The Hidden Element of Hip-Hip: Streetball

Last year I wrote that the real 4 elements of hip-hop aren't DJ'ing, MC'ing, B-Boying, and Grafitti art, but instead it's music, dancing, style, and mentality, just like any other music culture.

Some people have said that leaving out grafitti is a mistake. That even though graf isn't as commercially popular as the other elements, it was still a central player in forming hip-hop and exists today next to the MC's and B-Boys, undercover in the inner cities.

My question for those people is this- if graf should be included, then why not streetball (aka basketball's urban, individualized cousin)?

Jeff Chang devoted a chapter in his History of the Hip-hop Generation to detailing the expression of individul style in each of the 4 elements. Does streetball fit in? Well, peep this online encyclopedia explanation:

"Style is often the determining factor in what is and is not legal in a Streetball game - if it looks good, it's not against the rules. In this sense, Streetball is as much performance art as it is an athletic contest."

Sounds like it fits to me.

Now everyone knows how much hip-hop has influenced basketball, and vice versa. However, the hidden history is that streetball was there from the beginning of hip-hop 30 years ago. Same city, same era, same gang truce circumstances that opened up oppurtunites for kids to express their individual style.

There's a lot more to say about this, but I'll stop here because you guys get the point.

Comments

[dave]

what's everyone else think about his? i think it's a stretch but i'm definitely curious to hear other people's thoughts.

[M.O.]

I don't see why you couldn't consider it an element... it's an activity that people within hiphop do. Some DJ, some MC, some write, some dance, and others ball. I mean peep the AND1 tapes, that is hiphop. However, at the same time, it's like you can make an argument that any specific activity that inner-city Black & Latino youth do, to be an element... all the way to jumping subway turnstiles.

I think it is best kept as the original 4 elements with everything else stemming from those. For example, some list entrepreneurialism as an element, but without the first 4, you have nothing to be out there hustling. So everthing stems from those 4... however, I am not totally sold on this argument either, I guess it's best kept to those that invented this to dictate what's poppin.

[Terecico]

Interesting post. But I would have to side with those that say streetball isn't an element of hip hop. Much like the trailblazing musical group Earth, Wind, and Fire those are elements. When I think of elements I think of the soul, core, foundation of hip-hop. Steetball is not an element of hip hop. That would be like saying that drag racin' is an element of rock and roll or country.

[Cherryl with 2 R's]

Hashim I would have to say I consider streetball an element of urban life, and almost like an "outer" element of Hip Hop. But truth be told, a lot of graffiti artists do not consider writing a part of Hip Hop. Several graffiti artists I've interviewed back when I was doing Elemental's Respect the Architects column said they did not listen to the music...they listened to AC/DC and isht like that.

I say the most important element is the "style" element, even though that rarely gets the respect it deserves. To the old school, your "style" was all you had; it made you fresh. Nowadays copying seems to be the norm. Go figure.

My definition of the "elements" would be any kinetic action that immediately represents the whole esthetic of the culture, while simultaneously representing the unique style of the person doing the action, ie, a dance move, a purposeful tilt of hat, your can control, a wicked scratch, a "b-boy stance", etc.

[Cherryl with 2 R's]

So yeah, if you agree with my definition of the "elements" above streetball could easily fit into that. Really the *only* element *absolutely necessary* to the core of Hip Hop is deejaying, yet I feel that the "elements" should not be just restricted to four necessarily. Why? Because the idea of having four in the first place is basically a marketing gimmick - ask Fab Five Freddy about that.

[rob]

interesting idea. the difficult thing is that you walk on slippery rocks once you open the possibility of sports being an aspect of music culture. if so, then ghetto games like handball, skelli, street football all become candidates for 'element' status. the ill thing about streetball is the musical, rhythmic aspect of it. dribbling a basketball is almost like playing a mobile drum and if anybody ever been to a rucker game you can see how much music is a part of the street ball ethos. but i see street ball as more a manifestation of hiphop rather than a foundation upon which the culture was built. the thing that gives graf credence as an element is because the nature of it -- writing your name big, catching fame with the most basic tools, repitition and craft, the fact that it was kinda viral, it played with words and letters, rebelled against the system and was basically a way to fight against poor people's invisibility-- was crucial in forming what was to become deeply rooted aspects of what hiphop was to become. All the other so called elements I believe were affected by grafitti.

[Big Herv]

I mean, I think everybody understands that Streetball and Hip Hop lifestyle are connected. Is it an element? I don't know. Probably not. But it is probably as close as you can get. It would make a good argument though.

[Derrick E. Vaughan]

Streeball and Hip-Hop are the same. It's all a part of the Dunkadelic Nation that is the driving force of fashion and style for urban teenager and young adults. Now that's Dunkadelic!!!!!

[kristean]

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