In the past three decades hip hop has developed from an underground movement in one of New York
City s poorest boroughs the Bronx to a worldwide multi-billion-dollar industry. Nowadays one
could not imagine chart shows discos or house-parties without rap music. According to Guthrie
P. Ramsey Jr. rap music which belongs under the cultural umbrella called hip hop is
virtually everywhere: television radio film magazines art galleries and in underground
culture . In this work Karl Kovacs will examine the reasons for hip hop s international success
the dangers of it and the motivations rappers had and still have to pursue their art. It is
yet to be answered if the success of this form of art has been a blessing or a curse for its
performers and their audience the so-called hip hop generation.
