Hip hop music was born in New York City in the early 1970s. Since then it has gone mainstream in the form of rapping and break-dancing. This style of music started with DJs who would manually work two turntables to put sounds into beats and rhythms. Hip hop generated an entire style of clothing, dance, and vocals and is today considered a valid form of performing dance.

Famous hip hop artists include Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, 2-Pac, Jay Z, and LL Cool J. Kool DJ Herc is credited with the birth of hip hop. The story goes that he organized dance parties at his home in the Bronx. The parties drew gangs off the street and soon physical violence was replaced with dance competitions, reducing crime on the streets and opening new doors of self-expression for urban teenagers.