Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music, and the music in the period preceding it from which it was directly descended. - NYDailyNews.com

1967 - A Jamaican dj known as Kool Herc moved from Kingston to NY's West Bronx. Here, he attempted to incorporate his Jamaican style of dj which involved reciting improvised rhymes over the dub versions of his reggae records.

1970 - Formed in New York City, The Fatback Band was the concept of Bill Curtis, an experienced session drummer, inspired to merge the "fatback" jazz beat of New Orleans into a funk band. In addition to Curtis, the band's initial line-up included guitarist Johnny King, bassist Johnny Flippin, trumpet player George Williams, saxophonist Earl Shelton, flautist George Adams, and keyboardist Gerry Thomas. The band specialized in playing "street funk". The group also later included conga player Wayne Woolford, vocalists Jayne and Gerry, Deborah Cooper saxophonist Fred Demerey, guitarist Louis Wright and George Victory.

1971 - Aretha Franklin records a well-known b-boy song "Rock Steady".

1973 - The Zulu Nation is officially formed by a student of Stevenson High school named Kevin Donovan. Donovan later changed his name to Afrika Bambaataa Aasim in honor of an ancient Zulu chief.

1974 - After seeing DJ Kool Herc perform at block parties, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa start playing at parties all over the Bronx neighborhoods. Around this time, DJ/MC/Crowd Pleaser Lovebug Starski starts referring to this culture as "hip-hop".

1975 - DJ Grand Wizard Theodore accidentally invents 'the scratch.' While trying to hold a spinning record in place in order to listen to his mom, who was yelling at him, Grand Wizard accidentally caused the record to produce the “shigi-shigi” sound that is now known as the scratch. Scratch is the crux of modern deejaying.

1976 - Bambaataa's first battle against Disco King Mario sparks off the DJ battling that is now embedded in the culture.

1977 - The Rock Steady Crew (the most respected b-boy crew in history) is formed by the original four members: JoJo, Jimmy Dee, Easy Mike, and P-Body.

1978 - Kurtis Blow, who was being managed by Russell Simmons, decides to hire Simmons' brother, Run, as his DJ. Run was so-called because he could cut so fast between two turntables. Kurtis would later become the first rapper to be signed to a major record deal.

1979 - Grandmaster Flash forms one of the most influential rap groups ever, The Furious Five: Grandmaster Flash (Joseph Saddler), Melle Mel (Melvin Glover), Kidd Creole (Nathaniel Glover), Cowboy (Keith Wiggins), Raheim (Guy Williams), and Mr. Ness (Eddie Morris).

Various rap singles were released: Fatback Band's "King Tim III", SugarHill Gang's "Rapper's Delight", Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5's "SuperRappin" and Spoonie Gee's "Spoonin' Rap" both on Enjoy Records, Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin" on Mercury Records.

Mr. Magic’s "Rap Attack" becomes the first hip-hop radio show on WHBI.

1980 - Kurtis Blow, the first rapper to appear on national television (Soul Train).

1981 - The Beastie Boys are formed. The group consists of Adam Horovitz (King Ad-Rock), Adam Yauch (MCA), Michael Diamon (Mike D).

1982 - Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force release the techno-heavy "Planet Rock" on Tommy Boy Records.

The first rap battle: Kool Moe Dee vs Busy Bee. Since then, emcee battling has become an inseparable part of hip-hop.

Fab 5 Freddy and Charlie Ahearn co-produce Wild Style, a hip-hop film featuring Cold Crush Brothers, Grandmaster Flash, Grandwizard Theodore, DJ AJ, Grandmixer D.S.T, graf writers Lee, Zephyr, Fab 5 Freddy, Lady Pink, Crash, Daze, Dondi, and members of the Rock Steady Crew. Wild Style has since inspired several other hip-hop-themed movies.

1983 - Run DMC releases “It's Like That" b/w "Sucker MC's."

Old school hip hop is said to end around 1983 with the emergence of Run DMC, the first new school hip hop group. - NYDailyNews.com