Cypher
From TheCypher
In Hip Hop the term cypher (or cipher) is used to describe a group that forms a physical circle. Bboys will create a cypher and take turns entering and battling in the circle. MCs also can perform in a circle creating a cypher.
History
The term cypher or cipher was originally used by the Five-Percent Nation. They used to term to describe the circle they would form to discuss Supreme Mathematics. Many early MCs were also members of the Five-Percent Nation. Early MCs took this language and applied it to Hip Hop.
The Five-Percenters would come together to discuss Supreme Mathematics. Supreme Mathematics is a system of numbers that can be compared to the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah. In this system, the numbers from zero to nine all represent principles and concepts. When they would meet they would speak about the Supreme Mathematics and 120 Lessons. This dialogue is referred to by the Five-Percent as building, which is the eighth degree of the Supreme Mathematics, and it means to add on to the cipher, a completion of a circle of 360 degrees.
A cypher can also be called a jam or a session, much like the concept practiced by jazz musicians, with each participant reacting or adding on to what the others have done. The outcome is a dialogue of sorts, sometimes in turns and sometimes together. This dialogue can be seen in the following way: "you do this"-"so i do that", or, "he made that"-"so i add this to it to try and make it better". The cypher concept has actually been practiced by many different cultures around the world, as well as being a key foundation of the Hip Hop culture. generally, whenever a number of people meet, each comming to contribute for a common goal, then they have made to exist a cypher. this unity and sharing -whether it be for the purpose of creating a fun experience, or a dramatic competition, or a musical project, or even to make exist a whole different system of values to live by (as is practiced in the local and worldwide graffiti name cyphers)- is why the cypher concept is considered a positive and important thing to make and participate in.
Supreme Mathematics
Each principle (or term) has a number associated with it.
1. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts through observing, learning, and respecting.
2. Wisdom is wise words being spoken, or to speak knowledge (or a wise dome, meaning a wise mind) and act according to it.
3. Understanding is what shows and proves the completion of knowledge and wisdom (man, woman, and child).
4. Culture/Freedom is one's way of living, meaning one's language (wisdom) and customs (ways and actions).
5. Will Power/Refinement is the force or creative energy.
6. Equality is the state or quality of being equal, meaning to deal equally with all in existence.
7. God: God is one, which is everything. This can also be considered as Self, for each of us is also one. Five-Percent symbology states that God is the sun in the solar system, Man is the sun above the earth, Woman is the moon, and Child is a star.
8. Build/Destroy: To build is to elevate the mentality of self and others around the self to add positive energy to our nation. To destroy is to ruin by allowing negativity to outweigh the positive.
9. Born is the completion of all in existence, which is to manifest from Knowledge to Born, the law of mathematicsâ€"to be complete in itself.
0. Cypher is the completion of a circle consisting of 360 degrees, which is a whole. All in existence pertains to a cipher.
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