Flashback to 1973, The Bronx. The music industry is about to change. There’s a new sound: hip hop. 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop. It’s time to celebrate. Crank up your favorite tracks, grab some friends, and of course, complete your outfit with a hip hop t-shirt.
The Brief History of Hip Hop
The “when?” August 11, 1973. The “where?” The Bronx, New York. The “what?” The birth of hip hop. The “who?” Clive Campbell.
Those are the basics, but the impact is much more than the simple facts. Hip hop became a phenomenon, a new sound that spread across the nation, and the world. Biggie Smalls and Tupac were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after their deaths. Modern classic Jay-Z has also secured his place in history in the Hall of Fame. Subcategories of hip hop now include regional genres - both in the USA and around the globe. Crunk, Trap, and Gangsta Rap are just some of hip hop’s subgenres. The Grammy’s first introduced the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 1989, followed by Best Rap Album (1996) and Best Rap Song (2004).
Hip hop blurs the lines across genres. There’s a crossover between hip hop, disco, rap, funk, and electronic music. It’s no secret that genres of music can be subjective, but it’s also no secret that everybody can find at least one hip hop track they enjoy.
What started with eighteen-year-old Clive Campbell throwing a back-to-school party evolved into a worldwide cultural movement. Clive, better known as DJ Kool Herc, played the classics and the hits - but with a twist. He played two copies of the same record, looping the percussion to keep the beat going the whole time. And that’s how hip hop was born. That’s why people all around the world sport hip hop legend t-shirts. That’s why we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
Celebrating the Hip Hop Anniversary
The outfit is the first thing. A hip hop legend t-shirt. Some wide-leg pants. Step one is done. Now it’s time for the actual celebration.
Crank the music! Preferably, you’ll be cranking the music from vinyl or even a cassette, or maybe a CD. But if you are a product of the times - streaming works too. Spotify, Apple, even I Heart Radio and YouTube Music have plenty of hip hop playlists to choose from. Pick a subgenre, or a decade, and crank the volume all the way up.
Learn the history. If you live in New York you can visit the Universal Hip Hop Museum. In Atlanta, there’s the Trap Music Museum. New Orleans is home to the New Orleans Hip Hop Museum. If a museum is out of reach, there are documentaries and shows including Hip Hop Evolution and the upcoming Netflix original, “Ladies First: A Story of Women in Hip Hop.” Some of our favorite artists have taken enough time away from music to write memoirs and autobiographies, including Jay-Z, DMX, 50 Cent, and Questlove to name just a few.
Rock out at a show. The best way to truly experience hip hop’s anniversary is seeing it live. Even if none of the big names are playing in stadiums near you, there’s bound to be something, like an up-and-coming artist, or someone just starting out in a club, bar, or basement. Search for hip hop shows near you, and be sure to grab a new hip hop t-shirt from the merch guy before you leave.
Find an event. Especially in the Bronx, the birthplace of hip hop, there are events specifically celebrating the 50th anniversary of ip hop. There are block parties and fundraiser galas. The Bronx has been celebrating all year long with educational panels, rap battles, and fashion shows. Other cities and groups are hosting events around the country, some virtually so you can attend from anywhere.
Daydreamer LA and Hip Hop
Here at Daydreamer LA, we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop and we’re ready to tune in to the celebration with our hip hop t-shirts.
Notorious B.I.G.
Biggie, or Biggie Smalls, or The Notorious B.I.G - no matter which name you go with, there is no doubt that Biggie’s music earned him his place in hip hop and rap history. We’ve designed our Biggie tees to be the perfect tribute to Biggie, to rap, and to hip hop as a whole.
Beastie Boys
We’ll be celebrating the Beastie Boys’ 50th anniversary in a handful of years, but in the meantime, you can celebrate the anniversary of hip hop with our Beastie Boys tees. The talented trio can be credited with inventing rap-rock, and they had the first rap album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.
Wu-Tang
We’ve made the most out of the classic Wu-Tang logo with bold t-shirts to help you rep this 1992 group. We have options in the classic yellow, and beyond. Because repping your favorite music should always match your personal style.