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The Creole Hip-Hop Movement
Now if you take your time and read this mini bio, you will discover a lot about the Creole Hip-Hop Movement that you probably did not know or have probably heard about through the grapevine. The Creole Hip-Hop Movement is coming with a different sound mix with Konpa, Twoubadou, Voodoo, Racine, reggae from the Caribbean and Europe and fusing it with a Hip-Hop style beat.

The Creole Hip-Hop Movement The Creole Hip-Hop movement is a grassroots movement where Haitians and Haitian-Americans & other Creole Country’s rap in their native tongue "Creole." It's social, political, can potentially help Haiti’s and other country like Haiti economic state. The Creole Hip-Hop movement has been struggling for many years to find its place and its niche amongst listeners within the Caribbean/International population, specifically within the Haitian community. However, within the last few years, Creole Hip-Hop has gained some momentum due to the hard work and dedication of many of its Artists, promoters, Fans and believers, Creole Hip-Hop is making its way to becoming a worldwide recon as a new genre. Just like Hip-Hop, Rap Creole, dances, graffiti, two turntables, mixer, Mic, and a DJ Are all elements of Creole Hip-Hop!

We all know RAP is an element of Hip-Hop music Culture and rapping is the rhythmic spoken delivery of rhymes and wordplay over music or sans music, And Hip-Hop, as everyone knows is a cultural movement that was born in the Bronx, New York in the late 1970’s. Now the two groups of people to have set that off would be the African Americans and Latinos. Now, if rapping which is one of the elements of Hip-Hop was born in New York, “RAP Creole’s” is an element of Creole Hip-Hop, birth place, Haiti 1980. Everyone that knows there Hip-Hop history knows Creole Hip-Hop is an extension of Hip-Hop that depicts the Hip-Hop lifestyle of Haitians and Haitian-Americans and other country world-wide.

Rap Creole Groups have tried real hard, to bring Creole Hip-Hop back to the mainstream by continuing what Master Dji started. But nevertheless, his legacy wasn't left forgotten, and Creole Hip-Hop was preserved by several artists from the underground. However, Creole Hip-Hop is not perceived by many Haitians as an art form, but as a fad which they expect to die soon. Although some Creole rappers gained some type of success, the music itself, never really had an impact on the mainstream due to a lack of understanding of Hip-Hop. Throughout the years, the music has undergone many changes which led it to become what is now known as The Creole Hip-Hop Movement. With Haitian artists the movement has taken major steps, and has rise back to the surface. Now without mentioning its roots would be like preaching to the choir. Because, In order for our people to better understand what the movement is about, we have to explain it to them step by step, bit by bit starting from its genesis. Hip-Hop is a culture of music, dance, creativity, and artistry which gives people an avenue to express themselves and deliver positive messages to their surroundings. But, we find in our community (Hood), a great number of people, who are constantly asking themselves these questions: What is Creole Hip-Hop? What is Hip-Hop? Where does it come from? And last but not least, Is Hip-Hop a Haitian culture also? Well, throughout this article, their questions will finally be answered; and to better explain the "Creole Hip-Hop Movement", so lets break it down piece by piece.

First of all, what is Kreyol (Creole)?

Although a small minority of about 20% of the population speak French in Haiti but Kreyol is the true national language of the Republic of Haiti; it is used for the everyday communication, as the symbol of their national identity. Kreyol comes from a Portuguese word meaning "raised in the home". It was first referred to Europeans born and raised in the overseas colonies. Than, it was later used for languages that arose from the plantations that the Europeans established, using slaves imported from West Africa. Kreyol resulted from African slaves' efforts to speak the French that they heard when they arrived in Haiti. Slaves came to Haiti, from all over West Africa and spoke many different languages. Now, you’re probably asking yourself: why are we taking this all the way back to slavery? ; Well, believe it or not, Hip-Hop is traced back all the way to slavery. Hip-Hop music comes from the griots of West Africa which were shipped to small islands such as Haiti, during the slave trade. A griot is a West African poet, praise singer, and wandering musician, considered a repository of oral tradition. Hip-Hop music is related to the griots of West Africa, traveling singers and poets, whose musical style is considered the ancient form Hip-Hop. Now we all know that Haitian music was greatly influenced by French colonial ties and African migration through slavery. During the slave trade, the griots, kept their musical traditions, when they traveled to other countries, countries such as Haiti.

If you analyze music genres, such as Rara, or Racine, and even Konpa, you will find traces of the griots; and you will also find traces of Hip-Hop. The griots used to recite poems, or they would talk over a beat led by the drum. We encounter that allot, in the Konpa music, where allot of artists would talk throughout some parts of a song, or during what they call the Solo. Ansy Derose use to not only talk over his songs, but also recite poems at the end of his tracks; for example, we could see that in Lakay Mwen, where he recites a poem about Haiti. Going against most beliefs, Hip-Hop has exists in the Haitian community for quite a while; it was just overlooked. Hip-Hop music comes from a combination of Funk, Disco, Soul, Jazz and Blues. Funk is also incorporated in Mizik Rasin, along with Rock. The main instrument behind Hip-Hop is the drum which is the first instrument created in Africa. We also find the drum in music genres, such as Rara. Hip-Hop is also present in Zouk. Zouk is another form of music which was followed by an influx of Haitian artists like System Band, Zin, Top Vice and Karess who included Rock and Roll, Hip-Hop and Jazz into Kompa, and experimented with new lyrical content, such as feminism.

Now what is Hip-Hop?

Rap music, is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s. Rap Music, is part of a culture which is known as Hip-Hop. According to Webster's dictionary, culture is defined as "the concepts, habits, skills, arts, instruments, institutions, etc. of a given people in a given period; civilization." One artist defined Hip-Hop as "a set of expressions in vocalization, instrumentation, dancing and the visual arts. The Hip-Hop culture consists of: Rapping (MCing) and DJing (production and scratching), along with Hip-Hop’s Dance (Break Dancing), Hip-Hop Language’s (Slang or Ebonics) and urban inspired art, or notably Graffiti. The culture took birth in South Bronx, amongst the Hispanics, and the African Americans. Now, most of the African Americans living up North migrated either from Africa, From the West Indies (Haiti) or from areas in the South such as New Orleans.

Now let’s go back in time for a minute:

"During a six-month period in 1809; about 10,000 or more refugees from Haiti arrived at New Orleans. They had a profound impact upon New Orleans' development. Refugees established the state's first newspaper and introduced opera into the Crescent City. They also appear to have played a role in the development of Creole cuisine and the perpetuation of voodoo practices in the New Orleans area. More importantly, they were responsible for preserving the city's French character for several generations."

New Orleans is the state, where Jazz and Blues were created in the late 1930’s. Around that time, allot of people from New Orleans moved up North, to cities such as New York, Chicago or Boston. The reason why they moved up North was to search for jobs, and opportunities. Through this migration, came about the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance, also known as The New Negro Movement, was a period of self-expression in the African American community, throughout art, literature, music and culture in the United States. It was led primarily by the black community based in Harlem, New York City, after World War I. They would value their heritage, and stand up for what they believed in. And from the Harlem Renaissance, from jazz, from Blues, came Rock and Roll, than Disco than Funk, than Pop, and finally Hip-Hop As we can see, Hip-Hop’s history came from a long way, and has matured over the years. Hip-Hop music recreates itself non-stop and has blended with all types of other music. The music itself has traveled, from West Africa, to the West Indies, from the West Indies to the U.S, and from the U.S to all over the world; especially in places like Haiti, where The Creole hip-hop Movement originally started.

MASTER DJI

George Lys Herard (May 30, 1961--May 21, 1994) popularly known as Master Dji was a Haitian Rapper, and Creole Hip-Hop artist. After Master DJI’s death, the Creole Hip-Hop scene took a back seat to the Haitian Ragga movement. The pioneers of that genre are King Posse and O.R.S. (Original Rap Staff) etc. Once again that genre was adopted by Haitians because at its roots is Dancehall Reggae. That genre subsided and we have now have only Konpa in the Haitian Music Industry (HMI) and right at its heels is the Creole Hip-Hop Movement trying to bust through. Dji of the group "Haiti Rap' N Ragga", to some Master Dji was the founder of Creole Hip-Hop. During Master DJI’s travels to the United States, he became influenced by the Rap scene in the U.S. and his travels also coincided with the whole SugarHill Gang frenzy. Master DJI went back to Haiti to create his own brand of music which is what we now know as Creole Hip-Hop. Master DJI was the first Haitian artists to start Rapping in Creole in Haiti. So, in essence, just like French Rappers adopted Hip-Hop, so did Master DJI. Master DJI is called the Godfather of Creole Hip-Hop. his hit single “Sispan” (“Stop”) as a call to end the political violence after the aborted elections of 1987, in which Haitians voters were massacred at the polls on Rue Valliant in Port-au-Prince. Master DJI came from a very influential family, he worked with some of the top producers in Haiti and because of his families influential ties, it afforded him certain advantages that many Creole Hip-Hop Rappers didn’t and don’t have in Haiti and that was the ability to travel to the U.S. Best known for his debut album "Master Dji", considered by many, as one of the greatest Creole Hip-Hop albums of all time. This album established Master Dji as one of Haiti’s most profound lyricists, introducing his signature which is poetic. A pioneer in the Haitian Music Industry, He created a very subdued genre of music which was not previously thought of before. Due to his creation the new generation was able to form a connection between Rara, Rasin, Konpa, Rap and Reggae. He pioneered a type of music that is a combination of all the music genres that most Young people listen to in Haiti. Master Dji knew how to get the attention of the young people, so throughout his music he would talk and also educate them. Hip-Hop was not that popular in Haiti, moreover, society had a bad perception of the music. However master Dji managed to get his tracks played by certain radio stations. He was versatile; whether it was in English, French or Kreyol (Creole) he always found a way to rip the Mic. With all three languages he reached out to allot of different crowds. As a result, he was also known across the seas. In Fact, he's one of a few MCs to be played for more than twelve hours in radio stations in Africa. “The first rap song in Kreyol was a track called Vakans by Master Dji in 1982. A few years later (late 80s) he released his first album entitled Master Dji. His second album entitled POLITIK PAM was released in 1990; his third album was with his group "Haiti Rap' N Ragga" entitled MATCH LA RED; His fourth album, with his group, entitled Maximum Respect was released after that. Maximum respect was Master Dji's last project before dying in 1994. From May 20th to May 22nd 2005, RapForum organized a summit called Master Dji to honor the late great rapper. Master DjI was not only known in Haiti, but also throughout the whole Caribbean as the Godfather an founder of Creole hip-hop. The event took place at "Place Jérémie", where hundreds of teens had the chance to discover the different talents and life of the late pioneer. His legacy was not only that of a Rapper, a Singer, DJ, but also a radio host, ever since he was 16...

Master Dji was the greatest Haitian mc. He was a visionary. He created something new in a country where people did not even like Hip-Hop. The Haitian community had very little knowledge of what Hip-Hop was back then, and it was hard for them to accept it. Master Dji managed to mix reggae, Konpa, and Hip-Hop to form a new sound; and the public embraced it. He was also very political like (Public Enemy), and his lyrics were deep and carried a message behind the songs. Master Dji's work is often overlooked- with only true Creole Hip-Hop fans, purists and Creole Hip-Hop artists paying homage to the legend. In summary, Creole is the language. Creole Hip-Hop is the Hip-Hop lifestyle and culture of Haitians and Haitian Americans worldwide, similarly French is the language and French Hip-Hop is the Hip-Hop lifestyle and culture of the French, Spanish is the language and Spanish Hip-Hop is the Hip-Hop lifestyle of the Latin community and the list goes on and on. That is how the Creole hip-hop movement was create and on its way to attain commercial success. “So just keep in mind, this movement has been around longer than some of us, I truly believe Creole Hip Hop in Haiti would have been only second to American Hip Hop today in popularity had it not been for our political turmoil in the 80’s which saw the disappearance of Haiti's middle class as well as chased away a lot of the art and culture in our society." We could trace the emergence of Hip-Hop, back to the 80s, and even before that, I just hope by reading this mini bio, everyone can get a better understanding of where the Creole Hip-Hop movement came from and where it’s going.