30th anniversary of hip hop

Hip Hop Flash

Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa

, Taken on Oct.2, 1993. Caption: From Left to Right, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa. The three of the pioneers of hip hop and rap hail from the Bronx.

RUN-DMC create handprints in cement.

Hip hop pioneers RUN-DMC create handprints in cement as they are inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk Monday, Feb. 25, 2002, in Los Angeles. Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, left, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, center, and Joseph "DJ Run" Simmons, produced the first rap album to go gold as well as the first rap act nominated for a Grammy.

Rapper Angel performs at Pyramid.

Rapper Angel (Angela Thomas) of Greenport performs at Pyramid's END of the WEAK open-mic.

Video: Russell Simmons on hip hop

Hip-Hop Fashion: Past to Present

Photo/Robert Spencer

In the past two years, gangsta rap's popularity soared to levels it hadn't seen since N.W.A. helped invent the genre 15 years ago, but are the streets where today's hip-hoppers grow up really that much more dangerous than the rest of the country? Here is Day Two of Newsday's five-part series on hip hop.

Without adornment, save a pair of gold earrings in the shape of 45-inch record inserts, Jean Grae's style contrasts with the bejeweled appearance of many of today's female rappers and the bikini-clad dancers populating rap videos.

In the '80s, it was the leveraged buyout; in the '90s, technology. But at the beginning of a new century, it's the selling of "cool" that is building empires and making moguls.

Louis Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs recently joined forces with music producer and hip-hop artist Pharrell Williams to create a line of funky eyewear. Terms of the deal were not available. But such partnerships between upscale companies and hip-hop artists are becoming increasingly common.

Videos: Hip hop in New York and beyond

Audio: Conscious Rap Songs

One knock against hip hop is the lack of conscious music, says its critics. Here are some sound clips of songs that fall into that category.

Audio: Hear S.I. Artists

Hard core, raw hip-hop is the hallmark of Staten Island. Wu-Tang Clan paved the way with its realistic images of ghetto life.

Audio: Listen to Brooklyn Artists

From Big Daddy Kane to Biggie to Jay-Z, Brooklyn rappers have a distinct style Here are some audio clips of their music.

Audio: Listen to Public Enemy

From the suburbs of Roosevelt, Long Island sprang the conscience of hip hop. Public Enemy shed lights on the problems of being Black in America. The group continues to provide pointed commentary of our society. Here are some of their songs.

Audio: Gangsta Rap Songs

Audio: Hear songs from the Top 25 rappers

Audio: Listen to Jean Grae

Audio: Listen to Female Artists

Audio: Listen to Queens Artists

Born in the Bronx, hip hop became commercial in Queens. Following in the footsteps of Run-DMC, artists such as LL Cool J to 50 Cent and Ja Rule continue to offer up slinging beats and ear candy. Hear some of their songs.

Audio: Listen to Ja Rule

Audio: Listen to Bronx Artists

The Bronx is the birthplace of hip hop. Artists such as Afrika Bambaataa, the Cold Crush Brothers and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five put hip hop on the map. Here is audio of some Bronx artists.