Reading Rhymester Utamaru's Introduction to 'Rap History' (1) [1973–Early 1980s]

◇ Rap has a birthday.

August 11, 1973: A public housing complex at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Morris Heights neighborhood of the West Bronx, New York.

The creator: A Jamaican immigrant named DJ Kool Herc.

The invention of breakbeats: It started with the idea, 'If I have two copies of the same record and keep playing just the exciting parts, couldn't people keep dancing?'

Hip-hop wasn't about social criticism or anything like that; it was born from the mindset of wanting to liven up a party.

◇ A major historical event: The 1977 New York City blackout led to an increase in DJs.

Why did the number of DJs increase because of a blackout?

Because they stole the equipment!!!! Many hip-hop stars would be born from this generation.

◇ 1979: Rap becomes profitable.

The main focus was still the party, and there wasn't really a sense of 'works' or 'songs.' However, a woman named Sylvia Robinson, with the attitude of 'I hear rap is popular. Isn't there anyone who can rap?', gathered three people at random. They included a pizza delivery guy, people walking by, and someone who came up saying 'I can do it too' while they were singing.

The group formed that way was The Sugarhill Gang, and the song was 'Rapper's Delight.' It's truly cool. Even listening to it now, it doesn't sound old at all.

This song became a hit, proving it could sell, and then Curtis Blow released the first song on a major label, 'The Breaks.'

◇ The early 1980s, known as the Old School era.

It became established as a genre for livening up parties. At the time, it felt more like 'local reports from the ghetto' rather than gangsta rap.

Representative songs include Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's 'The Message.' The song that the woman behind the scenes of hip-hop reluctantly made them record—demanding they create a serious song with a message—became a legend.

Afrika Bambaataa's 'Planet Rock' is famous for introducing the drum machine commonly known as the 808. It also showed foresight in demonstrating that all genres could be opened up in the DJ booth.

◆ I had it in my head that hip-hop was strongly message-oriented and about rhyming well, but it turns out it was originally 'for livening up parties.' That means maybe not only music like Zeebra's is hip-hop, but Rip Slyme might also be perfectly mainstream hip-hop.

There is a movie from the early 1980s, the Old School era, called 'Flashdance.' The sneakers worn by the breakdancers in it are too cool. Rather than wearing them carefully and keeping them pristine, 'wearing them out' is what sneakers are really for. I want to wear sneakers without being bound by premiums or prices.

By listening to early hip-hop music, you can clearly understand what the source is. Bass lines, drums, two discs. Rhymester also once MC'd at the Budokan, saying, 'We have to show the basics of hip-hop more.'

Lately, my day begins with heavy rotation of The Sugarhill Gang.

I want to live my life moving to the rhythm and swaying my body with the same sense of speed as them.