hip-hop
UK[ˈhɪp hɒp]US[ˈhɪp hɑːp]
n
A style of popular music of US black and Hispanic origin, featuring rap with an electronic backing.
n
The subculture associated with this music, including elements such as breakdancing and graffiti art.
Etymology
The term "hip-hop" is a quintessential product of 1970s African American and Latino youth culture in the Bronx, New York City. It is formed through the reduplication of the slang adjective "hip," meaning "aware" or "trendy," which itself has a complex history possibly tracing back to the Wolof word "hepi" or "hipi" (to open one's eyes). The playful, rhythmic repetition "hip-hop" is credited to the pioneering DJ Lovebug Starski and later popularized by artists like The Sugarhill Gang. The term originally described the music and the associated backing beats but rapidly expanded to encompass the entire cultural movement, including rapping, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti art, reflecting its origins as a vibrant, innovative street culture.
Analysis
The term is a reduplicative compound, formed by the playful, rhythmic repetition of the slang word "hip". It is of African American Vernacular English origin. The morpheme "hip" functions as the core element meaning "fashionable, aware," and its repetition creates the compound's name.
Examples
Hip-hop music has become one of the most popular genres worldwide.
The festival celebrated all elements of hip-hop culture, from rap battles to street art.
He grew up immersed in the sounds and styles of 1990s hip-hop.