Hip-hop began as a local cultural expression in neighbourhoods of New York City during the 1970s. At first it was simply music played at community gatherings, block parties, and youth events. Yet over the following decades, hip-hop evolved into one of the most influential cultural systems on the planet, shaping music, fashion, language, business, and global youth identity. The origins of hip-hop are closely tied to the social environment of the Bronx. In neighbourhoods exper