Happy Belated Birthday to the Music Genre
Hip Hop. It’s very fitting that Hip Hop’s Sun sign is Leo. Yes events, cities,
locations, and non-physical things can have natal charts.
If you didn’t know Hip Hop was born on August
11th 1973, making it 44 years old. Google.com had a Doodle on it’s
homepage celebrating and commemorating Hip Hop’s date of birth. Google’s
interactive Doodle had an oral history lesson of Hip Hop and also turntables
with records that you can scratch on. I had fun messing with it and Dj-ing
during work.
Note: Hip Hop’s time of birth (TOB) is 9:00 pm, the original 1973 flyer can be found online.
Hip Hop was started in the Bronx, NY by
Black, African-American, and Hispanic Community. Hip Hop’s birth is attributed
to Clive Campbell aka DJ Herc (short for Hercules), a Jamaican-American DJ.
During this infamous party he scratched a record of an instrumental beat and allowed
a prolong dance break in his DJ set for dancing and freestyling at his sister’s
birthday party. His pioneering party and DJ-ing piece together all four elements
of hip hop. The four elements are one: scratching aka breaking or DJ-ing, two: MC-ing/Rapping,
three: break dancing, and four: graffiti art.
By the way I did a quick natal chart for
hip hop’s “founder” DJ Herc. He’s an Aries Sun conjunct Mercury with an
Aquarius moon, Pisces Venus, Gemini Mars, and North Node in Sagittarius.
Piecing that all together Dj Herc is very rebellious, independent, and creative
person with the sensitivity, knowledge and foresight to connect with others
through music/art.
Anyway let’s get into Hip Hop’s Astrology.
Leo Sun in the 6th House.
Hip Hop’s Sun is in Leo in the 6th
House, which means there is pride and confidence in routine, job habits, and
health. This is not really relevant since Hip Hop isn’t a person and this
context Hip Hop is an event. However I decided to include on here.
Capricorn Moon in the 11th
House. Jupiter in Aquarius is also in the 11th House
Hip Hop has a Capricorn moon in the 11th
House. This means that Hip Hop’s emotions is tided into the collective consciousness.
The 11th House is the house of friendships, organizations, groups,
dreams, and aspirations. It is ruled by Aquarius/Uranus. This is one of the
reasons why Hip Hop took off. It tapped into the emotions of the poor, disenfranchised,
oftentimes powerless and overlooked youth and minorities.
Random but Capricorn doesn’t get enough
props and respect as a creative, inventive, and musical zodiac sign and force.
Capricorn/Saturnian influenced music is known for its use of structure, timing,
and earthy world influences. There is also a misconception that Capricorn moons
specifically don’t have feelings or can’t express emotions. Capricorn do have
feelings and can express emotions but oftentimes don’t choose to show it
outwardly due to fear of vulnerability and appearing weak.
Capricorn/Saturnian music and musicians
are disciplined and they take the TIME to learn everything they can know about
their genre or musical instrument they are interested in. They don’t take the
easy way out, or short cuts. #Blood.Sweat.Tears.Sacrifice.Capricorn’s motto.
Jupiter in Aquarius is also in the 11th,
which means that it amplifies and expands all the energy in the 11th
House. This is also creative energy that represents means that all about
freedom for all, equality, and rooting for the underdog. Expansive, interactive
people focused/driven art form that is embraced around the world. A force of
nature.
Ascendant in Pisces
1st House has Chiron (Aries)
and Mars (Aries)
Hip Hop has an Ascendant in Pisces. Pisces
Ascendant is sensitive, compassionate and open to the world/plight of others.
Even so, Hip Hop’s ascendant behaves in a bit of an Aries way. Chiron and Mars
in Aries are both in the 1st House/Ascendant. So there’s a natural
aggressive, energetic nature (Mars) to Hip Hop.
There is also a misconception/misrepresentation/reputation
(Chiron) that hip hop is violent, negative, and poisoning. Of course elements
of these things exist in the culture but it is also about fighting, survival,
and competition. If you confused look up that racist guy Darwin’s Survival of
the Fittest Theory. It’s interesting to note that Hip Hop is using it’s Chiron
against itself healing others while harming/reshaping itself.
One thing about Hip Hop is that it is definitely
misunderstood and clouded in mystery and confusion. Aka very Piscean. Example I
have seen comments online saying that hip hop is not an art form (which is
outrageous and ignorant to me).
Saturn (Cancer) in the 4th
House
Hip Hop has Saturn in Cancer in the 4th
House, which means that it’s sensitive upbringing/early life/home is a bit
rough and hard. Though Hip Hop is not a person, this is very relevant. Hip Hop
started out as a way for marginalized people to creatively and productively express
their experiences (of mostly poverty, broken homes, and traumatic experiences).
It’s about life’s limitations and struggles. This placement is very fitting.
Mercury in Leo in the 5th House
Hip Hop has mercury in Leo in the 5th
House, so there is definitely a Gemini sort of way. The need to communicate is
pretty much an addiction and coupled with the sign Leo, it’s explosive. The
fifth house is naturally ruled by Leo/The Sun so mercury is at home. This
communication is confident, creative, proud, and in need of
approval/attention/an audience.
7th House Stellium
One of the most important part is Hip Hop’s
chart is the 7th House stellium. As you guys know the 7th
House is the house of relationships, partnerships, and projection. Hip Hop’s 7th
House is ruled by a Virgo Venus, Pluto and Uranus both in Libra. This means
that Hip Hop’s relationships themes are based on the behavior and urge to offer
up itself to the world in a rebellious/liberated (Uranus), transformative/powerful
(Pluto) and carnal, earthy and people-oriented way (Venus).
Extreme Criticism of Hip Hop includes:
That Hip Hop is degenerate, tasteless,
class-less, and vulgar music that poisons youths minds. Hip Hop is very polarizing. Ring: What planet does this sound like? Hello Pluto anyone?
That Hip Hop is Materialistic, vain, and
only appeals to the ego/impulses/lower sensual natures of Man.
Ring: What planet does this sound like? Hello Venus?
Hello Bosch’s the Garden of Earthly delights anyone?
That Hip Hop encourages anarchy, chaos, resistance
to authority/law/rules, and the breakdown of society.
Ring: What planet does this sound like? Uranus anyone?
Not saying that these criticism are not
dipped in truth/accuracy but a lot of these criticism also has to do with
projection. Hip Hop reflects and mirrors back to us our times, our culture, our
society, and our flaws. It’s not completely “perfect”or “structured” like other
musical genres. Not trying to be too political/socially conscious but it’s also
dipped in racism, classism, and xenophobia. Hip Hop was started by black people
and according to the modern world and unnatural systems placed centuries ago,
black/melanin-ated people are at the bottom of the racial totem pole. P.S. I
don’t believe that shit, we popping (Cardi B voice). Best believe society’s
flaws and reactions are mirrored back to Hip Hop.
Neptune in the 9th House
Neptune in Sagittarius in the 9th
House is the icing sprinkles on the Hip Hop natal chart. Neptune effects is
similar to Jupiter except that it’s more reactive, sensitive and murky. The 9th
House is the house of education, higher learning, spirituality, and travel. Neptune
in Sagittarius in the 9th House is all about creatively challenging,
breaking down and transforming boundaries in an organic fluid way.
10th House
Hip Hop’s North Node is in Sagittarius in
the 10th House and is the sprinkles of this natal chart. We were
destined to have Hip Hop and for it to fuel and push forward human culture
forward. Makes ceative cosmic exploring a business and a career.
Overall I can go on and on, but I don’t have
time for that shit and this will become a 10 page novel.
Alternative Birthday for Hip Hop
Interesting enough there is also an Alternative
Hip Hop Birthday created by one of the hip hop legends, Afrika Bambataa (from
Universal Zulu Nation group).
He’s stated that the birthday of hip hop is November
12th 1974.
His reasoning is that by this time hip hop had
established itself and was widespread/more accessible to the public and hungry creative
minds. I did a natal chart for the alternative birthday. The Alternative chart
has a 5 planet Scorpio Stellium (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars all in
Scorpio). Jupiter is in Pisces.
Either chart works for me, but I resonate
more with the original chart, first because it’s the first and earlier chart (in
terms of date/timing) and second because this chart is a bit more fitting for
me. I would note that logically and honestly you can’t really pin point a start
of a music genre/culture/way of life but with Hip Hop’s Leo date it represents
its birth and realm into the earthy consciousness, not it’s conception.
Anyway I hope this informative,
interesting, and insightful. Peace out.
Sources:
Article by complex.com, How Aug. 11 Became
Hip-Hop's Birthday
telegraph.uk, How was hip hop born? Google
Doodle marks 44 years since the movement began