In this episode of Hip-Hop Snapshots, Ross Martinez traces hip-hop’s roots back to the African continent—where rhythm, storytelling, and community long predated the Bronx. From West African griots to dubbed cassette tapes in Senegal, from anti-apartheid rhymes in South Africa to global cultural moments that looped Africa back into American hip-hop, this snapshot explores how hip-hop didn’t just influence Africa—it returned home. This episode highlights key figures, movements, and media platforms that carried the culture across oceans, showing why hip-hop’s DNA has always been African, communal, and rooted in shared history.

Hip Hop Snapshots - How the UK Built Hip-Hop Through Community
07:16

Hip Hop Snapshots - Sofrito & Sound Systems - How Reggaeton and Hip-Hop Grew Together
08:06

Hip Hop Snapshots - Hip Hops Languages- Chicano Roots in Hip-Hop
07:50