Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. feature
    • ex. The movie features my favorite actor.
  2. an appearance
    • ex. Another famous singer will make an appearance at the concert tour of my favorite band.
  3. ultimate
    • ex. She believes that Paris is the ultimate vacation tourist spot to go to.
  4. shape
    • ex. He has a strong mind. His past experiences have shaped his strong personality.
  5. influential
    • ex. She is an influential singer. A lot of teens who listen to her music would like to become a singer too.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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US Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a party that celebrated hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. The celebration featured appearances by some hip-hop music pioneers. Harris held the party at the vice presidential house. Among the hip-hop artists invited were Common, Jeezy, MC Lyte, and Roxanne Shante.

Many believe that hip-hop was created during a back-to-school party on Aug. 11, 1973, at a Bronx apartment in New York City. Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, was the DJ at that party. According to Harris, hip-hop is the “ultimate American art form” that “shapes every aspect of America’s popular culture.” She added, “Hip-hop culture is American culture.”

Hip-hop has developed into a global industry. It has become one of the world’s most influential cultural forces. It is a multibillion-dollar industry built on many years of different forms of arts and skills. Before watching the musicians’ performance, Harris also said that hip-hop has always been a way for people to express themselves and it tells stories that are not always seen in the news.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Hip-hop Music

  • In your opinion, is hip-hop popular in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Are you a fan of hip-hop music? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • According to Harris, hip-hop is the ultimate American art form that shapes American popular culture. What do you think shapes your country’s popular culture (ex. J-pop, anime)? Why? Discuss.

Music Industry

  • The 50th anniversary featured appearances by some hip-hop music pioneers. Why do you think they were featured? Discuss.
  • According to the article, hip-hop has developed into a global industry. What other types of music do you think developed into a global industry (ex. K-pop)? Why? Discuss.
  • Why do you think the music industry is influential? Discuss.