By the early 20th century, drill sergeants used these syllables for military cadences, as in “hip, two, three, four,” which also influenced signal-calling in football. By the time early rappers deployed those syllables, “hip” had also accrued its modern sense of “in the know” or “up-to-date,” and “hop” was used for all sorts of bouncy rhythms and dance moves.
Mark Runncales/PA Wire/Zuma
