The emergence of hip hop culture in the Bronx, New York City, in 1973 marked a revolutionary moment in music and social expression. DJ Kool Herc's block parties at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue introduced innovative techniques like breakbeats and MCing, which became foundational elements of hip hop. This cultural movement provided a voice for marginalized communities and influenced art, fashion, and language, shaping contemporary music and youth culture worldwide.

Hip hop poetry revived oral poetry through rap, emphasizing rhythm, rhyme, and social commentary. Poets like Gil Scott-Heron, Rakim, Tupac Shakur, and later Kendrick Lamar have utilized this form to address systemic issues and celebrate cultural identity, transforming urban folklore into a global literary art form that blends prophecy, autobiography, and social commentary.