Hip Hop: August 11, 1973-Beyond
50 Years of Hip Hop
Hip-Hop turned 50 on August 11, 2023. In celebration of 50 Years of Hip Hop (and beyond), I decided to take on the Color Wheel Challenge going around Instagram, and draw some of my characters dressed as different eras of Hip Hop and Rap, with their respective (mostly Black owned) fashion brands of the time. From the origins of Hip Hop in the late 70's/early 80's, to the current times of the 2020's. All 8 pieces were drawn in Prismacolor EBONY pencils and regular graphite pencils, and were edited in Procreate with a color overlay.
Red- Origins of Hip Hop (80's)
For the color red, we have the 80’s/origins of Hip Hop. Specifically Big Snappa (from my zodiac rapper series) and an older OC named Kev who was concepted to be part of a group known as Motor Mouth.
Big Snappa is wearing a Dapper Dan inspired jacket, with the Cancer zodiac symbol copied in a luxury brand pattern style, and a Kufi hat. and Kev was inspired by Run DMC, with an Adidas tracksuit, sneakers, and Kangol hat
Orange- Mid to Late 2000's
For the color orange, I used more of a mid-late 2000's influence. These are Stinga (from my zodiac rapper series), and Rain (from my Girls Talkin' Bout series).
Stinga is wearing a fake Polo shirt (O NO UFO), a Vokal sweatband and jeans, and he’s holding an Air Force 1.
And we have Rain wearing a Baby Phat jacket and Apple Bottom Jeans (and boots with the fur!). She’s also holding a Pastry sneaker in one hand.
Yellow- Early 90's
For the color yellow, I took the early 90's and focused on more of the Afrocentric artists' styles of the time. Here we have Tadita (of MIINDSET, from my zodiac rapper collection) and Kingston (from an R&B/Soul band called REWYND)
Tadita from MIINDSET (from my zodiac rapper series), wears a Karl Kani hat with a patterned button up, and Kingston (from a group I have called REWYND) wears some Cross Colors.
Green- Early 2010's
For the color green, I used the early 2010's (mainly 2013 and the "swag" era of the time). These are JJ and Charlotte, who are brother and sister (Charlotte is 2 years older). They are characters I've made since my early years of character design (coincidentally enough, which was also during the early 2010's)
JJ is wearing a Bape hoodie and Charlotte is wearing a Hood by Air shirt, the rest of their clothing items are miscellaneous but still “of the time”.
Cyan- Early 2000's/Y2K
For the color cyan, I wanted to do early 2000’s. This is Jarobi (from Girls Talkin Bout) and The Prince (from my boy band, Cyrano). They’re cousins.
Jarobi is wearing a State Property jacket and shirt and a China Moon Rag, and The Prince wears Rocawear jacket and jeans, and a durag.
Blue- Late 90's
For the color blue, this is the late 90’s. I thought the color matched the filter on some videos of the time. We have Josiah (REWYND), and Nasima, who is Tadita’s twin sister from MINDSET (Zodiac rapper series). The two of them are wearing matching FUBU jackets, and Josiah with a hat from the same brand.
Purple- Late 2010's
For the color purple, this is 2016 (when, in my opinion, Hip Hop got progressively worse than it was already becoming). This addition features 2 rapper characters of mine, Ho Lotti Dotti (left, from my "new" rappers series), and Billy the Fish (right, from my zodiac rapper series)
The two wear popular luxury brands I cannot stand: Ho Lotti Dotti, wearing a Versace type dress and heels, and Billy the Fish (from the zodiac series), wearing a Supreme hoodie, overly gaudy ice, and sagging some skinny jeans that still have a belt..
Magenta- 2020's
The final piece to my Hip Hop Color Wheel Challenge! Finally, for the color magenta, we have RapidAsh (from my zodiac rapper series), and a very old character of mine, Tristan.
RapidAsh is wearing Gucci boots, with an out of character/revealing outfit with a black top and a fake Gucci skirt that uses the Sagittarius zodiac symbol as the pattern. Tristan is wearing mostly Gucci from his goggles, sling bag, and his belt…on his sagging jeans.
Hip Hop music and fashion alike are only getting worse as years go by...
Here's to 50 Years of Hip Hop, and hopefully 50 more to come. I hope we get some more positive influence and contribution to the genre soon, instead of the super materialistic, hypersexual, vulgar, colorist, drug obsessed hot mess that it turned into over this half-century. I really want to strive for greatness.