Question

explain the role of the Puerto Rican community in hip hop culture.

Answer 1

Of the late 20th century youth culture Hip-Hop is one of the most vibrant products. Now York Puerto Ricans have been main participants, as consumers and producers of the hip-hop cultural art forms. Since the very beginning during the early 1970's in the South Bronx pioneers like Rock Steady Crew’s Jo-Jo, to recent rap mega-stars Angie Martinez and Big Punisher, New York Puerto Ricans community have been an integral part of hip hop culture.

However, Puerto Rican contributions and participation to hip hop is downplayed frequently, if not completely ignored. When their presence has been acknowledged, it is often identity into the African American camp and misinterpreted as a defection from Puerto Rican culture. Puerto Ricans' major role has often been overlooked because of the lack of knowledge concerning Puerto Ricans in general, their small population when compared to African American throughout the America, and their relatively recent arrival, as opposed to the long history of African Americans in the America.