「嘻哈」指美國都巿黑人文化，它的特徵包括打碟(DJing)、塗鴉藝術(Graffiti art)、霹靂舞(Breakdance)、電子說唱 (MCing / Emceeing)與饒舌(Rap)。 國際著名嘻哈表演者包括Kanye West、Jay-Z與Public Enemy。
The term ‘hip-hop’ refers to American urban black culture featuring DJing, graffiti art, breakdancing, MCing and rap. Prominent international hip-hop artists include Kanye West, Jay-Z and Public Enemy.

嘻哈音樂著重節奏多於旋律與和聲。它的特徵有：
Hip-hop music focuses on rhythm rather than melody and harmony. It is characterised by:

• rapping 饒舌
• use of samples 使用音樂取樣
• use of programmed beats 使用編程節拍
• DJing 打碟

饒舌是一種帶有節奏、押韻、半唱半講朗誦的歌唱技巧及音樂風格。主音歌手通常會伙伴著另一位歌手，這位歌手會：
Rapping is rhythmical, rhyming, semi-spoken recitation. Often the lead vocal is joined by another member of the group who:

• 在部分樂句重複最尾一個字 doubles the last word of some lines
• 加上回應樂句 adds answering phrases
• 加上說唱即興 adds spoken ad libs

音樂取樣器是一部將任何聲音錄製、加工並重播的機器。音樂取樣是一段數碼錄的聲，它可以是一段低音結他的重複樂句，一段合唱樂句，敲碎玻璃的聲音，又或是任何可以用作音樂創作的聲音塑材。
A sampler is a device that can take any sound that is put into it, process it and play it back. A sample is a digitally recorded fragment of sound. It could be a bass guitar riff, a song chorus, the sound of breaking glass, or indeed anything.

嘻哈源於1970年代的美國紐約巿布朗克斯地區(紐約巿五個行政地區最北面的區域，以公園用地最多著稱)。
Hip-hop originated in the Bronx area of New York in the 1970s.

它的歌唱部，源於牙買加的Toasting傳統。Toasting是說話與有節奏的吟唱之間的混合體，最初是牙買加MC的表演習慣。
Its vocal origins lie in the Jamaican ‘toasting’ tradition. Toasting is a cross between talking and rhythmic chanting which was originally practised by Jamaican MCs.

Breaks (in Hip Hop Music)

African-American DJs, such as Grandmaster Flash and the Jamaican-born ‘father of hip-hop’ Kool Herc, extended the instrumental sections (or ‘breaks‘) from records by mixing between two identical copies of the same record.

MCing / Emceeing

Some of the DJs (or MCs) rapped over the top of the ‘breaks’ in a style called MCing (or emceeing) – where words and rhymes were spoken in order to encourage the audience to dance.

Breakdance

Dancers would get up during the breaks and perform a highly gymnastic style of dance using head and back-spinning. They became known as breakdancers.