The Message : Back in the Day

Check out these old school photos.

Back in the Days When I Was Young... - What did hip hop look like during its inception? Get a feel for the heyday with these throwback pics. (Photo: PM Images/Getty Images)

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Back in the Days When I Was Young... - What did hip hop look like during its inception? Get a feel for the heyday with these throwback pics. (Photo: PM Images/Getty Images)

Break-dancing - B-boy pioneers such as Bronx native Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon and Ken Smith, former vice president of the Rock Steady Crew, helped to make break-dancing so popular it was incorporated as one of the five elements of hip hop. The movement inspired tracks like Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks," Herbie Hancock's "Rockit" and KRS-One's "Step Into a World (Rapture Delight)."(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Standin' in My B-Boy Stance - As one of hip hop's four elements, breakdancing gave pracitioners the opportunity to physically express their love for the culture.  (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

These Are the Breaks - Breakdancers often attracted huge crowds that would watch them perform their routine. You still see it on the subways in NYC every so often. (Photo: Leo Vals/Getty Images)

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These Are the Breaks - Breakdancers often attracted huge crowds that would watch them perform their routine. You still see it on the subways in NYC every so often. (Photo: Leo Vals/Getty Images)

Staying Competitive - Even back in the day, b-boy competitions were common. An park with open space would often lend itself to these gatherings. (Photo: Leo Vals/Getty Images)

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Staying Competitive - Even back in the day, b-boy competitions were common. An park with open space would often lend itself to these gatherings. (Photo: Leo Vals/Getty Images)

Artwork for the People? - Graffiti has always had a controversial place in hip hop. For many in New York, it became a symbol of how much they had lost control of the city. For those in hip hop, it provided a visual backdrop to the culture that changed their lives, despite the lawless behavior that went into it. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Artwork for the People? - Graffiti has always had a controversial place in hip hop. For many in New York, it became a symbol of how much they had lost control of the city. For those in hip hop, it provided a visual backdrop to the culture that changed their lives, despite the lawless behavior that went into it. (Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Fame in Graffiti - Despite its renegade reputation, graffiti found a place of acceptance among many in NYC's downtown scene (including the likes of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat). Graf pioneer Lee Quiñones' 1988 oil painting "Howard the Duck" is one such piece that was bought by art pioneer Martin Wong many years ago. (Photo: AP Photo/Museum of the City of New York)

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Fame in Graffiti - Despite its renegade reputation, graffiti found a place of acceptance among many in NYC's downtown scene (including the likes of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat). Graf pioneer Lee Quiñones' 1988 oil painting "Howard the Duck" is one such piece that was bought by art pioneer Martin Wong many years ago. (Photo: AP Photo/Museum of the City of New York)

Run With These Emcees - Run DMC proved to be one of hip hop's most successful groups with their distinct sound and style.  (Photo: Hulton/Getty Images)

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Run With These Emcees - Run DMC proved to be one of hip hop's most successful groups with their distinct sound and style.  (Photo: Hulton/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Hulton/Getty Images

Bigger and Deffer - LL Cool J was known for the incredible energy he brought to the stage.  (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

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Bigger and Deffer - LL Cool J was known for the incredible energy he brought to the stage.  (Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns)

Photo By Photo: Ebet Roberts/Redferns

The Man Behind "The Message" - It was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five that changed the game with their song "The Message." It was the first time that a hip hop song conveyed social commentary about the plight of the inner city and is recognized for being one of the greatest hip hop songs ever.  (Photo: David Corio/Redferns)

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The Man Behind "The Message" - It was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five that changed the game with their song "The Message." It was the first time that a hip hop song conveyed social commentary about the plight of the inner city and is recognized for being one of the greatest hip hop songs ever.  (Photo: David Corio/Redferns)

Photo By Photo: David Corio/Redferns