 
When Grandmaster Flash and DJ Kool Herc brought the sound of Jamaica to the streets of New York their goal was to have this “Hip-Hop” sound infiltrate of style of music. In the year 2007 we can see hip-hop’s influence in everything from clothes, cars, tv and movies. Which brings me to my latest topic. Cartoons, yes I said cartoons.Â
Kid ‘n Play even had their own NBC Saturday morning cartoon, Kid ‘n Play, for one season from 1990 to 1991.
M.C. Hammer had Hammerman Saturday morning’s which aired for one season (1991 – 1992).
In November 2006 the Cartoon Network release “Class of 3000″ starring Andre 3000 from Outkast that has original songs for each episode.
Adult Swim did a collaboration with Danger Mouse and MF Doom called “DangerDoom” in 2005.
The latest venture with Hip-Hop and animation actually comes from France. The movie is based on the cult TV series “Les Lascars” which aired on MTV as “Round da Way.” The 30 x 1 min Gallic show was an instant hit when it aired on Canal Plus seven years ago, but has grown to become an Internet phenom, with pirated Arab and Creole-language versions, as well as the original French and English versions, popular on sites such as YouTube. The show was the most watched program on Orange and SFR mobile phones last year, with more than 600,000 hits. The €10 million ($13.5 million) pic includes an American version, with such artists as L.A. rapper Fat Lip. The French version, which includes improvised humor, is practically finished, and animation will begin this summer. The picture will be distributed by Bac Films, subsid of producer Millimages, with coin from Canal Plus and pubcaster France 2, co-producing.
Millimage has been trying to develop a 26-minute series and a movie for years, but the concept seemed too edgy for French broadcasters. With this latest development coming I wonder how long it will be before another rapper get’s into animation. I look forward to seeing how Fat Lip does in this one.
Sources used:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not a big hip hop fan but, I thought the article was very nicely written. I felt that the writer used good resources to get the facts about what he was trying to tell us. To those of you who are hip hop fans you will really enjoy reading the articles on this site. Good Job !!!
I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR ARTICLE. I LIKE SOME HIPHOP. MANY OF TODAYS HH ARTIST ARE ANIMATED. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING MORE OF YOUR WRITINGS.