Abstract

This paper aims at analyzing the connection between music and culture. Specifically the
connection between African American music and the cultural subgroups we find today in
our society; subcultures such as rockers, hip-hopers, hippies and others. The first step is to

define the term ‘culture’ and the term ‘cultural subgroup’. Although there is a wide variety
of cultures and subcultures, I only looked into the music-based subcultures that emerged
from the rock’n’roll, blues, jazz and hip-hop music genres. I have also researched the
history of the African American slaves focusing on their struggle for freedom of
expression through their slave songs and also their fight for freedom and equal rights in the
Civil War and in the Civil Rights Movement started by Reverend Dr . Martin Luther King

Jr. The next step is to define the concept of music. Analyze its meanings and influence
through song and lyrics particularly looking into the evolution and progress of the main
genres of music developed in the United States: Blues, Jazz, Rock’n’Roll and later Hip-
Hop.

I have dwelt on the connection between music and people mainly showing the fact that
musicians use their music to reach people and to change mentalities . Music seems to be a

conduit towards free expression and progression of the human nature.

The conclusion of my study is that African American music, starting from the very
beginnings of slave songs, has created the very successful music genres of Rock, Blues,
Jazz and Hip-Hop and through these popular genres it has created pockets of subcultures
consisting in the fans of those certain types of music . The fans together with the music,

with all their different particularities of behavior, language, clothes etc. contributed in the

creation of culture. The following research paper could be used to shed some light on the

way music can and has influenced lives and societies as a whole for generations . It could
be a useful tool in understanding the different social and cultural subgroups created by
music genres.