Ep 1. The Foundation

Hip-Hop Evolution is a Canadian television series that explores the origins and evolution of hip-hop music and culture. In the first season, the show takes viewers on a journey through the key moments, movements, and personalities that have shaped the genre into what it is today. The debut episode, "The Foundation," sets the stage for the rest of the series by examining the early roots of hip-hop and how it came to be a cultural force.

The episode begins by introducing the four main pillars of hip-hop: MCing, DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing. It then takes us back to the late 1960s and early 1970s in the South Bronx, New York, where a combination of poverty, societal neglect, and urban decay created a fertile breeding ground for cultural expression and resistance. We learn about the conditions that led to the rise of street gangs and how the youth in the area developed creative outlets to channel their energy and escape their harsh realities.

As the episode continues, we see how the various elements of hip-hop began to converge and form a cohesive culture. We meet DJ Kool Herc, credited with being the founder of hip-hop, and learn about his innovative techniques of looping breaks and keeping the rhythm going to energize party-goers. We hear from Grandmaster Flash, whose use of the mixer and crossfader transformed DJing into an art form. We also get introduced to Afrika Bambaataa, whose charismatic leadership and vision for spreading peace and positivity through hip-hop led to the founding of the Universal Zulu Nation.

Through interviews with key figures in the early hip-hop scene, we get a sense of the camaraderie and competition that existed among the different crews and how they pushed each other to innovate. We see how MCing evolved from simply hyping up the crowd to becoming a means of storytelling and social commentary. We witness how graffiti artists took their art form from subway cars to gallery spaces and how breakdancers developed their own unique style and vocabulary of moves.

Overall, "The Foundation" does an excellent job of setting the stage for the rest of the series by tracing the roots of hip-hop to their earliest beginnings. It provides insightful commentary and engaging visual material that will appeal to both fans of the genre and newcomers alike. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the cultural impact and significance of hip-hop and how it has become a global phenomenon.