B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance

Hip hop music is a musical genre that developed as part of hip hop culture, and is defined by four key stylistic elements

Prior to the 1980s, hip hop music was largely confined within the context of the United States.

The new school of hip hop was the second wave of hip hop music, originating in 1983–84 with the early records of Run-D.M.C. and LL Cool J. As with the hip hop preceding it, the new school came predominately from New York City

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Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of inner-city American black youths.

In 1990, MC Hammer hit mainstream success with the multi platinum album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.

In the late 1990s, the styles of hip hop diversified.

The popularity of hip hop music continued through the 2000s.

Crunk originated from southern hip hop in the late 1990s. 

Starting in 2005, sales of hip hop music in the United States began to severely wane, leading Time magazine to question if mainstream hip-hop was "dying."

It was in the later 2000s that alternative hip hop finally secured a place within the mainstream

Hip hop's "golden age" (or "golden era") is a name given to a period in mainstream hip hop—usually cited as between the mid 1980s and the mid 1990s—said to be characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence.

The 1980s marked the diversification of hip hop as the genre developed more complex styles.

The first hip hop recording is widely regarded to be The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight", from 1979.

Hip hop music was both influenced by disco and a backlash against it.

William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), known by his stage names Rakim (or simply Ra), Rakim Allah, R.A.K.I.M., and The Master, is a legendary hip hop artist.

Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997) was an American rapper

Christopher Lee Carlos Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was a Puerto Rican rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s.

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his stage names 2Pac (or simply Pac) and Makaveli, was an American hip hop artist.

The roots of hip hop are found in African-American music and ultimately African music.

Creation of the term hip hop

hip hop