Hip-Hop has been round the corner for a long time now, and here we talk about both Indian hip-hop and global hip-hop. Thanks to the makers of the blockbuster ‘Gully Boy’ and several underground artists across the country that after much snubbing over the years, this genre has started getting the respect it deserves in India. Hip-Hop is everywhere these days – from the streets to the nightclubs, and, it’s not just about rap. This aggressive genre is also about DJing, Graffiti and Break Dancing!
If you want to catch on the real hip-hop vibe, travel to the following destinations:
1. New York City, USA
The birthplace of hip-hop, New York’s five boroughs i.e. The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island are known for pushing the genre forward, and believe it or not, this form of music has actually transformed the vibes of New York city. Soak in this cool vibe by catching the street artists jamming and break dancing. You can also mark your attendance at an event where you can witness the old-school DJs showcasing their skills on vinyl records.
Here are some hotspots in New York where you can have a great time: Hit the iconic places like 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in Bronx, 116th Street and Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, 205th Street and Hollis Avenue in Queens – who knows you might just bump into a hip-hop legend.
And yes, how can we forget the popular Hush Hip Hop Tours? If you sign up for a tour, you’ll be taken around the city to the places where hip-hop has a major influence.
2. Paris, France
Next on the list is Paris! Even though the hip-hop history here is shorter as compared to New York, French Rap has gradually placed itself on the map of global music. It started just 30 years ago, and it is totally underrated.
You can visit clubs like Twenty-One Sound or the Downtown Café to groove to the beats of hip-hop. Like we mentioned earlier, hip-hop is not only about rap, and in Paris you can treat your eyes with the abundance of street art, especially the north-eastern part of the city features some stunning art work.
And, you can always attend major street art festivals here like the L’été du Canal – Canal de l’Ourcq, or hop over to the popular streets like – Rue Saint-Maur, Rue Oberkampf, Rue Germaine Tailleferre, Boulevard de la Villette and Rue Riquet.
3. Brighton, UK
Brighton might be popular for being one of the prettiest sea side cities, but it is also known for its vibrant hip-hop culture, referred to as the ‘British Rap’, ‘UK Hip Hop’, ‘UK Rap’ or ‘Brit-Hop’. This city will welcome you with a completely different vibe.
Pushing the culture forward with their own sub-genre of hip-hop called grime, the artists here always experiment with new sounds and bring something new to the table. Do attend the hip-hop festivals here or walk into clubs playing awesome new hip-hop tracks. If you’re lucky, you might actually get to witness a live rap battle on the streets!
4. Mumbai, India
Can’t manage to go abroad? You can also catch the cool hip-hop vibe on the Indian streets – Mumbai is the best place for that! If we had to sum up the culture of hip-hop here, we’d say the chart buster “Mere Gully Mein”, from Gully Boy, perfectly defines it. The city of dreams has been home to hip-hop since the 90s’, but it is only during the past few years that it got its due recognition.
You can easily spot graffitis all over the city, but when it comes to rap and break dance, it’s safe to say that the slums take over! Visit places like Dharavi to see how kids, teens and adults, despite all the struggles, are connected to hip-hop. You can also attend the hip-hop fests, and if you somehow miss them, you can catch up street artists jamming together for rap battles, b-boying and freestyling.
5. Stockholm, Sweden
Hip-Hop might have arrived late in Sweden, but it is currently experiencing the golden phase there. The new wave of Nordic hip-hop is taking the country by storm! When you visit Sweden, make sure you head to Stockholm for witnessing the overwhelming rap and graffiti culture. Tackling issues of immigration, sexuality, gender, and politics with their hard-hitting songs, you can catch the artists performing live in one of the top clubs like ICEBAR by ICEHOTEL and Solidaritet, among many others.
Which destination are you going to visit next to brush up your hip-hop playlist?
