Part 2/8:
Hip-hop is built upon four fundamental pillars: DJing, MCing (rapping), graffiti art, and b-boying (breakdancing). While many may conflate hip-hop with rap, it's crucial to differentiate between the two. Hip-hop is a lifestyle and culture; rap is merely one aspect of that culture derived from its rich tapestry.
The influence of the disco era played a significant role in shaping early hip-hop. For marginalized kids in the inner city, the inability to enter sophisticated disco venues led them to reinvent those experiences using borrowed sounds. DJing became the heart of hip-hop, as it provided a platform for mixing old records and creating new auditory experiences. The DJ took on the role of an innovator, manipulating beats and sounds using turntables instead of traditional instruments.