This year we celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop. Born at a birthday party in the rec room of an apartment building in The Bronx, New York City on August 11, 1973 -- Hip-Hop's cultural impact is still growing and rising to new heights as one of the most influential musical art forms.
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As part of the celebration of Hip-Hop’s journey through the years, artists, cities, events, and stories, were asking artists, actors and anyone who’s willing, to share some of their firsts when it comes to the influential and trailblazing genre and culture that is Hip-Hop.
Joining in on the celebration and conversation, Atlanta native CeeLo Green shared the first song that made him fall in love with Hip Hop, as well as his first memory of when he thought to himself "this is Hip Hop."
“One quick story I can think of that made me think to myself ‘this is Hip Hop’ was living with a big family at my grandmother’s house we used to have this big den area… we had the flow model TV and there was this big spacious floor and we’d do all of the breakdance steps. We would do the kick-worm, and do the little roll around in a circle. I don’t even know the name of that move. I just remember I was really in love with The Fat Boys around that time, and where they were breaking Beat Street or Krush Groove, just to see it and for it to speak so clearly to me I was like yeah, this is Hip Hop right there, and I’ve been livin’ ever since, look at me baby, representin’”
“I remember my first summer I was blowing up balloons at Greenbrier Mall… I got my little moneys and went to Super Sound, shout out to Theo, and I bought the twelve inch single of “Rebel Without a Pause” by Public Enemy, I also bought MC Shan’s Down by Law because I used to love his record called “Left Me -- Lonely” and then I also loved Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz, those were my favorite records at that time.”
Then sharing “a classic ATL story about Hip Hop,” CeeLo recalled, “I remember my uncle Barry… we were too young… but we were waiting for them to get back cause they had tickets to the Fresh Fest. I’ll never forget this day, because they had walked in the door all excited and they were just hollering and screaming about this group and this dude making sounds with his mouth,” talking about “hearing beatboxing form The Fat Boys.”
“Over the time I ended up befriending Prince Markie Dee, rest in peace,” And since he “had always had my attentions on them cause they were so dope, unique and original… that’s a really cool memory for me, Atlanta grown homestyle.”
Stay tuned as Audacy continues to celebrate the birth and trailblazing influence of Hip-Hop. Check out audacy.com/hiphopmade all through 2023 for more. And listen to your favorite music on Audacy's Hip Hop Made suite of stations, as well as Conscious Hip Hop, Hip Hop Uncut, Women of Hip Hop, and more -- plus check out our talent-hosted Ed Lover's Timeless Throwbacks and Greg Street's Dirty South Hip Hop!
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