Part A: The Big 3 Pioneers
- What was the music that influenced and inspired DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash? What records did they play during early hip hop performances?
2 . How were their musical inspirations reflective of their families and local communities?
Resources:Nelson George, Hip Hop America Chapter : Post Soul- Making Music (p. 16-21)Oxford Essay- Hip Hop’s Early Influences: https://oxfordaasc.com/page/featured-essay-hip-hops-early-influencesFlash on ABC’s Nightline (4 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImolZnn12PQFlash in the Bronx (2 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZvocCXVVT8Flash demo-Ebro(watch from 42:00-51:00) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3YXyK-gWvcHerc interview (4 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qwml-F7zKQAfrika Bambaataa Crate Diggers (Fuse- 11 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyZTUoIzqmoAfrika Bambaataa Record Collection: https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/afrika-bambaataa
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Part B: The Message Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYMkEMCHtJ4Lyrics: https://genius.com/Grandmaster-flash-and-the-furious-five-the-message-lyrics
- Who wrote and produced “The Message?” Who recorded it? What record label was it recorded with? Who is the featured rapper in the music video?
- How do the lyrics of “The Message” portray life in the Bronx in the 1970s? What imagery is used? What historical events and policies preceded and contributed to the development of these conditions?
- Why do you think this song was titled “The Message”? What is its message?