Genre Research and Expectation

PART B: Genre Development

Hip Hop music otherwise called Hip-Hop or Rap music, a genre with consists of a rhyming rapping style/technique. There are four stylistic elements to Rap/Hip-Hop, these four elements are Mcing, Djing, Scratching/breakdancing and finally graffiti writing. Other elements that may fall into Hip-Hop are sampling, and beat boxing.

The term “Hip-Hop” is often credited to Keith Cowboy a rapper who rapped with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Himself, DJ Hollywood and Lovebug Starki continued to use this term when the genre was still called Disco Rap. It was said that cowboy created the name in the process of teasing a friend who had joined the US Army, singing it in a mimicking manor which was making jokes in the manor soldiers marched. This term was soon adopted by artists such as The Sugarhill Gang in their song “Rappers Delight”

Hip Hop was a culture formed in 1970, this grew with the block parties during the era in New York City. This was particularly among African Americans who resided in Bronx, NY. As the genre begun to produce positive feedback DJs begun to isolate percussive breaks of popular songs, this technique was also used previously in Jamaican Dub Music, which was introduced by the Jamaicans who had settled in NY.

Rapping/Vocal was then introduced to Hip Hop sometimes these were absent on track. The roots of rapping was found in African American music, ultimately African Music, especially in west African cultures.

1.Where did the Rap/Hip-Hop genre originate? What are its roots? Give examples of early

artists of this genre

Firstly the two genres are different yet similar. Hip-Hop was introduced solely as a rhythmic beat, commonly played on turntables which was accompanied by other elements oh hip-hop such as scratching. It was only later that rapping (which is where we get the term rap) was introduced to hip-hop which supplied rhythmic vocals over the top of the hip-hop beat or instrumental.

Rap/Hip-Hop became a media of argument, a way of settlement, sometimes between gangs and different suburbs. The way in which I was done was through rap battling either through “spitting” or “freestyling” bars (rhymes) that would be off the “dome” (meaning straight from the head on the spot)

Going from the origins of rap/hip-hop in the 1970s (see slide 2) it had evolved by the 1980s into a more complex genre with many more styles, this was called the new age hip hop. Early indications of new age hip hop was identified through such tracks as Grandmaster Flash's "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" (1981), a single consisting entirely of sampled tracks. Hip-Hop begun to infuse other genres such as reggae, rock and electro. “Artists such as Melle Mel, Rakim, Chuck D, KRS-One and Warp 9 revolutionized hip hop by transforming it into a more mature art form, with sophisticated arrangements, often featuring "gorgeous textures and multiple layers“

The Golden age of hip hop approach this was when music started to become mainstream, artists that capitalised this era were the likes of, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Big Daddy Kane and the Jungle Brothers.

According to rolling stones "when it seemed that every new single reinvented the genre”. A subgenre of hip-hop was introduced into the genre, called “Gangsta Rap” which told the stories of inner

city and violent African American youths, the main pioneer of this sub genre was Ice T later to be capitalised by groups such as NWA.

1990s was the decade of the mainstream breakthrough for hip-hop when artists started to chart.

2.How has Rap/Hip-Hop evolved over time?

As hip hop/rap has evolved, what the artists represent has also evolved. In the early stages of rap/hip-hop 1970 artists' rap represent community, and struggle. This was shown in their raps as they rhymes about these thing. For instance having to sell drugs or do crime to come up out the struggle of their community's and help their community's. Raps often illustrated the artists life's .

As hip-hop evolved into rap battling, artist were represented as more brutal characters, “Repping” (backing/sticking up for their hood) often dissing other artists and hoods, often causing violence, this painted a bad picture for rap. Rap had changed from a harmless genre, which illustrated pain and struggle of community's to a genre that had a big influence on how black youths/African Americans lived their lives day to day. This was often the same story with Gangsta Rap (Westcoast) when it was introduced, artists were still living criminal lives this was shown in their lyrics, often talking about guns, drugs and drug taking, women, crimes, and murders.

In present times, what artist represent is often shaped by their recording labels, these label produce star images. This is simple because artists need to stay relevant, for example Rihanna's a artists who's image has been shaped by her recording label. This is a result of the business growing and the growing difficulty to remain on top. (See post 1 “Star Image”)

Rap/Hip-Hop has shied away from its origins of community, and hustling which was capitalized by African Americans into a business in which is still capitalized by African American but also consisting of white communities, Mexican, etc.

3.How are the artists in Rap/Hip-Hop represented?

There are many ideologies in this genre. As rap came up in black American society's, it was used to counteract the ideologies of the society, especially the judicial systems and authorities. Specific languages are used in rap/hip-hop depending on where you reside, usually it is only understood by people of the same culture. Often raps would disagree with judicial systems as I've said with the use of the language they would almost ridicule these people with authority. Rap/Hip-Hop addresses politics, race, gender and sexuality.

4.What are the main ideologies represented in current Rap/Hip-Hop music videos?

Evidently there is a specific image an artist will need to acquire to fit ideally into the genre Rap/Hip-Hop but as the genre has evolved it has become more lenient with this rule, but as the genre becomes more lenient, more and more conventions begin to be introduced to the genre. For example there would have been previously, a particular dress code that the artist within this specific genre would abide to. Since the genres growth and evolution , dress code and imagery of artist has changed. Here are a few examples of contemporary artist that fit conventionally with rap/hip-hop but through many different conventions.

Left to right we have, ASAP Rocky, Juicy J, 50cent and finally Eminem. All different rappers of a similar era who also fit conventionally but also different (through different generic conventions) ASAP rocky showing the fashion and branding side, Juicy J showing the alcohol orientations, 50cent showing the money and Eminem again finally showing the branded element, all of hip hop.

5.Examples of contemporary artists that fit conventionally within the Rap/Hip-Hop genre?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKFzPv9vnB8 (Explicit warning)

This music video is a perfect example of a rap/hip-hop video that displays the typical conventions of the genre. This is a perfect

example simply because the video consists of specific elements such as jewelry, women, explicit content, money, drugs and alcohol.

6.Example of a conventional Rap/Hip-Hop music video

When creating my music video I must ensure my locations are relevant to a Rap/Hip-Hop genre, ensuring it has that urban raw feel and décor. Also ensuring I use the correct props and costumes, taking in what I have research about the genre and their artist and create a replica within my production.

7.What do you need to consider when making your own music video of this genre, based on the conventions you

discovered? Which ones are you going to use?

Its important to use conventions, as it will allow the audiences to get an idea of what genre the video is. I've come across many conventions in my specific genre and I will be using such conventions in my music video such as, camera angles, emotion etc. I think that it is important that I use this because as iv said it will allow the audience to distinguish what genre my music video is from.

Reflection