INFORMATIVE SPEECH OUTLINE

Niesha Lomax
Informative Outline

Topic: The History of Hip-Hop and its Social Influences in the United States

Introduction:

Attention Getter:

(Snippet of Hip-Hop music playing and faded out) “A lot of people talk about Hip-Hop and rap
as if it’s the same thing.” Not knowing the origins of neither. But in the words of rap pioneer
and philosopher, KRS-One, “Rap is something you do, but Hip-Hop is something you live.”
Hip-Hop as a whole, to some degree, has been vilified, shunned and looked down upon as
music that was not even worthy of being called art in many circles.
.
Thesis Statement:

Through the years, many have releases Hip-Hop as offensive, and it has encountered
controversy along the way, Hip Hop has a deeply rooted and momentous origin, with
influential milestones and musicians who paved the way, and still maintains to make social
change through its songs.

Preview:

In this speech I will:

1. First, discuss the history and origin of Hip-Hop music.

2. Second, I will discuss the decades of Hip-Hop, with key musicians who pioneered this
musical genre.
3. Finally, I will discuss the positive effects of Hip-Hop music in our society.

Transition:

Despite the fact that Hip-Hop as a way of life originated long ago in various parts of the U.S.,
Body:

A. Main Point: The history and origin of Hip Hop music.

1. Hip-Hop first emerged in the poor projects of South Bronx, New York in the early
1970’s. Jamaican DJ named Clive “Hercules” Campbell, who went by DJ “Kool Herc,”
revolutionized Him Hop from Jamaican dub music.
 2. Not surprising, Hip Hop was created while the civil rights movement was settling and
the social environment in which Hip-Hop music was created consisted of spoken-word poetry
and popular music by such artists like Last Poets.

3. Additionally, its vast style has cultural origins from four main elements including
DJ’ing, emceeing (rap), break dance, and graffiti.

B. Main Point: Hip-Hop through the decades, with key musicians who pioneered this musical
genre.

1. In the 70’s, Hip-Hop was split into two styles, one sampled disco, with simple or
sometimes no rhymes, while focusing on keeping the crowd happy and dancing. DJ’s included
Pete DJ Jones, Eddie Cheeba, DJ Hollywood, and Love Bug Starski. Then, there was a more
complex rhythmic scheme with fast rhymes; exemplified through the music of Afrika
Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, and Sugar Hill Gang.

2. Conversely, the 80’s experienced an intense diversification on Hip-Hop, as MC’ing

starts to overshadow DJ’ing, and highly metaphoric lyrics rapping over complex beats began to
replace MC’s. Rappers like Kurtis Blow and LL Cool J crossed over to mainstream audiences.

3. Also, in the 90’s, gangster rap became mainstream, with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, etc. and
elements of Hip Hop slowly assimilated into other genres of popular music. While in the
2000’s, assimilation was evident as Hip-Hop artists expanded to film, simultaneously shifting
away from gangster rap and flourishing around the world.

C. Main Point: Positive effects of Hip-Hop music in our society.

1. There are numerous examples of Hip-Hop artists promoting political awareness

through their lyrics about topics from racial inequality, gender inequality, police abuse,
education, family, most memorably, voting, and more.

2. Adversely, with what some may say about Hip-Hop, some Hip-Hop artists do serve as
role models to youth from diverse backgrounds. Majority of Hip-Hop artists did not come from
a privileged background, but they showcase to youth that they can achieve goals of being
successful musicians, fashion designers, publicists, producers, etc.

3. Lastly, Hip-Hop has infiltrated some of the country’s most prestigious institutions of
higher learning, including NYU, Duke, Georgetown, Howard, and Harvard, where these
institutions are developing curricula designed to discuss Hip-Hop’s music, culture, and politics.

Conclusion:

Transition: (signaling closing)

A. All in all, many people have objected and continue to object whatever bad they believe
Hip-Hop stands for, but what they fail to see is its meaningful history, decades of pioneering
musicians, and the good it has brought to an aspect of U.S. culture.

B. Review main points:

• Main Point: The history and origin of Hip-Hop music. Hip-Hop emerged in the 1970’s in
the poorest neighborhood at the time, South Bronx by DJ Kool Herc. It emerged during a time
where social movements, like Civil Rights were still settling, and had social origins from DJ’s,
emcees, break-dancers and graffiti.
• Main Point: Hip-Hop through the decades, with key musicians who pioneered this musical
genre. From the 1970’s till current, each decade has revealed and explored a new side of Hip-
Hop, with key musicians who stood out and influenced that decade.
• Main Point: Positive effects of Hip-Hop music in our society. Hip-Hop has made a lasting
impression in today’s culture by making people politically aware of social issues and change,
with some serving as role models to youth who don’t have someone to aspire to and peaking
the interests of Professors and students in colleges and universities around the country.

C. Memorable Thought/Call Action:

How can all this history be shunned and ignored without giving it a chance. There is a reason
why Hip Hop has continuously been influential on society, cross barriers, and assimilated all
across the world. It is because Hip-Hop is an art that continuously changes, Today, I hope you
learned about the connection between the older roots and modern Hip-Hop.

References

• Case, H. (2009). The Social Impact of Hip-Hop Music. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from
http://www.helium.com/items/1619849-hop-hop-impact-of-us-history
• Watson, S.C. (2006) Hip Hop Matters: Politics, Pop Culture, And the Struggle for the
Soul of a Movement. Beacon Press
• Grant, R. (2012). Each One Teach One: Hip-Hop’s Current Place in Higher Education.
Retrieved March 7, 2021 from http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.1835/title.each-
one-teach-one-hip-hops-current-place-in-higher-education
• Garofoli, W. & Price, E.G. (2010). Hip-Hop History. Capstone Press