So this article by Henry Adaso titled “The History of Hip-Hop: 1925- Present” is definitely something worth a conversation. And by conversation, I mean argument. The article is a chronologically ordered timeline in bullet points of key moments that would greatly shape what we know today as hip hop. He mentions the likes of James Brown as an influence of hip-hop, with his “break beat” sound that went on to inspire the b-boy movement. Also in 1983 how Ice T helps pioneer gangsta rap in LA. A lot of really cool references to monumental flashes in time. He recites plenty of information, and of the information he gives, he gives it well and knows what he is talking about, BUT he leaves out a very crucial element: Southern hip-hop. Cue the ecstatic Lil’ John “WHAT!?!” phrase.
Now there are plenty of things he did right in the article, such as provide information on forefathers of hip-hop that average to above average hip-hop fans wouldn’t know. For example, in 1974 how Pleaser Lovebug Starski is given credit for originally referring to the culture as hip-hop. Or that Kurtis Blow was the first rapper to appear on national Television on Soul Train in 1980.
My issue is solely this: how do you completely leave out the culture that is still relevant today in hip-hop when talking about the history of hip-hop?? There is five pages worth of information in this article, and not once does he mention an artist south of Chicago. Like in 1995, he talks about Queen Latifah’s Grammy award winning song “Unity,” 2 Pac signing with Death Row, and Easy-E dying of AIDS, but for some reason fails to mention the impact of OutKast getting booed at the Source Awards after winning Best New Rap Group. Andre 3000’s lone statement of “the south got somethin’ to say” was a clear message to the rest of the rap game that Southern Pride is here to stay. That statement has held true to its origins, with the south producing some of the juggernauts of the newest era of rap. Players like T.I., Ludacris, Lil Wayne, UGK, Rick Ross, Slim Thug, and Young Jeezy, all failed to get mentioned. But then he’ll mention random factoids like artist Shyne signing a deal with Bad Boy Entertainment in 1998… huh? At times it’s as if he is purposefully avoiding mentioning Southern topics in the article. 
Its all about perspective 