hip-hop

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The Empire State Building rises in the background above a colorful graffiti-covered wall under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

A young man performs a breakdancing move balanced on one hand on a mat in Washington Square Park, New York, as a group of spectators watches in the early 1980s.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

DJ Kool Herc sits on a leather bench in a patterned blue outfit and sunglasses, holding a blue street sign reading Hip Hop Blvd, with red lighting in the background.

Afrika Bambaataa

Gil Scott-Heron, smiling in a black cap and T-shirt, clasps hands with rapper Common, who wears a green shirt, backstage at Central Park SummerStage in New York.

The Last Poets-Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Nilaja Obabi, and Umar Bin Hassan-pose closely together for a black-and-white portrait in New York City around 1970.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

The Sugarhill Gang performs on stage at the Apollo Theater, with three members holding microphones and a DJ in the background, under bright stage lights and in front of a graffiti set.

hip-hop: Media

music and cultural movement

Images

Public Enemy

Public Enemy

American rap group Public Enemy, 1988.

© Ilpo Musto/REX/Shutterstock.com

The Empire State Building rises in the background above a colorful graffiti-covered wall under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

Graffiti

The Empire State Building towering over a wall of graffiti in New York City.

© Sam Cornwell/Shutterstock.com

A young man performs a breakdancing move balanced on one hand on a mat in Washington Square Park, New York, as a group of spectators watches in the early 1980s.

Break dancing

A B-boy break dancing in Washington Square Park, New York City, c. 1980s.

Leo Vals—Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Seminal rap group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five posing in New York City...

© Hemu Aggarwal—Archive Photos/Getty Images

DJ Kool Herc sits on a leather bench in a patterned blue outfit and sunglasses, holding a blue street sign reading Hip Hop Blvd, with red lighting in the background.

DJ Kool Herc

Jamaican American deejay Kool Herc, 2019.

Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa is seen in a scene from Beat Street, a 1984 American dance...

© RGR Collection/Alamy

Gil Scott-Heron, smiling in a black cap and T-shirt, clasps hands with rapper Common, who wears a green shirt, backstage at Central Park SummerStage in New York.

Gil Scott-Heron and Common

Musician and poet Gil-Scott Heron (left) and rapper Common at Central Park SummerStage...

© Jack Vartoogian—Archive Photos/Getty Images

The Last Poets-Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Nilaja Obabi, and Umar Bin Hassan-pose closely together for a black-and-white portrait in New York City around 1970.

The Last Poets

The Last Poets circa 1970 (from left): Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Nilaja Obabi, and Umar...

© Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

American hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five performing on the music...

ITV/Shutterstock.com

The Sugarhill Gang performs on stage at the Apollo Theater, with three members holding microphones and a DJ in the background, under bright stage lights and in front of a graffiti set.

Old-school forever

The Sugarhill Gang performing at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York, March 9, 1990.

Al Pereira—Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Icons of '90s hip-hop

Icons of '90s hip-hop

(Left to right) Tupac Shakur, M.C. Hammer, and Snoop Dogg representing the West Coast...

© Jim Smeal—Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

Ice-T performs on stage wearing a red cap, a black England football jersey, and a large cross necklace, holding a microphone to his mouth.

Ice-T

American rapper Ice-T, 2001.

© Emma Harris—PA Images/Getty Images

Sandra Denton (Pepa), left, and Cheryl Wray (Salt) of Salt-n-Pepa perform on stage with microphones, wearing black outfits and silver jewelry.

Salt-N-Pepa

Sandra Denton (left) and Cheryl James of the American rap group Salt-N-Pepa performing...

Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Queen Latifah smiles at the camera, wearing a black jacket with white lapels and a large jeweled heart necklace at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

Queen Latifah

American rapper and actress Queen Latifah, 2023.

© Lionel Hahn/Getty Images

Sandra Denton, DJ Spinderella, and Cheryl James of Salt-n-Pepa pose together on the red carpet at the 2016 MTV Movie & TV Awards in Burbank, California.

Salt-N-Pepa

American rap group Salt-N-Pepa at the 2016 MTV Movie & TV Awards in Burbank, California,...

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott

American rapper Missy Elliott, 2005.

Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment

Lauryn Hill

Lauryn Hill

American singer Lauryn Hill performing for MTV Unplugged at the MTV Studios...

Darla Khazei—AP/Shutterstock.com

Mary J. Blige wearing a white sleeveless dress and large hoop earrings, with short blonde hair styled in a side-swept bob, posing in front of a blue backdrop.

“Queen of Hip-Hop Soul”

Singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige in 2007.

© Featureflash/Dreamstime.com

Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion

American rapper Megan Thee Stallion performing at Coachella Valley Music and Arts...

Matt Cowan/Shutterstock.com

Doja Cat performs on stage wearing a blue and orange costume, smiling with arms raised, holding a microphone, against a vivid pink and black background at Coachella 2022.

Doja Cat

American rapper and singer Doja Cat performing at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts...

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

SZA smiles on the red carpet wearing a sheer dress with colorful floral accents at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

SZA

Musical artist SZA attending the 64th Annual Grammy Awards on April 3, 2022, in Las...

Frazier Harrison/Getty Images

Lizzo stands onstage in a metallic dress, holding a Grammy trophy and speaking into a microphone after winning Record of the Year at the 65th Grammy Awards.

Lizzo

Singer, rapper, and flutist Lizzo accepting the Grammy Award for record of the year...

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast perform on stage, both wearing hats and stylish outfits, with women seated on red couches in the background at the Soul Train Music Awards.

OutKast

Big Boi (left) and Andre 3000 of OutKast performing at the Soul Train Music Awards...

© Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Kendrick Lamar performs on stage atop a police car with flashing lights, singing into a microphone, during the 2015 BET Awards.

Kendrick Lamar

American rapper Kendrick Lamar performing at the BET Awards, June 28, 2015.

© Mark Davis—BET/Getty Images

Lil Wayne performs on stage wearing a white t-shirt, camouflage shorts, and a black cap, holding a microphone and pointing toward the audience under concert lighting.

Lil Wayne, 2013

American rapper Lil Wayne emerged as one of the top hip-hop artists of the early...

© Randy Miramontez/Dreamstime.com

Beyonce and Jay-Z holding hands while performing on stage, Beyonce in a black bodysuit and thigh-high boots, Jay-Z in a jacket and pants, with blue stage lighting behind them.

Power couple JAY-Z and Beyoncé

JAY-Z and Beyoncé performing during their On the Run II tour, Glasgow, Scotland,...

Kevin Mazur—Parkwood Entertainment/Getty Images

Rapper Juice WRLD performs on stage wearing a black jersey with the number 99, holding a microphone, with purple lighting and tree branches in the background.

Juice WRLD

American rapper Juice WLRD, 2018.

Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

Bad Bunny performs onstage wearing pink sunglasses, a red vest, and tie-dye shirt, holding a microphone against a colorful, smoky background.

Bad Bunny

Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Bad Bunny performing at the Made in America Festival,...

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre stand together in suits at an event, posing in front of a backdrop with Shady National Convention text.

Three rappers

50 Cent, Eminem, and Dr. Dre arriving at the Shady National Convention to launch...

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Timbaland performs on stage holding a microphone, wearing a gray suit and black shirt, against a dark background.

Timbaland

American rapper Timbaland, 2008.

Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

Kanye West, dressed in a white suit with large angel wings, stands on stage with one arm raised as audience members reach up toward him during a performance of Jesus Walks.

Kanye West

American rapper Kanye West performing at the 47th annual Grammy Awards, 2005.

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

K. Dubb stands speaking while Atlanta rapper T.I. sits on an ornate black and gold chair onstage, with a large screen behind them displaying Trap Muzik in bold letters.

Trap music rises

Comedian K. Dubb (left) and Atlanta rapper T.I. (seated) speaking at T.I. Hosts 20th...

© Nykieria Chaney/Getty Images

Singer M.I.A., visibly pregnant, wears a sheer black dress with large white polka dots and sunglasses while speaking into a microphone on stage.

M.I.A.

British-born Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A. at the 51st annual Grammy Awards, 2009.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Drake performs onstage wearing a black shirt and diamond necklace, holding a microphone, with blue stage lighting in the background.

Drake

Canadian rapper Drake

© Prince Williams—WireImage/Getty Images

Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper

American rapper, singer, and songwriter Chance the Rapper (Chancelor Jonathan Bennett)...

Richard Isaac—REX/Shutterstock.com

Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator of the band Odd Future performs a surprise set at Fader Fort by...

© Roger Kisby/Getty Images

Cardi B sings into a microphone onstage, wearing a pink and white corset outfit, with dancers and a large number 5 visible in the background.

Cardi B

American rapper Cardi B during a promotional concert for the movie F9: The Fast...

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Entertainment

Bad Bunny stands onstage in a black coat and hat with cat ears, holding a Grammy Award and placing his hand on his chest as he accepts his award.

Bad Bunny

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny accepting the Grammy for best latin pop or urban album...

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment

Four members of Bro MCs, wearing face masks, casual streetwear, and sneakers, pose on a hilltop with Rio de Janeiro's mountains and bay visible in the background.

Brô MC's

Indigenous rap group Brô MC's during a promotional photoshoot in Rio de Janeiro on...

© CARL DE SOUZA—AFP/Getty Images

Saint Levant

Saint Levant

Palestinian singer and rapper Saint Levant.

© Nina Westervelt—Billboard/Getty Images

Stormzy performs on stage wearing a black vest with a white Union Jack design, holding a microphone and extending his arm under blue stage lights at Glastonbury Festival.

Stormzy

British rapper Stormzy, wearing a stab-proof vest emblazoned with a Union Jack designed...

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj performs on stage wearing a gold crown, a neon green studded jacket, and a pink and blonde wig, holding a pink microphone during her Pink Friday tour in London.

Nicki Minaj

Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress Nicki Minaj, 2012.

Jim Dyson—Redferns/Getty Images

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