Why is hip-hop called hip-hop?

Answer 1

The term Hip Hop was a shortened version of " hippity hoppity" a general reference to the legendary pioneer DJ Kool Herc. " hippity hoppity" was how the people defined the name for this new sound that Herc created. There was no Hip Hop genre or termimology for the name, just a guy who realised that turntables weren't just for playing records but could use the best parts of other records to make a continuous loop of the breaks of records so people could dance to. This paved the way for MCs to rhyme over longer breaks to develop the genre. This not just my opinion but from speaking with Herc himself.

Answer 2

Because the beats sound like hip hop.