Rap music began among the youth of South Bronx, New York in the mid 1970’s. Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash were some of the early artists of this art form. Through their performances at clubs, rap gained in popularity throughout the rest of the 1970’s. The first commercial success of rap was the song ‘Rapper 's Delight’ by the Sugar Hill Gang in 1979. It helped bring rap music into the spotlight. The 1980’s saw the continued success of rap music with many artists such as Run DMC (who had the first rap album to go gold in 1984), L.L. Cool J, Fat Boys, and west coast rappers Ice-T and N.W.A becoming popular. Today, in the late 1990’s rap music continues to be an important aspect of African- American culture. Rap music was a way for youths in inner city neighborhoods to express what they were feeling, seeing, and living and it became a form of entertainment. Hanging out with friends and rapping or listening to others rap kept youths out of trouble in the dangerous neighborhoods in which they lived. The dominant culture did not have a type of music that filled the needs of these youth, so they created their own. So, rap music was originally created as a way "for inner city youth to express their everyday life and struggles" (Shaomari, pp. 17). Now rap includes a large number of middle to upper class youths, who have grown to support and appreciate rap music. Rap lyrics are about the problems rappers have seen, such as poverty, crime, violence, racism, poor living conditions, drugs, alcohol, corruption, and prostitution. These are very serious problems that many rap artists believe are being ignored by America. ‘The beats of rap music have people bopping and the words have them thinking, from the tenement-lined streets of Harlem, New York, to the mansion parties of Beverly Hills, California’ (Shomari, pp. 45). Rap music, once only popular with blacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, has grown to become one of America 's most popular form of music, giving off energy found nowhere else. While the rappers tell a story, the disc jockey provides the rhythm operating the drum machine and "scratching". Scratching is defined as ‘rapidly moving the record back and forth under the needle to create rap 's famous swishing sound’ (Small, pp. 12). The beat can be traditional funk or heavy metal, anything goes. The most important part of rap is "rapping," fans want to hear the lyrics which may sometimes be controversial, but for some a way to deal with the struggles we face today.
Preliminary Bibliography
BOOKS: Nelson, Havelock and Michael A. Gonzales. Bring the Noise: A Guide to Rap Music and Hip-Hip Culture. New York: Harmony Books, 1991.
Rose, Tricia. Black Noise: Rap Music and Black culture in Contemporary America. Hanover, Wesley University Press,!994
Shomari, Hashim A. (William A. Lee, III). From the Underground: Hip-Hop Culture as an Agent of Social Change. Mt. Vernon, NY: X-Factor Publications, 1995.
Small, Michael. Break It Down: The Inside Story from the New Leaders of Rap. Secaucus,
New Jersey: Carol Publishers, 1992.
WEB SOURCES: History of Rap, http://www.rapworld.com/history/
Rap Music, http://www.jahsonic.com/Rap.html
The History of Hip Hop, http://www.headbob.com/hiphop/hiphop hitory.shtml.
Bibliography: BOOKS: Nelson, Havelock and Michael A. Gonzales. Bring the Noise: A Guide to Rap Music and Hip-Hip Culture. New York: Harmony Books, 1991. Rose, Tricia. Black Noise: Rap Music and Black culture in Contemporary America. Hanover, Wesley University Press,!994 Shomari, Hashim A. (William A. Lee, III). From the Underground: Hip-Hop Culture as an Agent of Social Change. Mt. Vernon, NY: X-Factor Publications, 1995. Small, Michael. Break It Down: The Inside Story from the New Leaders of Rap. Secaucus, New Jersey: Carol Publishers, 1992. WEB SOURCES: History of Rap, http://www.rapworld.com/history/ Rap Music, http://www.jahsonic.com/Rap.html The History of Hip Hop, http://www.headbob.com/hiphop/hiphop hitory.shtml.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
(AGG) Imagine living in a world where you wake up everyday and could lose a loved one at any point. (BS-1) Najmah is shaped by early losses from a strong to shocked girl. (BS-2) The loss of her family drives her to find them, later regaining strength. (BS-3) The decisions Najmah makes are based off of loss. (TS) Therefor, Najmah was shaped by loss in the novel “Under the Persimmon Tree.”…
- 1391 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
James McBride’s essay “Hip Hop Planet”, initially published in the April 2007 edition of National Geographic magazine, was written to indicate hip hop’s true societal function as a “warning” and an outcry fabricated by minority cultures. Utilizing a clear and relatively uncomplicated dialect, McBride is able to connect with an audience of general readers who are merely marginally educated on the topic. He compiles credibility by citing an assortment of anecdotes of his past experiences with hip hop music and culture, and punctuates this with the mentioning of his education at Columbia University’s journalism school. To a point, McBride constructs a well-founded argument as to why hip hop is a “warning” by elaborating on both the narrow and…
- 140 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Michael Render, a rapper better known by Killer Mike, gave a short history lesson on a talk show about hip-hop. He goes on to state that it was created approximately in the late 1960’s in the less fortunate communities of America. Specifically, in the areas of the Bronx or New York, children surrounded by the street gangs, decided to create a Hip Hop movement that included rap music, breakdance, “djaying,” and graffiti in order to make an alternative to the violence of the street gangs. Later in the years though, the art of rap started to stray away from the original road became a more materialistic community. However, rap music in America has the power to bring masses of people together. Rap music is used as a medium to address social conflicts…
- 345 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
In the 1980s, we saw many different genres of music emerge, genres such as Pop, Rock, and R&B. But a new genre emerged that sparked a lot of controversy: “Gangsta Rap” otherwise known as Hip Hop. Rappers/Rap groups such as NWA, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, and more changed the industry with catchy tunes and lyrics that talked about hard topics like slavery, violence, and police brutality. These lyrics sometimes caused major conflict, whether between races or with civilians and police. Hip Hop was very controversial in the 80s. “Gangsta rap” has caused a lot of controversy, many people protested this music in the late 80s and 90s due to the message within its lyrics and what those lyrics conveyed. Many accused “Gangsta Rap” for promoting things such as crime, killings, profanity, drugs, sex, racism, and more. But Gangsta rap doesn’t influence this type of lifestyle; it’s telling a story/conveying a message of the individuals who wrote the lyrics.…
- 1513 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
In the late 1970’s a new, popular form of urban youth culture emerged in the Bronx, New York that changed the face of popular music and American culture. Throughout its development, hip-hop has become a vastly commercialized component of popular American culture; however, it took the efforts of many pioneers and innovators to shape modern hip-hop culture and music. By exploring hip-hop’s origins, one can better understand its evolution and its influence on different social groups throughout the United States.…
- 1763 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Rap artists used rap music to release to the listeners what was going on in the world and the communities. Just as everyone has their own story, everyone has their own way of telling it as well, giving birth to multiple different types of rap. Although rap music was in its early stages, it was already on its way to evolution as artists added their own feel to it. Rappers began telling their stories in different ways, bringing the six categories of rap to life. Rap falls into six primary categories; “gangsta,” which focuses mainly on murder, money and chaos; apolitical pop, which has easygoing lyrics and a nice danceable beat; political, whose main focuses are social problems as they analyze what is going on in their communities. The message is usually positive, nonviolent, and encourages the listeners to be more aware of social issues and gives ideas on how to go about fixing or changing them; experimental, which continuously modifies its style; and, finally, feminist, which challenges the stereotypes of women, and proves that women can do whatever men can do. With the six primary categories rap music took off generating hundreds of new listeners and creating a new popular culture (The Rap…
- 1476 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
In James McBride article “Hip Hop Planet”, he introduces the reader to many issues that are affecting society, including violence, social class, and racism. McBride ensures that he includes hip-hop’s history, in order to explain that the musical genre began as an attempt to avoid or prevent teen gang involvement. Additionally, social class is present in hip hop culture because many of the artist's success determined by the resources that they have when beginning their career as a DJ. Lastly, race is revealed to play a large role in hip hop culture due to the fact that many rappers include lyrics about racial injustices, as well as tension between people of different cultures. Although McBride introduces different arguments throughout his essay,…
- 801 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
“More than simply entertainment, hip hop is a major part of contemporary identity circuits –networks of philosophies and aesthetics based on blackness, poverty, violence, power, resistance, and capitalist accumulation” (Pardue 674). Music has been a potent technique for engendering convivial vigilance throughout American history. Music simultaneously reflects trends, ideals, conditions in society, and inspires attitudinal progression and convivial change.…
- 635 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In recent years, controversy in Hip-hop culture has been in the mix of America media. From the hype of the lyrics and the impact that Hip-hop music has on the youth. It seems that political and media groups have been quick to place all of the blame on rap music for the trend in youth violence from the murders and the gang related problems. However, forms of music cannot be understood unless you study the fame of its historical and social context. Hip-hop culture reflects the young, urban, working-class African Americans and uses the voice to express the views of the everyday life and the struggle. Now in the pop culture Hip Hop music popularity has grown, and now commercialization has took place and the culture and the origin is controlled by the music industry.…
- 681 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Misogyny is vigorously common in the realm of Hip-Hop and the Black community is observed as one of its most noteworthy disciples. The physical, mental, and rhetorical brutality against women that is portrayed through the music has materialized onto the treatment of Black women among men in our society and is especially prevalent within Black men. Despite the fact that the illustrations and issues with misogyny are clear, equivocalness still dwells in the explanations for rap artists' utilization of this forceful type of vocal expression. By conveying regard for the purposes for the underline use of misogyny in rap music, I anticipate this research paper will help its observers comprehend how Hip-Hop…
- 1817 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Rap music, likewise often called hip-hop music, is a style of popular music believed to have its starting point in African-American urban neighborhood culture. Generally rap music is quite simply to define. When it comes to rap songs, emphazes in on rhyrhm and rap artist instead of singing are mostly talk the lyrics in different pace and rhythm. However during time rap music has developed in many specific ways, like what is called hip hop with often complex, poetry lyrics than by its topic. Also, since start of rap music in New York City neighbourhood, some sub-genres began to develop with the passing of time, with gansta rap as perhaps one of the most commonly known. Most of rap songs are commonly recognized by for their uncompromising lyrics,…
- 354 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Over the past four decades, Hip Hop has evolved as a culture and art influencing the youths’ culture all over the world. Many youths in different parts of the world claim that Hip Hop reflects their economic, social, cultural, and political aspects of their lives because it communicates to them in a manner they understand. Therefore, it has cogent messages for many youths worldwide. “Hip Hop cannot be dismissed as a youth obsession or movement that will fade with time. Instead it should be considered as a social, economic, cultural, intellectual and political aspect that deserve academic attention similar to other African American arts and cultural movements such as Jazz, Blues, and Black Power movements,” (Alridge and Stewart, 190).…
- 952 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Hip hop, especially in the golden age of hip hop, is used in ways to speak out on political and many other issues. Hip hop has had an influence on the black community, as well as American society as a whole. It connected those of different cultures, and created a whole new culture. It created diversity in society. “Hip-hop had a long political engagement; hip-hop almost starts as a political movement,” says journalist and cultural critic Touré. “People from the street need a voice—we have no voice. So we have to have something to say.” Also, from the help of graffiti writing, hip hop also spreads cultural…
- 569 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
Music Lyrics being NON-VIOLENT Rap music can be considered a style of art, and a way for the artists to express feelings through their words on paper. However, there are quite a few rap artists that get criticized for their lyrics. In my essay, I want to discuss why rappers use certain lyrics in their music and why people shouldn’t believe that it causes violence among the younger generations. People shouldn’t censor the music just because of violent, vulgar and abusive messages it promotes to the world. I believe in my own mind, that there is a reason for these types of lyrics that rap artists use and I will simply explain those reasons in this essay. Rap has been called one of the most important music forces to emerge in two decades. It’s pounding beats and staccato rhymes exploded on the streets of the urban America in the early 1980s and since have become the theme music and lyrical heart of the vibrant youth culture called hip-hop ( SIRS 1993). There are many different types of rap artist. There are some that talk about money, some talk about righteousness, and the list goes on and on. Every rap artist had their own way of expressing themselves. There are those that talk about sex, drugs, and violence who receive the negative attention( SIRS 1993). People, think this so- called gangster rap is a bad influence on children in the world and that it promotes violence and that it also is abusive to women. Delores Tucker, head of national congress of black women has been among those pressuring different record companies to stop distributing gangster rap music. There were other significant names that participated in this action. Names like Senate Majority leader Bob dole, and former education Secretary William J. Bennett(Surveys, pg. 1). There are some rap artists that have been openly criticized for their lyrics. Rappers like Lil Kim, Too Short, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and a member from “Too Live Crew,” named Luke Skywalker. These rap artists in the past have been…
- 1708 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
It is a common belief that hip hop has served as the medium for healing racial tension in the 21st century. Although the hip hop industry has seen a subtle wave of successful white American rappers over the past couple of decades, this is not enough to suggest a racial merge in the predominately black American world of hip hop. White Americans are not typically welcomed into the hip hop community. The few white American rappers that have made it big in the hip hop industry must be viewed as exceptions to the idea that the rap community is solely interested in the creative narratives of African Americans.…
- 508 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays