The culture of hip-hop

Hip-hop! Yes, it is music. Nevertheless, many people do not realize that it is much more than that. Hip-hop is a form of art and culture, style and language, an extension of commerce, and for many, a natural means of living. Rap and hip-hop has been plagued by negative connotations of violence since its existence. Whether it is the controversial lyrics or the vicious murders of many artists, violence appears to be an everyday element of this “bad-boy” lifestyle. The recent death of Jam Master Jay (a hip-hop pioneer, disc jockey, and member of Run DMC), has garnished an everlasting question: When does violence and negativity cease to be an associate of the hip-hop culture?

Jam Master Jay

On October 30, 2002 the life of a trailblazer came to a vile end. DJ Jam Master Jay, born Jason Mizell, was brutally murdered inside a recording studio in New York City. His wife, two sons, mother, brother, and sister survive him. He was thirty-seven years of age. Another victim of the s...