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But if you go back four decades or so, you’ll uncover a vibrant and largely unknown history.In this exclusive music documentary we spoke to some of the most influential artists from Sydney and Melbourne and gained unique insight into how the hip-hop scene exploded Down Under.Hip-hop at its core incorporates four foundational elements: DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and graffiti.The culture emerged in the early 1970s in the Bronx in New York City during a time of economic decline and urban despair. Breaking had become a pop culture phenomenon in Australia and the competition featured crews battling from all over the country.Molly Meldrum watches the Beat Street competition with Rock Steady Crew on Countdown in 1984.Credit: ABC / CountdownGraffiti was a very strong element of the culture in the early days of Australian hip-hop.

How a New York City art form found its way to Australia and evolved into one of our most significant cultural forces. Read more