Haitian hip hop
Encyclopedia
Haitian Hip Hop or Hip Hop Kreyol is music originating from Haiti
and sung by artists of Haitian descent. The most popular form of this is the rising of 'Hip Hop nan Kreyòl' or Kreyòl
Hip Hop. Often, hardcore beats are used while the artist raps in kreyòl. Kreyòl hip hop, though relatively new, has become very popular with Haitian youth.
Many Haitian rap artists have had rough childhoods and difficult living conditions producing rappers who address socio-economic topics in their lyrics. Though similar to mainstream American hip hop
in that materialistic imagery is portrayed or lyricized, the negative aspects of less fortunate Haitian society, such as topics concerning slum life, gang warfare, the drug trade, and poverty, are much more common.
The most well-known exports of Haitian hip hop are two members of the legendary Grammy Award
-winning hip hop group, the Fugees, Wyclef Jean
and his cousin Pras Michel (a.k.a. Pras). Most recently, Christopher FREEDOM
Laroche released his inspirational debut album Liberation 1804, which quickly gained popularity among the Haitian population. However, the godfather of hip hop in Haiti is the late Master Dji
, who not only released the first Haitian rap song in the early 1980s, but was also influential in encouraging other young Haitians to become rappers, DJ
s, and breakdancers
.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and sung by artists of Haitian descent. The most popular form of this is the rising of 'Hip Hop nan Kreyòl' or Kreyòl
Haitian Creole language
Haitian Creole language , often called simply Creole or Kreyòl, is a language spoken in Haiti by about twelve million people, which includes all Haitians in Haiti and via emigration, by about two to three million speakers residing in the Bahamas, Cuba, Canada, France, Cayman Islands, French...
Hip Hop. Often, hardcore beats are used while the artist raps in kreyòl. Kreyòl hip hop, though relatively new, has become very popular with Haitian youth.
Many Haitian rap artists have had rough childhoods and difficult living conditions producing rappers who address socio-economic topics in their lyrics. Though similar to mainstream American hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
in that materialistic imagery is portrayed or lyricized, the negative aspects of less fortunate Haitian society, such as topics concerning slum life, gang warfare, the drug trade, and poverty, are much more common.
The most well-known exports of Haitian hip hop are two members of the legendary Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning hip hop group, the Fugees, Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
and his cousin Pras Michel (a.k.a. Pras). Most recently, Christopher FREEDOM
Freedom
-Philosophy:* Free will, the ability to make choices* Political freedom, in the context of the relationship of the individual to the state* Economic freedom-Computing:...
Laroche released his inspirational debut album Liberation 1804, which quickly gained popularity among the Haitian population. However, the godfather of hip hop in Haiti is the late Master Dji
Master Dji
George Lys Herard popularly known as Master Dji was a Haitian rapper, and Hip-Hop artist. Dj of the group "Haiti Rap' N Ragga", Master Dji was the founder of Creole hip-hop....
, who not only released the first Haitian rap song in the early 1980s, but was also influential in encouraging other young Haitians to become rappers, DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
s, and breakdancers
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...
.