Tariq Nasheed & DJ Vlad Debate if Latinos & Jamaicans Helped to Create Hip-Hop (Part 4)

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Tariq Nasheed and DJ Vlad delved into the origins of hip-hop, debating the roles played by Jamaicans and Latinos in its creation. Nasheed’s new documentary, "Microphone Check," asserts that hip-hop was created exclusively by foundational Black Americans, with other groups joining later. He emphasized that all elements of hip-hop—rapping, breakdancing, DJing—originated within Black American culture.

DJ Vlad challenged this by referencing Jamaican DJ Kool Herc, a recognized figure in hip-hop history, who is known for his breakbeat DJing style. Nasheed countered, stressing that Herc did not bring Jamaican cultural elements into hip-hop and that breakbeats and block parties were already part of the New York scene before Herc’s influence.

They also discussed early contributions from Latinos, who DJ Vlad noted joined the hip-hop movement later, in the late 1970s. Nasheed highlighted that while Latinos contributed, they were essentially the first students of the genre, supporting the narrative that foundational Black Americans were the trailblazers of hip-hop.