Hip-Hop Is History

On August 11, 1973, rhetoric and rhyme were reborn in the form of rap through isolated sounds or breakbeats, performed at the time by none other than DJ Kool Herc. As a connoisseur of music, drummer, and record producer, Questlove, also known as Ahmir Thompson, nostalgically narrates the history of the movement through a timeline that depicts related gritty, soulful, iconic facts from a long-standing arc influenced by U.S. culture. In full swag (a bold, self-assured, sense of confidence), he imparts knowledge of the powerful genre, intermixed with its ripple effects in culture, music, art, and even fashion. This work examines the impact of hip-hop from the west, east, and southern coasts on life in the United States, through conspiracy theories, truths, collaborations, and group changes, and rifts, with snippets of beats to set the tone. Beginning with 1973, the work takes listeners through decades of entertainment filled with the sounds of innovation, achievement, and true music artistry, allowing them to experience lyrics filled with the energy of the streets, political warfare, taboo words, and a language of their own. Don’t miss the epilogue, which introduces Questlove’s vision of future hip-hop through 2073.