Exploring the Prototypicality of Girls Hip-hop in 1990s American Female Hip-hop Artists' Videos

This study explores the prototypicality of Korean girls' hip-hop by analyzing the elements that distinguish it from freestyle hip-hop, even when female and male artists perform the same movements. The research analyzed music videos and stage performances of 1990s American female hip-hop artists Salt-N-Pepa, TLC, and Aaliyah from 1990 to 1999. The analysis was conducted in three phases: deconstructing video elements, analyzing the proportion of freestyle hip-hop dance elements, and interpreting the results to identify key elements. The study found that girls' hip-hop emphasizes femininity through costumes and accessories, fluid and smooth movements, sensual expressions, unique and powerful dance moves, and distinctive leg movements. These findings support that girls' hip-hop is a distinct genre from freestyle hip-hop and will aid in establishing its identity and educational curriculum.