Expert: Bong Santos - 8/24/2006

Question
who is the father of hip-hop?

Answer
Dear Dave,

That was a tough question to ask. Not even 'em hip-hoppers know where did it really started. So many has claimed that they started hip-hop or the first to chart with rap.
History shows that hip-hop probably arose during the 70s at block parties in New York City, at which DJs began isolating the percussion breaks to hit funky rock/disco songs. The root of this type of songs stem back to the mid-50s when JAMES BROWN credit LITTLE RICHARD's band as having been the first to put the funk in the rock beat. These songs were based on breakbeat DJing. As hip-hop became popular, performers began speaking while the music played and became known as MCs or emcees. In 1979, the first two commercially issued hip-hop recordings were released: KING TIM III (Personality Jock) by the FATBACK BAND and RAPPER'S DELIGHT by THE SUGARHILL GANG, the latter hitting #36 on the Hot 100 Chart on January 12, 1980. So that's how hip-hop probably started.

Maraming salamat po!

BONG M. SANTOS
Manila, Philippines