The event now recognized as the birth of hip-hop happened 50 years ago, on August 11, 1973, in the Bronx. On that day, DJ Kool Herc hosted a “Back to School Jam,” which he organized to help his sister Cindy raise money for school supplies. For the first time, the elements that would form the foundation of a global phenomenon came together in one place.
To commemorate this milestone anniversary, Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are celebrating the love of words at the heart of hip-hop, its impact on language, and the unrivaled expressive power of its artists.
Stay tuned from August 7-18 as we celebrate the intersection of hip-hop and language here on site and across our social media platforms.
Check out what’s in store for Hip-Hop 50.
Synonym of the Day… by Hip-Hop
From Mon. Aug. 7 through Fri. Aug. 18, Synonym of the Day will turn into a vocabulary playlist highlighting perfect word choices from hip-hop lyrics, including by artists like Nas, Lauryn Hill, A Tribe Called Quest, Nicki Minaj, and more. Sign up for the Synonym of the Day email now so you don’t miss a single track!
Check out which artist’s lyrics are being featured today.
@dictionarycom To commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we are celebrating the love of words at the heart of hip-hop, its impact on language, and the unrivaled expressive power of its artists. HipHop50 hiphop hiphopmusic hiphop50thanniversary hiphop50years music language vocab vocabulary word words
Hip-Hop’s 50 Definitive Words
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, we set out to capture hip-hop’s trajectory from cultural mashup to source of global influence by highlighting the words that have defined it and that have been defined by it.
We considered hip-hop’s essential elements, historical milestones, influences, and analyses and rankings of artists, albums, and songs. Like hip-hop itself, the final word list is a tapestry that represents multiple eras, facets, and flavors.
Find out which 50 words made the list.
Hip-Hop: The World’s Most Popular Poetry (And How It Works)
Hip-hop is powered by poetry, and it relies on poetic concepts both simple and complex. Learn about how artists like André 3000 employ rhyme schemes and specific types of rhymes and other elements to compose their lyrics.
@dictionarycom We asked music fans on the street: “how do you define hip-hop?” Listen to their answers, and let us know how you define hip-hop in the comments below! #hiphop50 #hiphopanniversary #hiphop #music #language #hiphop50th #hiphop50thanniversary #vocabulary
Hip-Hop Artists’ Love of Words, In Their Own Words
See what some of hip-hop’s most legendary performers have said about how they fell in love with words, wordplay, and the expressive power of language.
The Five Elements of Hip-Hop, By Definition
The phenomenon that became hip-hop wasn’t invented from scratch. It was born from a combination of traditions and emerging art forms. Many hip-hop historians now consider there to be five distinct elements essential to hip-hop culture. Do you know what they are?
Read about the five elements of hip-hop.
Hip-Hop Vs. Rap: A Music, A Culture, And A Phenomenon
Rap and hip-hop are inseparable, but do you know the distinction that is often made between them? Find out what hip-hop legend KRS-One meant when he said: “Rap is something you do. Hip-hop is something you live.”
Read about the differences—and overlap—between rap and hip-hop.
