It's been almost three decades since the emergence of hip-hop, yet the seeds were planted long before then- through jazz, roots, blues and rap music. It's a culture that has the stamp of Afro-American society of the 20th century- all-night block parties, illegal sound systems, pirate radio stations, mix tapes, old-school free-styling and rocking the microphone. But hip-hop has come a long way in this time, surviving the sell-out and the MTV pop explosion, to remain an intrinsic and progressive component of contemporary music and part of modern culture.

Hip-hop music is undoubtedly one of the most exciting forms of expression ever to emerge from New York City and its famous five boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Richmond. The pioneers- Grand Master Flash, Rick Rubin, Def Jam Records, Sugar Hill Records, Herbie Hancock, Run DMC and Motown- and their contemporaries have all laid the foundation for today's hippest street-orientated culture. The associated practices of graffiti art, MCing, break-dancing and DJing have made hip-hop music a lifestyle and a socially significant part of the contemporary landscape. From London to Berlin to Tokyo to Auckland, hip-hop has spread like wildfire and indoctrinated a whole new generation of hip-hop headz, producers, MCs, free-stylers, scratchologists and enthusiasts.

It has become a global phenomenon that is indicative of the supremacy of American cultural dominance in the 21st century through globalization. The world has become saturated with hip-hop music and culture, though some countries have been able to create their own hybrid forms. Hip-hop's success has brought this once underground culture to the mainstream, with musicians such as Eminem, Mos Def, Ice Cube, Qtip, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Sean Combs and Snoop Dogg making it as movie stars and role models. The music-video realm has also been revolutionized by the likes of Hype Williams, Spike Jonze and, more recently, the UK's Adam Smith and the Colonel Blimp production house.

Even the fashion world has been colonized by hip-hop styles, with the likes of Russell Simmon's Phat Farm, The First Lady of Hip Hop Kimora Lee Simons's Baby Phat label and P Diddy's Sean-John clothing line. Sneaker companies endorse hip-hop stars. And premium-brand companies such as Rolex, Lexus and Gucci have used the genre to help them reach the kind of consumer that would normally be immune to their blandishments.

Though the US is the home of hop-hop, the sound has managed to develop strong followings across the Western world, even trans-morphing with electronic, drum & bass, jazz, tribal tongue, Latin and a plethora of fresh experimental sounds, with poetry and the spoken word thrown in for good measure. Hip-hop won't stop anytime soon, so enjoy the ride as we talk to some visual creators of and photographers, video directors and illustrators are helping to bring the beats and the rhymes to life, and to keep hip-hop culture real.

What's hip-hop mean for you?

What do you think of hip-hop music right now? Is there anything that really impresses you?

Yes, there's a lot going on in hip-hop that impresses me at the moment, almost too much to name. But with that said, I try not to judge what other people have done with hip-hop, I feel it is as much their's as it is mine. I try to find a common thread in al lip-hop and try to appreciate it from that angle.

What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment, everyone's recording new albums (Diverse, Via Tania, Piano Overlord/ Prefuse-73, Ghislain Poirier). Kid Acne and I are making limited edition toys for his B-Boy ghost, working on a mega re-issue project with my man Dante Carfagna, and Cody's always working on new projects for himself and other people. Sorry for the vagueness, but I'm currently sworn to secrecy on most of these projects.

How did you first get into music?

I first got into music via my older sister Nancy; she is a little over ten years older than me and she used to break-dance, so she got me into hip-hop and exposed me to Bad Brains, Joy Division and, later on punk, ska and hardcore.

Can you describe the working process and concept behind the art works that you have submitted for this article?

What's in your boom box, headphones or iPod right now?

Paul Wall, Mike Jones, The Go Team, Ghislain Poirier's Breakupdown, Lichens, Life Without Buildings, Timbo and Jay Dee Instrumentals.

Cody Hudson, who works under the name Struggle Inc., is a Chicago-based commercial artist and painter. Struggle Inc.'s design aesthetic could best be characterized as a sort of urban modernism. His influences range from Dr. Dre Chronic-era music to Neil Young lyrics with a bit of Bruno Munari thrown in. His paintings have been exhibited throughout the US and Japan. He enjoys ice fishing, sleeping, reading and things made of wood.

What's hip-hop mean for you?

It's more of a way of life really than a musical choice to me these days.

What do you think hip-hop music right now, is there anything that really impresses you?

Stuff comes and goes. I like a lot of the new stuff, but it won't last, it's party music that I want to hear while hanging out and having a brew. Most of it isn't stuff that I think I will still be playing in 15 years, unfortunately.

What are you working on at the moment?

A lot of rooftop gardening, some skateboarding and as little work as possible.

Is there any hip-hop-orientated project, artwork, etc. that you think is groundbreaking or historically significant?

It's hard to pinpoint one thing, but a lot of the classic LP covers laid the groundwork for what designers like myself years later would use to build their work upon.

Can you describe the working process and concept behind the art works that you have submitted for this article?

It's pretty simple: listen to the music for a bit, talk with the artists when possible and then basically “roll that shit, light that shit, smoke it”- not in the literal sense, but just sit down and work for a few hours/ days and see what pops up. I'm more of a graphic-driven artist so I like to start with a blank page and just create something.

What's in your boom box right now?

The Struggle Inc. “Hate me now” play lists: Of Montreal, Mike Jones, Ghostface Killah, Archer Prewitt, Ulrich Schnauss, Neil Young, Sufjan Stevens, Minor Threat, Belle & Sebastian, Cam'ron/ Jim Jones, Devo