The widely accepted rise of rap started was in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York. It had started as a way for the marginalized communities to express themselves, and it became popular through parties. This is where the rise of DJs and MCs occured. DJs used turntables to create beats, and MCs added rhythmic rhymes to these beats. Its rise was fueled by its mainstream exposure through pioneering records like "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang.

After World War II, many middle class families were beggining to move to suburbs, which left behind poor minority communities in the declining urban areas. This was a downwards spiral which just made the whole area in the Bronx worse, leading to disinvestment in the Bronx. In addition, there was a loss of manufactoring jobs causing poverty and unemployment. This all was magnified by the housing crisis in the bronx aswell.

The Bronx was a melting pot for minority groups like African Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Caribbean immigrants. These musical traditions being blended together (like jazz, funk, soul) merged to form early rap.

With a decline of opportunities and widespread poverty, many kids, teenagers, and young adults created gangs for protection and belonging. One of these groups, the Black Spades, were prominent; however, the rise of rap also coincided with efforts to reduce gang violence. One member of the Black Spades, Afrika Bambaataa, helped create the Universal Zulu Nation. This was an attempt to create peace through hiphop culture.

The parties of the Bronx were the birthplace of hiphop! This is where DJs (like Kool Herc) created new techniques, like extending breakbeats to create a continuous rhythm for dancers. The parties were held everywhere. Sometimes in parks, houses, etc. These parties provided an environement where creative blends of music were created. Despite the decay around the Bronx, this provided a way for the marginalized to create. MCs, breakdancer, DJs, and more were born through these parties. Rap is seen as a blend of other genres, because the minorities in the Bronxe and these parties blended their African American, Latino, and Caribbean influences, through music.