PDX Biologic on 09/23/23

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KBOO
Program:: 
Air date: 
Sat, 09/23/2023 - 10:00pm to Sun, 09/24/2023 - 12:00am
Hip Hop 50th - pt 1: Proto Hip-Hop

 


 

This episode is the 1st installment of my reflection on the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

In order to understand the birth of Hip-Hop in 1973, we need to understand what was inspiring the culture of the people who created it. We need to understand what people were listening to before 1973 and why they were listening to it. This is a deep dive into the foundation that Hip-Hop's foundation was built on. The musical + cultural inspirations behind the music that became the original source of Hip-Hop. 

It's what I call PROTO HIP-HOP.

We start with the 1st recorded 'rap' I could find. 'Rap' as in - speaking rhythmically over instrumental music - has been around forever, as long as there's been music. But the honor of the 1st RECORDED rap goes to THE JUBELAIRS with their 1946 song NOAH. 1946!??!!

In the US in 1946, we just got out of WWII. Black Americans came back home as veterans empowered to advocate for ourselves and challenge injustice. And this was before the concept of a CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. So to me, the Jubelairs drip with swagger to try a new flavor in their music, feeling free to rap their lyrics in a unique way.

I couldn't find examples of recorded Proto Hip-Hop in the 50s. Comment if you know some! But there are many gems in our Black culture outside of recorded music. So we need to understand the Black cultural contribution in America that is the Black radio personality. Their influence was strong throughout the 50s. The person who personifies this is FRANKIE CROCKER. Listen to a clip of Frankie Crocker's radio show in the 60s.

Frankie Crocker - was a DJ in the 60s and 70s who would rap over instrumentals and was a Black cultural phenomenon. If you were lucky enough to live in a city that syndicated his show or even played cool new Black music on the radio. His impact was massive, his style laid the foundation for the younger generation in the early 70s, like DJ Hollywood. Crocker called himself THE CHIEF ROCKER, that phrase and style was the template of every single MC in 1973. And beyond in the 80s90s / and even 2023

In this show's exploration of Proto Hip-Hop we listen to pre-1973 musical trends in Black culture;

  • Rapping in Blues
  • Drum breaks + rap in soul (James Brown pre-funk) 
  • Socially conscious spoken word  
  • James Brown (full on funk)
  • Rap + hip hop attitude in Funk 

Check out the Embedded Playlist to hear the songs in the show plus extra proto hip-hop not in the showScroll down past the playlist to play the episode that aired on 9/23

Peace - PDX Biologic 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode Playlist

  • Time
    10:00
    Artist
    Four Tops
    Song
    Baby I Need Your Loving
    Album
    Motown 50 Fanthology
    Label
    G Records
  • Time
    10:01
    Artist
    Living Legends
    Song
    Samba
    Album
    The Gathering
    Label
    MERLIN - Legendary Music, LLC
  • Time
    10:02
    Artist
    Ronnie Hudson And The Street People
    Song
    West Coast Poplock - 12" Version
    Album
    Grand Theft Auto 8 CD Set
    Label
    Universal Music
  • Time
    10:21
    Artist
    Jubalaires
    Song
    Noah
    Album
    Presenting The Jubalaires
    Label
  • Time
    10:25
    Artist
    Pigmeat Markham
    Song
    Here Comes The Judge
    Album
    Here Come The Judge
    Label
    UMG - UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
  • Time
    10:35
    Artist
    Funkadelic
    Song
    What Is Soul
    Album
    Good Old Music
    Label
    Heritage Sound Collection
  • Time
    10:42
    Artist
    Eugene McDaniels
    Song
    Supermarket Blues
    Album
    Blues with Soul
    Label
    WMG - Atlantic Records
  • Time
    10:43
    Artist
    James Brown
    Song
    Funky Drummer - Pt. 1 & 2
    Album
    In The Jungle Groove
    Label
    UMG - UMG Recordings, Inc.
  • Time
    11:01
    Artist
    The Last Poets
    Song
    New York, New York
    Album
    The Last Poets
    Label
    Celluloïd
  • Time
    11:03
    Artist
    The Last Poets
    Song
    When The Revolution Comes
    Album
    The Last Poets
    Label
    Atom Music
  • Time
    11:05
    Artist
    Dj Kane The Ripper
    Song
    Bullshit Freestyle
    Album
    Industry Kings 5
    Label
    Independent
  • Time
    11:06
    Artist
    DJ Oil
    Song
    Afrotress
    Album
    Phantom
    Label
    BBE Music
  • Time
    11:07
    Artist
    The Watts Prophets
    Song
    Dem Niggers Ain't Playing
    Album
    Rappin' Black in a White World
    Label
    Classic Cut Musiz
  • Time
    11:07
    Artist
    Roshad
    Song
    Don't Waste No Time (feat. J*Whit)
    Album
    Don't Waste No Time (feat. J*Whit)
    Label
    N.S.B.
  • Time
    11:11
    Artist
    Gil Scott-Heron
    Song
    The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
    Album
    Pieces Of A Man
    Label
    Ace Records
  • Time
    11:15
    Artist
    DJ Pina
    Song
    Producto Negativo
    Album
    Dark Soul
    Label
    Suida Recors
  • Time
    11:16
    Artist
    Gil Scott-Heron
    Song
    No Knock
    Album
    The Revolution Begins: The Flying Dutchman Masters
    Label
    Ace Records
  • Time
    11:19
    Artist
    Nina Simone
    Song
    Obeah Woman - Remastered
    Album
    It Is Finished
    Label
    SME - RCA/Legacy
  • Time
    11:26
    Artist
    James Brown
    Song
    Stone To The Bone
    Album
    Greatest Breakbeats
    Label
    Polydor
  • Time
    11:28
    Artist
    James Brown
    Song
    The Payback - Part 1
    Album
    Get On Up - The James Brown Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    Label
    Universal Music
  • Time
    11:38
    Artist
    Funkadelic
    Song
    Loose Booty
    Album
    America Eats Its Young
    Label
    Westbound Records Inc.
  • Time
    11:58
    Artist
    Odetta
    Song
    This Land Is Your Land
    Album
    A Tribute To Woody Guthrie
    Label
    Warner Bros.

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