Hip-Hop Dance

November 1, 2017

Gr 9 Up-Hip-hop is a culture unto itself, presented here as the combination of four key elements: deejaying, emceeing, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Groundbreaking personalities, innovative techniques, and a collective social consciousness are key to hip-hop's artistry and authenticity and its ability to unite music listeners. Consideration is given to hip-hop's roots in 1970s New York, the influence of African oral traditions, and the rivalry between the East and West Coast interpretations. Coverage is also given to the legal ramifications of music sampling and the criticism of the lyrics and imagery of rap. The role Afrocentrism played in instilling renewed pride among African Americans and the contributions of Latinx people are also mentioned, as is the role of media exposure in bringing this art form into the mainstream. This series celebrates what has become a music staple to much of the world. VERDICT A highly attractive expose of the artistry and legacy behind a popular music style for high schoolers.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2017
Grades 5-8 While the rest of the Hip-Hop Insider series takes on culture, groups, music, and more, this entry looks at the moves that make hip-hop dance so distinctive. The authors beginwhere else?with Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton as an example of the popular heights of the form. From there, they set the time machine way back to ancient Greece(!) to track traces of early dance, and then progress to the 1960s, where recognizable elements of hip-hop dance begin to surface: popping and locking, breaking, and eventually, in 1977, the Rock Steady Crew, a highly influential dance group. Varieties of hip-hop dance are discussed in depth, with plenty of props given to important figures, many of whom will be new to readers (B-girl Asia One, Boogaloo Sam, Crazy Legs Colon). There is surprising depth here; readers will find scores of personalities to further investigate. The authors show a bit of style, too, and they're helped along by plentiful photos that vividly bring home the flavor of each historical era. A strong choice for libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)