This might not be the most refreshing or controversial take, but the core elements of hip-hop have been lost in the corporate shuffle of the genre’s rising star. These core elements have been dissected and discussed since the genre’s birth, but generally speaking, the four pillars of hip-hop are emceeing, DJing, B-Boying, and Graffiti. While some of the new generations survive traditions, the essence of what they mean to the culture has been lost, especially the much-needed but largely unspoken fifth element: knowledge of the history of Hip-hop. While many of the artists from the Golden Age have achieved longevity and continue to be discussed among young hip-hop fans, the art of DJing and B-Boying have found their way into other avenues of pop culture, and Hip-hop never seems to get the credit it deserves.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we take a look at a collection of performances that put each of hip-hop’s core elements front and center. In 1987, Jive Records put on a showcase of some of their leading hip-hop acts at the time, and the lineup was a sight to see. Steady B, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool Moe Dee all made an appearance and stayed true to Hip-hop’s core values. The performance was aired on the iconic Ralph McDaniel’s Video Music Box program, a TV show that ended up being a launching pad for many beloved artists of the Hip-hop golden era. The nostalgic video acts as a reminder of how far Hip-hop has come and the importance of remembering how it all started.
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