Hip Hop's start can be traced to New York on August 11, 1973. To mark the occasion, NPR has produced a one-hour documentary. Host Juana Summers takes us to the Bronx community room where it all got started where DJ Kool Herc became known for spinning records focusing on percussive breaks in the music (hence break dancing). With his friend Coke La Rock shouting out rhymes on the microphone over the beat, their parties gave way to rap. Interviews in this special include DJ Kool Herc who was at the center of the first party where hip hop was born. Also featured: Debora Hooper, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Moses Edinborough, director and producer of Yo! MTV Raps. Interviews also feature authors and music historians Jeff Chang, Jay Quan, Nelson George and Dan Charnas.
*Note: This post has been updated. A previous version mistakenly stated DJ Jazzy Jeff and Moses Edinborough were at the first party when hip hop was born. -ed*