The History of Hip-Hop

Today’s program is another collaborative venture between the YAO and the Las Vegas-based hip-hop/jazz/funk band The Lique (pronounced “Leak”). This project is an educational and performance initiative highlighting the historical evolution of hip-hop in America, and exploring how the genre has shaped American life and culture for half a century. Originating with inner-city African-Americans and Latino Americans in the Bronx during the 1970s, the movement was a counter-culture reaction to one of the most turbulent times in urban America. DJs, poets, street artists and break dancers confronted and commented on inner-city life and injustice through their art. Hip-hop music is a rich and endlessly evolving fusion of styles and genres including blues, reggae, jazz, spoken word, funk, and performance poetry. Today, hip-hop has expanded to become a bona fide cultural phenomenon and a multibillion-dollar business, with sounds, styles and fashions that are hugely influential throughout the world.

“The fusion of hip-hop and jazz has produced memorable results through the years – from Guru, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots and many more – and locals are fortunate to have a dynamic example right here in Las Vegas.” – Las Vegas Weekly on “The Lique”

This performance is made possible through the support of the Sphinx Organization, a Detroit-based national organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.