What is the history of hip hop?

Hi there,

Here are some excellent websites on the history of Hip Hop:

The history of different aspects of Hip Hop (Turntables, B Boys,
Aerosols, MCs) plus a concise timeline can be found at The Four
Elements:
http://home.online.no/~dj4joy/history/history_index.htm

Emplive.com has an interactive timeline that requires Flash, "tracing
the development of hip hop as a musical form, from its beginnings as a
Bronx-based underground scene in the early 1970s to the worldwide
phenomenon that it is today."
http://www.emplive.com/explore/hiphop/index.asp

"The Evolution of Rap Music in the United States" by Henry A. Rhodes,
is a long article covering all aspects of Hip Hop culture, including
rap music, with a bibliography.
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/4/93.04.04.x.html

"The History of Hip Hop" by Davey D
http://www.daveyd.com/raptitle.html

Professa Rap's Working Hip-Hop Chronology
http://www.ai.mit.edu/~isbell/HFh/hiphop/rap_history.html

"The MC: Master of Ceremonies to Mic Controller" by Grandmaster Caz
http://www.rockhall.com/exhibitions/past.asp?id=498

Old School Hip Hop has lots of resources concerning pre-1986 Hip Hop
http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/

"The Evolution of Rapper's Delight" by JohnG
http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/features/rappersdelight.htm

Finally, I can't resist adding an article I have written concerning an
English poet from 500 years ago, who may have been the very first rap
artist:

"John Skelton - Godfather of Rap"
http://searchenginez.com/skelton.html

Search Strategy:

I went straight to Google Directory and surfed from there:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Arts/Music/Styles/Hip_Hop/History/

I trust this answers your question. If any portion of my answer is
unclear, please ask for clarification.

Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

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Clarification of Answer by robertskelton-ga on 15 Aug 2002 21:36 PDT

Encarta Encyclopedia also has an excellent summary of the history of Hip Hop:
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=02F2F000

For more insight on the history of Hip Hop and its role in social,
economic and political events since the civil rights era you may be
interested in checking out,
 
Hip Hop Generation, by Bakari Kitwana  
 
For a review of this book see, 
 
http://www.perseusbooksgroup.com/perseus-cgi-bin/display/0-465-02978-7
 
Cheers, 
 
Shal