Pakistani hip hop is a new genre of Pakistani music. In recent years, local Pakistani hip hop artists have begun to emerge in underground scenes in large cities such as Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. The lyrical expression of cultural identity and addressing Pakistan's political and social problems is vital in making hip hop a popular growing genre. It is mainly performed in English, Urdu, and Punjabi.
History
Though created in the United States by African Americans, hip hop culture and music is now global in scope. According to the U.S. Department of State, hip hop is "now the center of a mega music and fashion industry around the world," that crosses social barriers and cuts across racial lines.[1] In Pakistan, hip-hop became known with the arrival of American television in Pakistan.
Culture
Pakistani hip hop is a blend of traditional Pakistani musical elements with modern hip hop music and is achieved by using various Pakistani languages as well as incorporating traditional percussion like the tabla and dhol and other instrumentation like the sitar. Pakistani hip hop is perceived differently by the major branches of the Pakistani diaspora, where Pakistani Americans often adopt hip hop at an early age and make it an important aspect of their "American identity". Conversely, Pakistani Britons were first exposed to hip hop as an American export. Overseas Pakistanis have have aided in the popularity and promotion of hip hop in Pakistan.
