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The Emergence and Evolution of Rap Music
By Henry Huntley
● In the countries that slaves were taken from during the North Atlantic
slave trade, oral tradition and spoken word were incredibly important.
● In the U.S., slaves would sing songs while working in the fields; an early
form of soul music.
● Another influence was the singing and highly oral traditions of the black
church. In fact, many slave preachers used songs to inspire their
congregation to not give up on freedom.
● Due to these factors, the spoken word became highly important in
African-American culture.
Origins of Rap
● More contemporarily, blues music helped to inspire the rise of rap. Blues
singers shared their songs with each other and often changed parts up,
similar to sampling in hip-hop today.
● Jazz music, and the culture surrounding it, was also highly influential. The
attitude and vibrant speech that went along with jazz can be seen reflected
in the hip-hop scene today.
● Finally, the black power and civil rights movements were key to the
emergence of rap. Inspiration was drawn from leaders such as Malcolm X
and Martin Luther King Jr., and the barriers broken down by the
movement allowed African-Americans to gain success in general.
Origins of Rap
Pioneers of Hip-Hop
Gil Scott-Heron was a spoken word
performer who was active in the 1970s and
'80s. He focused on social and political issues
of the time, and delivered his lyrics in a style
similar to modern rappers. Heron's influence
on hip-hop was immense, creating a base
both lyrically and instrumentally with his
vocal style and use of heavy basslines and
drums.
Pioneers of Hip-Hop
"Scott-Heron's unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists" - Jon Azpiri
Another spoken word influence on hip-hop were
the Last Poets, a group of poets and musicians
from Harlem. Originally comprised of Felipe
Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson, the
group was formed on May 19th, 1968. They
emerged from the black nationalist movement,
and so their music contained messages that
reflected the goals of the movement. Their
works were usually politically focused, and they
are often hailed as the forefathers of socially
conscious hip-hop.
Pioneers of Hip-Hop
"The Last Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop." - Jason Ankeny
Known as the creator of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc is arguably the most influential
figure in the rise of hip-hop music. It all started on August 11, 1973, in the
Bronx at 1520 Sedgewick Avenue, the place where Herc had his first DJ gig.
After that, he played sets at clubs all around the city for years, until eventually
falling out of the spotlight. Herc's most important innovation was the use of the
"break", which was a short and heavily percussive part of a record. He
prolonged the break so that people could dance, giving rise to the term
"breakdancing". Furthermore, during the periods of breakdancing, Herc would
rap over the track, a new style at the time. Additionally, he is credited with
coining the phrases "b-boys" and "b-girls", who danced during his breaks.
Pioneers of Hip-Hop
Pioneers of Hip-Hop
DJ Kool Herc doing what he does best.
The first emergence of hip-hop into the world
of popular music was the song "Rapper's
Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, which reached
#36 on the U.S. Pop Chart in 1979. The track
featured the instrumental of the song "Good
Times" by Chic as a base. Before this, hip-hop
had largely remained underground. However,
after the release of this track, the popularity of
rap skyrocketed, and it was permanently thrust
into the mainstream.
Hip-Hop in the Mainstream
Another hip-hop group that quickly gained popularity was Grandmaster
Flash and the Furious Five. They are best known for their use of turntablism
and break-beat style, as well as their wacky outfits. Some of their most
popular songs include "Freedom" and "The Message". In 2007, the group
became the first hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame.
Hip-Hop in the Mainstream
In its early days, hip-hop's sound was centered around the DJ, and the MC was
almost an accessory. The lyrics and vocal style of popular hip-hop in its early
days show that, a great example is the song "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill
Gang. The rapping almost resembled scatting at times, and was often comical.
However, in a tightly packed club called Harlem World in 1981, that changed.
That night a battle-rap contest was held, one that would forever change the
course of hip-hop. The incumbent champion was the party rapper Busy Bee
Starski, famed for his ability to get the crowd going. Busy Bee allegedly said
that he could beat anyone, and they might as well give him the trophy and not
bother with the contest. However, Kool Moe Dee of the Treacherous Three
decided to step up to the challenge.
A Drastic Change in Style
Busy Bee, in the tradition of
original rap battles, worked to
get the crowd as excited as
possible, and stayed away from
personal attacks on other
rappers. However, Kool Moe
Dee had a different plan in
mind. Dee's rap was
A Drastic Change in Style
specifically aimed at Busy Bee, and instead of focusing on inciting the audience,
he used clever lyrics to tear down the party rapper. This moment marked a
significant shift in hip-hop. From that point onward, lyricism became more
highly valued, and the old party rap style fell out of favor.
The next period in the history of hip-hop is known as the "golden age",
because of both the sheer volume of hip-hop that was released, and the quality
of the music. The golden age took place between the late 1980s and mid
1990s, and was characterized by eclectic sampling, experimental song
structure, and diverse lyrics. Popular artists of the time include Run–D.M.C.,
the Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Gang Starr, and of course, the legendary Wu-
Tang Clan. The scene was centered in New York City, but there were pockets
of artists in other cities, including Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
The Golden Age of Hip-Hop
Among all the artists of the East Coast
underground scene, one group stands above the
rest: the Wu-Tang Clan. Formed in 1991, they
brought worldwide attention to the raw
lyricism and innovative production coming out
of the East Coast. The original Clan was
comprised of 8 members: RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty
Bastard, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon,
Underground East Coast Hip-Hop
U-God, Ghostface Killah, and Method Man. All of the members grew up
together in Staten Island, and had experimented with rap since the age of 10.
They released the legendary album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) in 1993
with Loud Records.
Similarly to the Wu-Tang Clan, the Gang Starr Foundation was a collection of
MCs and DJs from New York City, however, they hailed from Brooklyn,
rather than Staten Island. Members included Jeru The Damaja, Afu-Ra, Group
Home, and of course, Gang Starr themselves. Unlike the Wu-Tang, they never
created an album together as a group, although they collaborated with each
other frequently. Most of the production in the Foundation was done by DJ
Premier, famed for his eclectic sampling and creative use of record scratches.
Underground East Coast Hip-Hop
Further down the East Coast is the city of
Philadelphia, also known as "Illadelph" or
"Killadelph". Widely known as the home
of the cheese-steak, Philly is also the
home of the hip-hop group Jedi Mind
Tricks. Formed in 1993 by rapper Vinnie
Paz and DJ Stoupe the Enemy of
Mankind, Jedi Mind Tricks
Underground East Coast Hip-Hop
came into the scene near the end of the golden age. Their first LP, The Psycho-
Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro-Magnetic Manipulation of Human
Consciousness was released in 1997. They are known for their dark lyrics and
religious allusions, as well as their gritty production.
● Today, hip-hop is one of the most popular styles of music across the
world.
● The music provided a creative outlet for those in the inner-city ghettoes.
● The oral tradition of the African-American community has been preserved
through hip-hop.
● Gave the public a glimpse into the conditions on the hard streets.
Impact
http://fusicology.com/justfuseit/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KoolHerc.jpg
http://cdn.necolebitchie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/gil-scott-heron.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lousan0qkC1qmhpy2o1_500.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5776371630_cd1275b753_o.jpg
http://www.allmusic.com/album/pieces-of-a-man-mw0000172002
http://geoclan.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/last_poets_this-is-madness.jpg
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-last-poets-mn0000090018
http://djkoolherc.com/
http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists/deejays/kooldjherc.htm
http://oldschoolhiphopofficial.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dj-kool-herc.jpg
http://sugarhillgangfans.webs.com/sugarhillgang.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Grandmaster_Flash_and_The_Furious_Five.jpg
http://cdnl.complex.
com/mp/620/400/80/0/bb/1/ffffff/7f3c491e3013fcffe79edb98380ad588/images_/assets/CHANNEL_IMAGES/MUSIC/2013/01/25-
forgotten-hip-hop-beefs/1_457515.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nfSvAUEJvo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kps6XyuWMQ
http://according2hiphop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/wu_tang_clan_enter_the_wu_tang_36_chambers-fjpg1.jpg
http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/500/9691633/Gang+Starr+Foundation+artist2.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_Mind_Tricks
http://cdn.babygrande.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/JMT-PsychoSocial-600x600.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lya3j2Dbdg1qdfdsyo1_500.jpg
Bibliography
"Kool Herc." Contemporary Musicians. Vol. 45. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Biography In Context. Web. 13 June 2013.
"Jeru the Damaja." Contemporary Musicians. Vol. 33. Detroit: Gale, 2001. Biography In Context. Web. 13 June 2013.
"Wu-Tang Clan." Contemporary Musicians. Vol. 19. Detroit: Gale, 1997. Biography In Context. Web. 13 June 2013.
Green, Jared, ed. Rap and Hip Hop. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2003. Print.
Jones, K. Maurice. Say It Loud!: The Story of Rap Music. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook, 1994. Print.
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