Origins of Hip-Hop

Hip-hop was not born in a day. In fact, its influences go way back to the first spoken word poets and original storytellers of the times. In this episode, The Godfather of West Coast hip-hop Lonzo Williams and journalist Davey D return to discuss The Watts Prophets, The Last Poets, and influences of street culture on the birth of hip-hop. Plus, former radio DJ turned station owner Greg Mack talks about the gangs and pimp culture that shaped what is hip-hop then and now. So, get a pen and pad because we’re tracing hip-hop’s lineage in this episode.

As hip-hop began to spread its wings in the 70s and 80s, breaking into mainstream media was the logical next step. Getting a record deal and radio play was the goal for many emerging artists, but they soon found that the industry was not all it was cracked up to be. Legendary hip-hop pioneer Melle Mel joins Caz to talk about “The Message” and the peaks and pitfalls of the music industry. Plus, Sha Rock returns to tell her story about being in one of the first groups to get a record deal and the struggles that came with it. So keep your ears open because we’re delivering cautionary tales and triumphs in this episode.

The gold chain has been a statement piece in music for decades, from the disco era to the days of funk and soul. When artists like Run DMC and Kurtis Blow started flaunting chains on their album covers, it symbolized a certain status and bravado that shifted fashion forever. In this episode, Caz sits down with the godfather of West Coast hip-hop Lonzo Williams and jeweler Avi Malidani with returning guest Dr. Ebony Utley to talk about the importance and evolution of the chain in hip-hop fashion. Plus, breakers Rokafella and Kwikstep tell Caz about their firsthand experience seeing fashion’s impact on the culture, from the function of a zip-up hoodie on the street side cardboard to the flash and style of Adidas tracksuits in a b-boy pose. Rock your flyest outfit because we’re stuntin’ for the culture in this episode.

Hip-Hop began in the Bronx but quickly spread across the country and the world. In this episode, Davey D and Jeff Chang are back to talk about the spread of hip-hop from the east coast to the west coast, and all the places in between. Plus, Busy Bee rejoins Caz to recount their journey from the Bronx to Japan and how they brought the foundations of hip-hop around the world. Grab your ticket because hip-hop is going global on this track.

Just as Motown influenced the Civil Rights Movement, hip-hop has been a tool for resistance against the ruling class in The Bronx and worldwide. In this episode, Dr. Ebony Utley and Author Jeff Chang return to talk about how hip-hop and social justice coincide in our communities and the strides they have yet to make. From Black Power to Black Lives Matter, they break down how hip-hop can create economic equality and be an agent for change, while Caz and MC Sha Rock tell us how hip-hop pushed against the status quo with something so organic as a party.

Mind-altering substances have always had an influence on popular culture and music, but for hip-hop it wasn’t just in the music. In the late ‘70s and ‘80s drugs were in communities and homes all around the city. As the epidemic tore through the Bronx, hip-hop was an escape and way for people to tell their stories. In this episode Caz invites scholar and author Jeff Chang to talk about the role drugs have played in hip-hop music and culture in the Bronx, walking us through the evolution of substance use and hip-hop through time. Legendary MC Busy Bee and Sha Rock return to talk about their personal experiences and how they rose above and beyond the strife with hip-hop at their side.If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse or a mental health disorder, call the SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit https://www.samhsa.gov/ for free, confidential treatment referral and information, 24/7