rap history the modern era. define rap a form of rhymed storytelling, accompanied by rhythms...

Rap HistoryRap HistoryThe Modern EraThe Modern Era

Define RapDefine Rap

A form of rhymed storytelling, accompanied by A form of rhymed storytelling, accompanied by rhythms electronically based music.rhythms electronically based music.

When does rap When does rap originate? originate?

In 1979, Rap emerged from hip-hop. In 1979, Rap emerged from hip-hop.

Hip-hop was a youth movement that Hip-hop was a youth movement that encompassed the voice of something new or encompassed the voice of something new or

the want for change. the want for change.

Many historians believe rap emerged because Many historians believe rap emerged because of the destruction of a community.of the destruction of a community.

The Cross-Bronx Expressway Project destroyed The Cross-Bronx Expressway Project destroyed minority communities. minority communities.

Due to the new expressway, the land value was Due to the new expressway, the land value was depreciated and families were relocated.depreciated and families were relocated.

Through hip-hop, communities started to shape Through hip-hop, communities started to shape up.up.

People began going to clubs and parks to hear People began going to clubs and parks to hear rappers.rappers.

The rapper’s lyrics usually consisted of issues The rapper’s lyrics usually consisted of issues overlooked by the mainstream media.overlooked by the mainstream media.

Three elements of the Three elements of the hip-hop culture.hip-hop culture.

GraffitiGraffitiRappingRapping

BreakdancingBreakdancing

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are needed to see this picture.

Many young men used rap as a mean of social Many young men used rap as a mean of social status. status.

In their lyrics they often use insults and support In their lyrics they often use insults and support causes for change. causes for change.

Why is the formation of Why is the formation of rap important for the rap important for the time?time?Graffiti and breakdance crews formed and Graffiti and breakdance crews formed and

became an aspect of reforming the became an aspect of reforming the communities.communities.

Block parties containing these elements helped Block parties containing these elements helped form a sense of community.form a sense of community.

There were more developments in turntable There were more developments in turntable techniques.techniques.

Also, there were two big releases:Also, there were two big releases:

Rapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang- a dance tuneRapper’s Delight by the Sugarhill Gang- a dance tune

““The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five-discusses the ghetto life.Furious Five-discusses the ghetto life.

Rap is now looked upon as musical expression.Rap is now looked upon as musical expression.

Rap began sweeping the nation.Rap began sweeping the nation.

Early PromotersEarly PromotersRussell Simmons went to clubsRussell Simmons went to clubs

to see young rap artists and DJs. to see young rap artists and DJs.

Many of Simmons’s friends are Many of Simmons’s friends are rappers, which he uses as the rappers, which he uses as the entertainment for his parties.entertainment for his parties.

He eventually works with the He eventually works with the group known as Run-DMC. They group known as Run-DMC. They would go on to sell many albums would go on to sell many albums

and have many hits.and have many hits.

Run-DMCRun-DMC



Rick RubinRick RubinRick Rubin, a fan of all music, Rick Rubin, a fan of all music, wanted to produce rap records wanted to produce rap records

similar to his favorite group, similar to his favorite group, Run-DMCRun-DMC

Rubin would form Def Jam records Rubin would form Def Jam records producing “It’s Yours” by T La producing “It’s Yours” by T La

RockRock

Simmons and Rubin were fans of Simmons and Rubin were fans of each other and began to hit the each other and began to hit the

club scene together.club scene together.

Rubin would also sign a young man namedRubin would also sign a young man namedLadies Love Cool James.Ladies Love Cool James.



He also signed the Beastie BoysHe also signed the Beastie Boys

BreakthroughBreakthroughRubin and Simmons biggest break through Rubin and Simmons biggest break through

came when CBS distributed Run DMC’s cover of came when CBS distributed Run DMC’s cover of “Walk This Way”“Walk This Way”

This became Rap’s first Top 5 single and it was This became Rap’s first Top 5 single and it was the first rap album to go platinum.the first rap album to go platinum.

This showed that rap was becoming more than This showed that rap was becoming more than just a community event, but instead it was just a community event, but instead it was

mainstream.mainstream.

Question: What were Question: What were Russell Simmons and Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin’s Rick Rubin’s contribution to Rap contribution to Rap history?history?

They were responsible for moving rap music They were responsible for moving rap music from the local party scene to the national arena from the local party scene to the national arena

during its first decade.during its first decade.

Rap Artists Take Center Rap Artists Take Center StageStageAs rap music grew, different themes emerged in As rap music grew, different themes emerged in

the music.the music.

Examples: DancingExamples: Dancing FeudsFeuds

Cultural AwarenessCultural Awareness

Trouble BrewingTrouble Brewing

Many rappers began to focus on the persistent Many rappers began to focus on the persistent gang problems still prevalent in inner cities.gang problems still prevalent in inner cities.

Gangsta rap emergedGangsta rap emerged

Along with these issues, rap artists began to Along with these issues, rap artists began to incorporate clothing and style in their music.incorporate clothing and style in their music.

Ex. “Put Your Fila’s OnEx. “Put Your Fila’s On

On the West Coast, the mainstream media On the West Coast, the mainstream media criticized rappers for glorifying the region’s criticized rappers for glorifying the region’s

gang lifestyle.gang lifestyle.

The Group N.W.A. were forthcoming in The Group N.W.A. were forthcoming in transferring their lifestyle into controversial transferring their lifestyle into controversial

rhymes. rhymes.

Their songs protested Their songs protested police brutality and police brutality and

racial profiling.racial profiling.

Also, later they Also, later they would would

be criticized for be criticized for having lyrics that having lyrics that demean women.demean women.

What Did This Mean For What Did This Mean For Rap?Rap?With controversy there comes publicity. With controversy there comes publicity.

N.W.A. received letters from the F.B.I., local N.W.A. received letters from the F.B.I., local officials, etc. officials, etc.

They were getting negative media attention, They were getting negative media attention, but it was but it was

still attention. Rap artist started to become a still attention. Rap artist started to become a focal pointfocal point

in the music world.in the music world.

Counter-attack Counter-attack

Not all artists used their gangster lifestyle in Not all artists used their gangster lifestyle in their music. In fact if you listened to some their music. In fact if you listened to some

music, you would not know that the performer music, you would not know that the performer was a formal gang member.was a formal gang member.

Also, many artists wanted to present a more Also, many artists wanted to present a more positive message.positive message.

ExamplesExamplesKid’N Play-presented playful, party-like, style Kid’N Play-presented playful, party-like, style that allowed them air time on the radio, some that allowed them air time on the radio, some

hit movies, and even a Saturday morning hit movies, and even a Saturday morning cartoon. cartoon.

Will Smith-aka The Fresh Prince presented G Will Smith-aka The Fresh Prince presented G rated materials that catapulted him to “The rated materials that catapulted him to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and many movies.Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and many movies.

Kid’N PlayKid’N Play



The Fresh PrinceThe Fresh Prince



Other Positive ImpactsOther Positive Impacts

Public Enemy pushed for political correctness.Public Enemy pushed for political correctness.

Salt-N-Pepper helped to pave the way for Salt-N-Pepper helped to pave the way for women entering the industry. They were the women entering the industry. They were the

first female rap act to reach platinum sales, and first female rap act to reach platinum sales, and they were the first to receive Grammy they were the first to receive Grammy

nominations.nominations.

Wordsmiths of the Wordsmiths of the 1990s1990s

Gansta Rap dominated the charts in the early to Gansta Rap dominated the charts in the early to mid-90s.mid-90s.

Rappers who emerged for their Rappers who emerged for their smooth but smooth but aggressive deliveryaggressive delivery include: Snoop Doggy include: Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and the Notorious B.I.G.Dogg, Tupac Shakur, and the Notorious B.I.G.

Lyrical contentLyrical content

Most of lyrics dealt with street life and and the Most of lyrics dealt with street life and and the pursuit of wealth.pursuit of wealth.

Other lyrics targeted the dance audience.Other lyrics targeted the dance audience.

Ex. M.C. HammerEx. M.C. HammerVanilla IceVanilla Ice

Results...Results...

The friendly side of Hammer eventually lost The friendly side of Hammer eventually lost appeal to the mainstream audience. The appeal to the mainstream audience. The

audience enjoyed the gansta genre.audience enjoyed the gansta genre.

Vanilla Ice alienated fans with his clownish Vanilla Ice alienated fans with his clownish costumes and false “ghetto” background.costumes and false “ghetto” background.

Results continuedResults continued

As mentioned earlier, the audience enjoyed As mentioned earlier, the audience enjoyed edgier lyrics. This led to the rise of the Wu Tang edgier lyrics. This led to the rise of the Wu Tang

Clan, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliot, Lauren Clan, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliot, Lauren Hill, and many more stars.Hill, and many more stars.

What are the effects of What are the effects of the more graphic the more graphic music?music?

Although there are a variety of different artists, Although there are a variety of different artists, rap continued to receive steady fire from the rap continued to receive steady fire from the media for the content of its lyrics. To most media for the content of its lyrics. To most people, rappers projected a violent image.people, rappers projected a violent image.

Do you agree with this? Explain.Do you agree with this? Explain.

Politics of an Art FormPolitics of an Art FormThe First Amendment states:The First Amendment states:

““Congress shall make no law respecting an Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free

exercise thereof;or abridging the freedom of exercise thereof;or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;or th eright of the speech, or of the press;or th eright of the

people peaceably to assemble, and to petition people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”the Government for redress of grievances.”

Does the government Does the government have the right to have the right to challenge an artists; to challenge an artists; to record profane, violent, record profane, violent, or sexual explicit lyrics? or sexual explicit lyrics? Explain.Explain.

The Challengers:The Challengers:

Tipper Gore helped to form Tipper Gore helped to form the Parents’ Music Resource the Parents’ Music Resource Center in 1985. This group Center in 1985. This group

pushed for record companies pushed for record companies to rate artists’ records similar to rate artists’ records similar

to that of film ratings.to that of film ratings.

Two Incidents Two Incidents

Florida, 1989: Police set up a sting to arrest Florida, 1989: Police set up a sting to arrest three retailers for selling “2 Live Crew’s” three retailers for selling “2 Live Crew’s”

albums to children under 18. albums to children under 18.

The district judge stated that the album was The district judge stated that the album was obscene, this led to the arrest of the 2 Live obscene, this led to the arrest of the 2 Live

Crew members twice at a live concert. Crew members twice at a live concert.

They were acquitted both times.They were acquitted both times.

Incident TwoIncident TwoIn L. A., NWA’s release “Straight Out of In L. A., NWA’s release “Straight Out of

Compton,” went platinum with very limited Compton,” went platinum with very limited playing time on the radio. playing time on the radio.

The controversial song “(Censored) the Police” The controversial song “(Censored) the Police” was viewed as a direct threat to law was viewed as a direct threat to law

enforcement officials. enforcement officials. This led to a letter from the F.B.I. Once the This led to a letter from the F.B.I. Once the

letter was publicized, N.W.A. went on a U.S. tour letter was publicized, N.W.A. went on a U.S. tour which saw a massive following, and no violence which saw a massive following, and no violence

occurring during the tour.occurring during the tour.

So........So........

Both of these incidents saw free speech Both of these incidents saw free speech challenged.challenged.

Critics praised the honest expression, the Critics praised the honest expression, the government felt a need to censor the artists.government felt a need to censor the artists.

Other ExamplesOther Examples

Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” which you can figure why it Ice-T’s “Cop Killer” which you can figure why it was pulled from his album.was pulled from his album.

Paris’s “Bush Killa” is a first person narrative Paris’s “Bush Killa” is a first person narrative that describes killing of the president.that describes killing of the president.

Boycotts led to the songs being pulled from Boycotts led to the songs being pulled from their albums.their albums.

Is this Fair? Explain.Is this Fair? Explain.

Consider this: Madonna’s work was considered Consider this: Madonna’s work was considered obscene, but she was not being dropped from obscene, but she was not being dropped from

record labels, as Ice-T and Paris were. record labels, as Ice-T and Paris were.

Challenger: C. Delores Challenger: C. Delores TuckerTucker

Chairperson of the National Chairperson of the National Political Congress of Black Women. Political Congress of Black Women.

She (and others) led an assault She (and others) led an assault on Time Warner for releasing on Time Warner for releasing lyrics that were “pornographic lyrics that were “pornographic

and detrimental” to black youth. and detrimental” to black youth.

Tucker cont.Tucker cont.

She felt that gangsta rap “celebrates the rape, She felt that gangsta rap “celebrates the rape, torture, and murder of women.” torture, and murder of women.”

She also believed that executives wanted the She also believed that executives wanted the rappers to put the lyrics in their music to rappers to put the lyrics in their music to

increase record sales.increase record sales.

rap history the modern era. define rap a form of rhymed storytelling, accompanied by rhythms...

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