Hip hop as a separate trend of the culture appeared in late 1970s as a street culture of New York and includes rap as a music style, break dance as a dance style, graffiti as a fine art and some kinds of extreme sport as a sportive current. Rap music is one of the parts of the hip hop culture and usually is presented as the same concept. Primarily rap style of music was spread between African-American and Puerto Rican inhabitants of the New York City, but later the original idea of performing and rapping reached the Europe and other countries of the world. International hip hop musicians review appeared in music periodicals and TV music programs worldwide. Hip Hop became the culture of the new generation and Rap turned into the commercially successful industry.

Those who have ever listened to Rap music can make the characteristic that it is the range of rhymed texts, stories and tales chanted by a performer and accompanied by any other melody, musical theme or just a simple bit of the drums. The melodies can be borrowed from other styles: Jazz, Rock, Pop, Jungle, Funk, Soul, Disco and many others. They are put as a base for rapping. But of course, it is only the outside description.

The real philosophy of the rap music is not always soft and harmless. The nature of the street origin left a great mark on the hip hop trend. In 1990, so-called Gangsta Rap appeared as a consequence of criminal past of many rappers. Gangsta Rap propagandized violence, use of drugs, misogyny, promiscuity and crime; it was associated with street gangs` life. And definitely, the rap music was always attacked by journalists. And all these things did not prevent it from being stable in world music charts and hip hop musicians review named a lot of rappers.

Snoop Dogg was one of the most famous. He was like an embodiment of the Gangsta Rap culture and reflected the real philosophy of the style. He gained a special popularity after having been accused of the murder and after a few years he was discharged. That event was discussed in every hip hop musicians review, Snoop turned into a scandalous celebrity. Later he proceeded with more lyrical music and a more pop-friendly sound.

In recent years Gangsta Rap movement lost its popularity. Rock and pop base of rap music made it more diverse and soft. The lyrics are not so cruel and violent. And very often rappers make themselves a career in other spheres of show business and art. For example, celebrity Queen Latifah, whose name was mentioned in every hip hop musicians review, was nominated in 2002 for Oscar award for her brilliant part in the famous musical Chicago.

Or one more pop star Puff Daddy whose pop rap style was very popular several years ago, presently prefers to deal with production activity, having his own record studio and releasing the hits. Also he is involved in marketing and advertising, prints his own magazine Notorius and even acted in the movie Monster`s Ball. But nevertheless, rap culture continues to exist and is characterized by appearing many great new styles and trends.