The Gospel Of | Hip Hop: The First Instrument

At the core of the book is a critical distinction: "hip hop" (lowercase) is the product—the music and entertainment—while "Hip Hop" (uppercase) is the culture and the people themselves. KRS-One argues that Hip Hop is not something you do , but something you are . He defines "Hip" as the mind and "Hop" as the movement, suggesting that the culture is a metaphysical principle—a conscious behavior that rescued a generation from the "self-destruction" of poverty and ignorance. The Nine Elements and H-LAW

In The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument , KRS-One—affectionately known as "The Teacha"—transcends the boundaries of music to present Hip Hop as a totalizing life path, a spiritual discipline, and a sovereign culture. Published in 2009 by powerHouse Books , this 800-plus-page opus is famously modeled after the Christian Bible, complete with verses and "overstandings" designed to guide the "Hiphoppa" toward self-reliance and divine consciousness. Hip Hop as a Way of Life

: Economic self-governance and trade.

These elements are intended to lead the practitioner to : Health, Love, Awareness, and Wealth. The Meaning of "The First Instrument" Gospel of Hip Hop, The: First Instrument - powerHouse Books

: Hip Hop’s martial art, focusing on physical mastery. Graffiti Art : The science of color, light, and dimension. The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument

: Using the body as an instrument for self-expression. Street Fashion : The visual expression of cultural identity.

: The independent linguistic evolution of the culture. Street Knowledge : The study of universal law and heritage. At the core of the book is a

To codify this culture, KRS-One expands the traditional "four elements" (MCing, DJing, Breaking, and Graffiti) into a comprehensive framework of nine: : The study of divine speech and storytelling. DJing : The pursuit of technology and rhythm.