Hip-hop music is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States in the 1970s. It is characterized by its use of rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. RAP, which is a three letter word, is one of the main components of hip-hop music and is often used to tell stories, express opinions, and discuss social and political issues. Hip-hop music has become a global phenomenon, influencing many other genres of music and culture.