Music has always been in Amari Noelle’s blood. Raised in Gary, IN, and having a mother who is a singer, the rising R&B singer found herself gravitating to the art. Although Noelle was initially focused on basketball, she joined a singing group she met during gym class at her performing arts high school. From there, Noelle found herself exploring music more on her own.

From music pioneers that have led its evolution to how the genre connects diverse backgrounds through sonic sound, it’s evident that Hip-Hop is a staple in the culture. Its revolutionary impact is what pushed Congress to pass Resolution 331, a bill that declared November as National Hip-Hop History Month. “This was the inaugural Hip-Hop History Month and we just wanted to make sure we were day one about it,” YouTube’s Director of Black Music & Culture Tuma Basa told AfroTech. In case you missed it, the music streaming service honored the genre’s legendary artists with a musical tribute by curating playlists of the eras of Hip-Hop. To further put all eyes on the inaugural celebration, billboards of music icons such as Slick Rick, Snoop Dogg , and Missy Elliott were showcased in New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Along with the culture being placed on full display, YouTube Music hosted a Town Hall gathering that featured Basa, DJ Premier, Kevin Liles, Brandon “Jersey Jinx” Jenkins,...