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What started in the 70's with a few DJ's playing music for parties has exploded into the culture of hip hop. To celebrate African American History month, the Multicultural Resource Center at Missouri State University in Springfield will host a program this Friday, that examines the evolution of hip hop. KSMU's Emily Nash has the details
What started as a style of music has turned into a world wide culture.
This Friday, Missouri State University students will present a program focused on the evolution of hip hop.
Rosalyn Richberg is a senior majoring in creative writing and communications at Missouri State and helped plan the program.
She says hip hop is a lot more than the music you hear on the radio.
"When we talk about hip hop, we are talking about not only that, but the graffiti aspect, but the break dancing aspect, the underground hip hop that a lot of people do not hear."
Friday's program will feature demonstrations of the different dimensions of hip hop culture, like break dancing and rap.
It will also explain how hip hop has changed over the last 40 years.
Richberg says Springfield doesn't lack hip hop culture, but says it's often misunderstood.
"I see hip hop in Springfield, I see murals down town, there are all types of poetry, outlets, an that's basically what rap music is it's a form of poetry, so you know, its actually just time to bring that out more in this city I think, and I think this city will really benefit from that. You know actually getting an understand of what hip hop his."
Some people might associate hip hop with negative ideas or a violent culture.
But students say hip hop culture is meant to express and reflect real life issues.
Charlotte Hardin is the assistant vice president for multicultural programs and student diversity at Missouri State.
She says hip hop culture is here to stay.
"You know at the beginning a lot of people just thought it was a fly by night. That it would not be sustainable. And I think that that has definitely been proven wrong. I think Hip Hop is here to stay, and you know it will continuously evolve and change, but I think it will continue to be a very important part of the pop culture and modern day culture, but now it is a part of our history."
"The Evolution of Hip Hop" will be held Friday at 7pm in the Plaster Student Union Theater on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.
For more information about African American History month events, we have a link on our web site at KSMU.ORG.
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