Tariq Nasheed challenges the narratives of different ethnic backgrounds about where hip hop originated.

Now that it’s been 50 years of Hip Hop, people have started making claims of having a stake in its origins. There are many narratives from different ethnic backgrounds. One narrative is that DJ Kool Herc invented Hip Hop. Another narrative is, Jamaicans invented Hip Hop due to Black Americans DJ’s emulating the sound clash culture of Jamaica. Another narrative is Rapping also comes from Jamaica by the way of “Jamaican Toasting”. The Italians say they created hip hop because of Sal Abbatiello, the owner of the Disc Fever, the first nightclub that only catered to Hip Hop acts in  the South Bronx that lasted from 1976-1986. Asians claim they invented hip hop because of the Wu-Tang Clan’s use of Chinese culture in their music. Then, there is the big one, and the one that seems to matter more than the others, the Puerto Ricians.

Examining the Questionable 50/50 claim of Puerto Ricans in Hip Hop’s creation

Two years prior, Fat Joe brazenly stated that Puerto Ricans helped initiate Hip Hop. After facing criticism for his remarks, he revised his statement to say, ‘in the beginning, we were there.’ Numerous individuals came out further debunking his claim explaining “being there doesn’t equate to adding to the origins of the genre”. A Puerto Rican named Dr. Derrick Colon, who refers to himself as the hip hop historian, published several videos on YouTube connecting Puerto Ricans to the roots of Hip Hop. He presented misleading arguments regarding James Brown’s band (whose syncopated drum rhythms became the nucleus of Hip Hop music) incorporating Latin percussion, suggesting that Latino culture influenced the beginnings of hip hop. Dr. Derrick Colon presents a case claiming that Puerto Ricans formed the first foundational B-Boy crews. Individuals who were there, along with the true pioneers, have invalidated these claims. Some argue that DJ Kool Herc, who hails from Jamaica, does not solely hold the title of founding father of Hip Hop. They point to other key figures like Disco King Mario and DJ Grandmaster Flowers from Brooklyn, as well as numerous other Black American pioneers. 

The Microphone Check!!!

On May 23, 2024, Tariq Nasheed released Microphone Check, a film over two hours long that delves into the history of Hip Hop. The film features interviews with historians, early rappers, and DJs, along with archival footage, event flyers, posters, and vintage photographs. Many members of the Black American community offered extensive praise and favorable critiques of the film. Many individuals from different ethnic backgrounds expressed significant opposition, asserting that the The documentary sparks debate that it isn’t entirely accurate, yet it features narrators who are the pioneers of hip hop and individuals present at the culture’s inception. Two weeks following the release of the documentary, photographer Joe Conzo issued a cease and desist to every movie theater in New York City, alleging that the images featured in the documentary violated copyright laws. The theaters removed the documentary, reducing its chances of receiving an Oscar nomination. Numerous individuals think that the cease and desist served as retaliation for the documentary’s content, which disproves claims from other ethnic groups about their involvement in the origins of Hip Hop. After Tariq and his team meticulously reviewed the film for any unauthorized images, they repackaged it and released it as the uncolonized version. The film holds a 9.4/10 rating on IMDB, is available for purchase on Amazon Prime, and can be found on microphonecheck.com.