The Phenomenal Growth of Hip Hop

The Phenomenal Growth of Hip Hop-a poem

What started in 1973
arguably
a new era of sound
you might say lyrics abound
origins up for debate
words used to create
break dancing, beat boxing, pop lockin'
on any corner, people rockin'
was it the Bronx, Manhattan or Queens?
who had the biggest influence
does it really matter, I mean 
all are cities and cultures of affluence 

Two small words, hip hop 
its legacy lives on  
a culture rising from some of the greats 
Kurtis Blow and The Breaks 
Kool Herc rode around with those speakers 
Rock Dis Funky Joint, with Poor Righteous Teachers 

Sugar Hill Gang was a Rapper’s Delight 
don't forget Public Enemy Don’t Believe the Hype 
Boogie Down Productions, You Must Learn 
KRS One said it best 
Check the Rhime with A Tribe Called Quest 

Keeping it Strictly Business with EPMD 
Eric B & Rakim said Check Out My Melody 
How Many Mics does it take by the Fugees 
This Can’t Be Life said Beans, Scarface and Jay Z 
Lauryn Hill sings Selah 
while MC Lyte raps in Cha Cha Cha 

De La Soul said Stakes is High  
and Queen Latifah sings U.N.I T.Y.  
all I’m trying to say is it doesn’t matter 
if you are in a NY State of Mind like Nas   
or if you Stand Tall with Rapsody 
let’s not forget, Mobb Deep, RIP Prodigy  

Hip hop is here to stay 
it feels like it started just yesterday 
Tupac wrote an anthem Dear Mama 
and Notorious BIG was Big Poppa 
the music ain’t Slippin' spit DMX 
which artist do you think got next? 

Thank you for stopping by to read. 💖

The poem, The Phenomenal Growth of Hip Hop and cover art by O’Nika