hip-hop

American

[hip-hop] / ˈhɪpˌhɒp /

Or hip hop

noun

a popular culture movement originated by Black performers in New York City in the 1970s and characterized by rap music, break dancing, and graffiti art.

The choreographer was a pioneer in introducing hip-hop to the national and international stage.
Writing about hip-hop was really just an excuse to write about all these other aspects of Black culture.
rap music.

adjective

relating to or characteristic of this movement.

Unlike other big-name designers, he tapped into hip-hop street styles, which made him one of the wealthiest designers of the 1990s.

hip-hop British

/ ˈhɪpˌhɒp /

noun

a US pop culture movement originating in the 1980s comprising rap music, graffiti, and break dancing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hip-hop Cultural

Another name for rap music.

Discover More

The term hip-hop also refers to the speech, fashions, and personal style adopted by many youths, particularly in urban areas.

Etymology

Origin of hip-hop

First recorded in 1975–80; probably hip ⁴ ( def. ) + hop ¹ ( def. ) (in the sense “act of hopping”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Wu-Tang Clan executive producer died “following a courageous and hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer” according to a joint statement issued by the hip-hop collective and Grant’s family.

From Los Angeles Times

His work set a precedent for autonomy and creative control as hip-hop became a commercial juggernaut in the ’90s.

From Los Angeles Times

While Swansea hope Snoop's impact will be felt over the long-term, the hip-hop legend has already left his mark on the Championship in his own inimitable style.

From Barron's

The project will consist of seven albums, released over seven months, each devoted to a genre — hip-hop, reggae, jazz, country, Haitian kompa, R&B — and each traceable to a pivotal moment in his career.

From Los Angeles Times

The Wu-Tang Clan are also among the nominees, and their inclusion comes after Gene Simmons from veteran rock band Kiss recently courted controversy by saying hip-hop doesn't "belong" in the Hall of Fame.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023