Summary: The Art Of Breakdancing

"From the school yards of the South Bronx to the tops of the Billboard charts, rap has emerged as one of the most influential musical and cultural forces of our time" (Yale University Press). Rappers and hip hop culture are often criticized for advocating violence, misogyny, and crime. However, rap is actually a form of self-expression for African Americans that is available and accessible to just about everyone. The music and culture that stem from hip hop, "emerged from a uniquely African American disposition, and like the blues, jazz, and soul before it, give voice to those who tend to occupy the lowest rungs of the American social ladder" (NPR). It is one of the most influential and ubiquitous art forms of the past few decades because of
A recent documentary by Adam Sjöberg in collaboration with rapper Nasir “Nas” Jones , chronicles the influence of breakdancing, a subset of hip hop, on young people in the slums and ghettos of Uganda, Cambodia, Yemen, and Columbia. Breakdancing is an outlet for them, just like rap is for artists in poverty. Kids from these destitute slums often turn to crime to survive and support themselves, but breakdancing serves as a community that brings them together and a universal way for them to connect. Some subjects of the documentary said, "We know we can't dance our way out of poverty, but breakdancing fills our hearts with hope…I may not have what you have, but I can do what you can do…We speak many languages around the world, but for me the language of my heart, is hip hop" (Shake the Dust). Executive producer, Nasir Jones was excited after hearing about the idea for this documentary because, "what these kids are doing around the world reminds [him] why [he] fell in love with hip-hop and how important it is as a creative and constructive outlet…[and] help bring the film to global audiences who need to hear this surprising message of empowerment" (Nasir Jones). However, hip hop is not limited to just the music and dance that are most often associated with it, as it also influences major parts of the entertainment and retail industry. Hip hop's influence ranges from fashion, cars, alcohol, television, sports, to media and marketing. It is a part of just about every aspect of everyday life. Hip hop is one of the highest grossing industries in our economy. According to a Simmons Lathan Media Group study in 2004, hip hop has a customer base of "45 million hip-hop consumers between the ages of 13 and 34, 80% of whom are white. According to SLMG’s research, this group has $1 trillion in spending power" (Forbes). Since then the