cool J and author Alec Banks, features first-person career recollection and rare images from genre giants such as DJ Kool Herc, Eminem and Beastie Boys.
Other works include 2018’s Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop, featuring rare outtakes from more than 100 era-defining photoshoots, alongside interviews and essays from industry legends.
Where those books focused on hip-hop’s journey from its origins in New York to Los Angeles, Tobak says the genre has become so international that future discussions regarding its place in US pop-culture will become redundant.
“What hip-hop did was allow people the freedom to be themselves unapologetically and this defining idea is bigger than all of us or any location. This is why you see it being embraced internationally and particularly now in Africa, in places like Nigeria and Ghana, where their unique scenes are informed by hip-hop,” she says.
“Hip-hop is always tied to youth culture so if you ask me where the next capital of hip-hop will be, my answer will be it is wherever young people are creating something new.”
Radio host Big Hass
The Arab world is well placed to be one of hip-hop's global citadels, says Big Hass, providing there is a better understanding of its history.
As the host of pioneering Saudi radio programme Laish Hip-Hop, which celebrated its 12th anniversary this year, Hass – full name Hassan Dennaoui – says the Arabic hip-hop scene is yet to embrace other fundamental facets of the genre.
"One of the biggest things we have to understand is that hip-hop is not only rap – it's a wider culture that also incorporates break dancing and DJing," he says.
"These elements are missing here and we need to do a better job to let people know that there is more to the culture than that."
That said, Arabic hip-hop is fast becoming the most popular form of popular music with artists such as Egypt's Marwan Pablo and Wegz routinely topping regional streaming charts with new releases.
While pleased at the growing recognition, Hass hopes that increasing commercialisation doesn't come at the expense of the fire and passion that made Arabic hip-hop initially so refreshing when it emerged two decades ago.
"At the beginning Arabic hip-hop sounded mostly angry because it dealt mostly with the social issues of the time and now it's moved on to sound more light and fun” he says.
“While I understand that things have to evolve, my personal hope for the future is that Arabic hip-hop doesn’t totally lose that fiery passion that inspired so many of us in the first place.”
Rapper Oddisee
As someone who fluidly melds hip-hop with elements of jazz, funk and even some go-go, American Sudanese rapper Oddisee is predicting the music’s future will sound more eclectic.
“The biggest testament to hip-hop's popularity is that it no longer sounds specifically American,” he says.
“What I have seen is the music evolve from this niche New York sound to becoming international.
“With the invention of subgenres like trap, drill and crunk music, for example, you are seeing more people adding their own cultures to the mix.
“That's why now we are seeing all these new genres coming that are influenced by hip-hop, like Afrobeats and Amapiano from Africa. It’s all going to sound even more globalised in the future.”
Looking forward with hip-hop's subcultures
For all the talk of hip-hop’s future, the New York artist Joey Bada$$ hopes the genre’s stars don’t have to wait another 50 years to receive their acclaim.
"Hip-hop is in an incredible place and, like rock'n'roll, it has created a lot of subgenres – it's so inherently innovative that it will continue on that trajectory," he says.
"But unlike rock'n'roll, hip-hop artists are not honoured in the same way in award shows. Different rock'n'roll genres and different subgenres are awarded, while hip-hop is still limited to one or two very specific awards.
“I would love to see the different branches of this music get the same recognition in the future.”
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
RACECARD
6pm Emaar Dubai Sprint – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (Turf) 1,200m
6.35pm Graduate Stakes – Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.10pm Al Khail Trophy – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,810m
7.45pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 2,000m
8.55pm Downtown Dubai Cup – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 1,400m
9.30pm Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
10.05pm Dubai Sprint – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Results
5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
If you go
Flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh with a stop in Yangon from Dh3,075, and Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Phnom Penh with its partner Bangkok Airlines from Dh2,763. These trips take about nine hours each and both include taxes. From there, a road transfer takes at least four hours; airlines including KC Airlines (www.kcairlines.com) offer quick connecting flights from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville from about $100 (Dh367) return including taxes. Air Asia, Malindo Air and Malaysian Airlines fly direct from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville from $54 each way. Next year, direct flights are due to launch between Bangkok and Sihanoukville, which will cut the journey time by a third.
The stay
Rooms at Alila Villas Koh Russey (www.alilahotels.com/ kohrussey) cost from $385 per night including taxes.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
The%20specs
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