The first major hip-hop DJ was Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc. Campbell was an 18-year-old immigrant who introduced the huge sound systems of his native Jamaica to inner-city parties. Using two turntables, he melded percussive fragments from older records with popular dance songs to create a continuous flow of music. This was back in 1970s. Nobody could have thought that one day this concept would revolutionise the music industry forever. Today, we have Eminem, Logic, Kendrick Lamar and many more ruling the hip-hop industry. Hip-hop caught attention of people because it was a pure talent that emerged through the streets and gained the status of an art-culture movement, due to sheer nerve of its music directors.
Ironically, the culture that consists of loud electronic music and rap is considered as a bringer of peace. Hip-hop has not only influenced fashion and culture throughout the world, but may even have the power to ease decades of social conflict as suggested by Northeastern University alumni Karin Heim through his paper- Beats Not Bombs: Hip-Hop to Create Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Heim investigated how artists use rap as a tool to help the people of Israel find common ground in the conflict. The tussle between the Arabs and Jews as to whom the land between Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea was a global issue.
“If musicians want to build a better Israel, a more peaceful Israel, it really starts with them setting a good example for young people listening to their music.”
This won’t be the first time of music being a powerful medium to ensnare young minds. Songs like ‘Someone kill the DJ’ by Green Day and ‘Pompeii’ by Bastille are some of examples. Music is a beautiful thing. The melodies, tunes and beats hold great power in them. With right intentions this power can harvest a beautiful world.
Shraddha Patil