the mix tape, a new york city 90s hip-hop institution, and arguably the most democratic form of music sharing there ever was. and before hip hop was really a thing, or before any radio stations saw its true potential and bothered to play it, it was djs like tony who would create mixes on cassette tape. you were keeping certain music alive, right, that wasn t getting radio play. - exactly. nobody was playing hip-hop. [hip-hop music] - tony touch and other djs played their tapes in clubs around the city, but hip-hop s big breakthrough happened even earlier in 1977 when lightning struck. no, no. i mean, literally. like, lightning struck and knocked out the power to most of the city. it all happened in 1977. and the blackout did what? - it boosted hip-hop cause now everybody was robbing the electronics stores. so now we had, like, 1,000 djs in new york. - once all those new djs started creating beats, the rap battles were on.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about the life and career of violinist Midori Goto based on an interview. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of her debut, the musician, who is often referred to mononymously as Midori, recounts her story as an artist, social activist and educator.
and arguably the most democratic form of music sharing there ever was. and before hip hop was really a thing, or before any radio stations saw its true potential and bothered to play it, it was djs like tony who would create mixes on cassette tape. you were keeping certain music alive, right, that wasn t getting radio play. - exactly. nobody was playing hip-hop. [hip-hop music] - tony touch and other djs played their tapes in clubs around the city, but hip-hop s big breakthrough happened even earlier in 1977 when lightning struck. no, no. i mean, literally. like, lightning struck and knocked out the power to most of the city. it all happened in 1977. and the blackout did what? - it boosted hip-hop cause now everybody was robbing the electronics stores. so now we had, like, 1,000 djs in new york. - once all those new djs started creating beats, the rap battles were on. everybody s competing cause there s too many
the mix tape, a new york city 90s hip-hop institution, and arguably the most democratic form of music sharing there ever was. and before hip hop was really a thing, or before any radio stations saw its true potential and bothered to play it, it was djs like tony who would create mixes on cassette tape. you were keeping certain music alive, right, that wasn t getting radio play. - exactly. nobody was playing hip-hop. [hip-hop music] - tony touch and other djs played their tapes in clubs around the city, but hip-hop s big breakthrough happened even earlier in 1977 when lightning struck. no, no. i mean, literally. like, lightning struck and knocked out the power to most of the city. it all happened in 1977. and the blackout did what? - it boosted hip-hop cause now everybody was robbing the electronics stores. so now we had, like, 1,000 djs in new york. - once all those new djs started creating beats,
eyes. i remember being asked what do you like most, christine or britney? i said beyonce. crazy in love, that is how it begins. it seemed like, almost overnight she became an icon, a deeply respected figure. beyonce. in the early to thousands, the industry was dominated by pop sensations and booming cd sales, that they were totally oblivious to the new generation that didn t think music was something you had to pay for. using a pc to download music is one of the hottest of today s trans has the music recording industry up in arms. the music sharing into known as napster. in the late 90s and early 2000, your complacent, people have come to them and said you have to start investing in the technology that comes after the compact disc, and they just refused to do it. some of rock n roll s bad boys are picking a fight this morning with the internet site