As outlined by the Cornell Hip Hop Collection’s exhibit – Now Scream, the four core components of hip hop comprise DJing, MCing, B-boying/B-girling, and graffiti. It is worth exploring the relationship of these four in their respective and collective influence in the hip hop culture. However, it is conceivable that among the four, there is one element (B-boying/B-girling) that is physical, one (graffiti) visual, and two (DJing and MCing) audial. The audial aspect of hip hop therefore deserves extensive attention in the study of hip hop culture. This paper examines the different functions of sound in hip hop and the implications …show more content…
together with other elements such as graffiti and break dancing, developed the early hip hop culture, which is a combination of audio, visuals and physical movement. The influence of one on another was found in the crossover of different elements in the culture. Each element of hip hop has developed over time with certain cultural influence and perpetuated itself through the adaptation and modification of different cultures. Most importantly, it is the synthesis of all four hip hop components that forms today’s hip hop landscape, which is a strong force in the world where the four strengthens each other. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar, a scholar of cultural studies and gender, wrote the book Hip Hop Dance, in which she examined the evolution of hip hop through the lens of race, geography, gender, etc. She confirms the interconnection of these four elements as she suggests in her investigation of hip hop history that someone interested in dance could also decorate a stage with graffiti for a DJ; some graffiti artists were also b-boys. That one can play multiple roles in hip hop culture reinforces each other and continues fostering the development of hip hop. Specifically, Rajakumar says that hip hop dancers would spray painted their moves in graffiti as a