No. 1: The New York City Blackout of 1977 – The Main Catalyst for the Hip Hop Culture
In the scorching summer of ’77, New York City was left in the dark for almost 24 hours, during the most infamous blackout in its history. Assaults, arsons, and lootings all soon followed. However, despite the havoc unleashed in New York, for the hip hop culture, the blackout provided the breakthrough needed by numerous aspiring DJs. Poor kids who otherwise would not have been able to afford the necessary equipment, now had access to only high-end merchandise. Prior to the blackout, there were only 5 known DJs in the entire city. After it, there was one on every single block.
