Haitian hip hop

Haitian hip hop is hip hop music originating from Haiti and sung by artists of Haitian descent. The most popular form of this is the rising of 'Hip Hop nan Kreyol' or Kreyol Hip Hop. Often, hardcore beats are used while the artist raps in kreyol. Kreyol hip hop, though relatively new, has become very popular with Haitian youth.[citation needed] Many Haitian rap artists have had rough childhoods and difficult living conditions producing rappers in which socio-economic topics are spoken through their lyrics.[citation needed] Though similar to mainstream American hip hop in that materialistic imagery is portrayed or lyricized, the negative aspects of Haitian society for the less fortunate such as topics concerning slum life, gang warfare, the drug trade, and poverty are much more common. The most well-known exports of Haitian hip hop have been two members of the legendary Grammy Award-winning hip hop group the Fugees, Wyclef Jean and his cousin Pras Michel (a.k.a. Pras). However the godfather of hip hop in Haiti is the late Master Dji who not only released the first Haitian rap song in the early 1980s but also he has been influential in pushing other young Haitians to become rappers, DJs, and breakdancers.
Kreyol hip hop is one of the most powerful music genres to emerge from the Haitian community, during the late 80s.[citation needed] Individuals such as Master Dji and O.R.S, were some of the early pioneers of this art form. Master Dji, who is believed to be the founder of Kreyol hip hop, brought it to national spotlights with songs such as 'Tann Pou Tann', 'Manmzel' and 'Politik Pam'. Even though the music gained commercial success with the explosion of Master Dji, some[who?] still find traces of Kreyol hip hop, and Haitians rapping on beats way before Master Dji came to scene. For a while, Haiti started to embrace hip hop and also adapt it in other types of music, such as Konpa. But it all faded away when Master Dji died in 1994.[citation needed]