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Rap and Hip-Hop. Rap’s Beginnings. Rap’s beginnings date back to the late 70’s Traced to Jamaica (Reggae influence) Emergence in the U.S. - Harlem, Bronx, and Brooklyn Stems from Hip-Hop culture Break dancing, graffiti art, emceeing, and deejaying. Rap’s Beginnings.
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Rap’s Beginnings • Rap’s beginnings date back to the late 70’s • Traced to Jamaica (Reggae influence) • Emergence in the U.S. - Harlem, Bronx, and Brooklyn • Stems from Hip-Hop culture • Break dancing, graffiti art, emceeing, and deejaying
Rap’s Beginnings • Stems from Jamaican DJ’s • U-Roy and Lee Perry • Large sound systems (hear and feel the bass) • Early pioneers (“spinners”) • Kool Herc • First began to add MC’s (eventual evolution to rap) • Grandmaster Flash • "The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel" • Afrika Bambaataa • "Planet Rock" • Kurtis Blow • Fatback Band • Sugar Hill Gang • "Rapper's Delight"
Rap’s Beginnings • Hip-hop was created primarily by DJ’s using turntables rather than acoustic instruments • Early DJ’s used early funk and soul tracks (percussion and rhythm tracks) • Used by early rappers • Rock songs and instrumental tracks were also used • Technique of “scratching” became DJ’s calling card • Scratching Example
Rap’s Beginnings • DJ’s and MC’s began to “sample” music from other artists • Legal battles ensued • Used music from various genres • Rap • Disposes of melody • Rhythmic declamation of a spoken voice • Percussive backing/foundation • Rap subgenres (lyrical difference) • Graphic depiction of violence • Objectification of women • Sexually explicit lyrics
Rap’s Beginnings • Not immediately commercially successful (until mid 80’s) • Considered black/urban underground • Few exceptions • Run D.M.C • Beastie Boys
Rap Explodes • Run D.M.C • Members • Daryl McDaniels (MC) - DMC • Jason Mizell (DJ) - Jam Master Jay • Joseph Simmons (Drums and Keyboard) - Run • From Queens, NY • Not the streets • Resented by rap purists • Album Raising Hell reached number 3 • "You Be Illin'" - Run D.M.C. • "Walk this Way" - Run D.M.C.
Rap Explodes • Beastie Boys • Members • Adam Yauch (MCA) • Michael Diamond (Mike D) • Adam Horovitz (King Ad-Rock) • From white,middle-class families • Lyrics talked about drugs, sex, alcohol, and political commentary • Album Licensed to Ill was the first rap album to reach number 1 • "You Gotta FIght for Your Right (To Party)" - Beastie Boys
Rap Explodes • L.L. Cool J • Also from Queens, NY • Emergence of the rap ballad • "I Need Love" - L.L. Cool J • Mama Said Knock You Out (‘90) won a Grammy
Rap Explodes • Rap comes from other areas of the U.S. • Philadelphia • D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince • Los Angeles • Eazy E • Ice Cube • N.W.A • Straight Outta Compton launched the gangsta rap scene into the public eye
Rap Explodes • MC Hammer • Born Stanley Kirk Burrell • Oakland, CA • Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘em (‘90) reached number 1 • Stayed at number 1 for six months • "Have You Seen Her" - MC Hammer • "Have You Seen Her" - The Chi Lites • Mostly popular due to his dance moves
Rap Explodes • Vanilla Ice • Born Robert Van Winkle • Album To The Extreme (‘90) sold 7 million albums • "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice • Accused by black rap artists of parodying black rap music
Rap and Hip Hop Rap Comes of Age
Rap Comes of Age • Rap music allows for political activism • Repression of the black and minority communities • Often used in protest • "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - Gil Scott-Heron (1973) • "How We Gonna Make the Black Nation Rise?" - Brother D (1985)
Public Enemy • Members • Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour) • Flavor Flav (William Drayton) • Terminator X (Norman Rogers) • Professor Griff (Richard Griffin) • Released their first album in 1987 • Considered the definitive rap group in Hip Hop history • Controversial Lyrics • Radical • Inflammatory • Anti-Semitic
Public Enemy • Chuck D once said, “[rap music] is the black CNN” • Involvement and ties with the Nation of Islam • "Burn Hollywood Burn" - Publc Enemy • "911 is a Joke" - Public Enemy • Music was NOT violent, misogynistic, and did not include drug references • Resented that style • Outwardly spoke against gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap • Incorporation of gang-related violence and explicit pornographic depictions • Controversy for recording companies • Cop Killer - Ice T • Pressure from National and Local polic organizations • These lyrics did more to fan the fire of hatred; no solutions other than violence
NWA • NWA - N-word with Attitude • Members • Dr. Dre • Ice Cube • Eazy E • Arabian Prince • The D.O.C. • MC Ren
NWA • Formed in 1986 • Compton, CA - West Coast Rap • Controversial songs • F!@# the Police • Warning issued to the record company by the FBI • "Express Yourself" - NWA • Feuds within the group throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s
Wu-Tang Clan • Founded by RZA and GZA (cousins) • Other members • Ol’ Dirty Bastard • Inspectah Deck • Raekwon • U-God • Ghostface Killah • Method Man • Masta Killa
Wu-Tang Clan • Formed in Staten Island, NY - East Coast • Helped to revitalize East Coast rap • Became an image unto themselves • Asian martial arts influence • Nation of Islam influence • Group members splintered out for successful solo projects • Group continued to record together • "Protect Ya Kneck" - Wu-Tang Clan • "Triumph-Killer Bees" - Wu-Tang Clan
Other Rap Artists Female Rap Artists • Salt-n-Pepa • Formed in 1985 • Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandy “Pepa” Denton, and Pamela Greene (DJ - replaced by Deidre “Spinderella” Roper • "Let's Talk About Sex" - Salt-n-Pepa • "Whatta Man" - Salt-n-Pepa/EN Vogue
Other Rap Artists • Sistah Souljah • Black activism and nationalism • Queen Latifah • "UNITY" - Queen Latifah
Eminem • Born Marshall Mathers • The Slim Shady LP (1999) won a Grammy for Best Rap Album • "My Name Is" - Eminem • The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) debuted at number 1 • Fastest selling rap album of all time • Won a 2nd consecutive Grammy • Controversial lyrics • Guns, drugs, killing, misogyny, abuse, homosexuality, etc.
Eminem • Controversial lyrics, cont. • Sued by his mother and alleged wife in defamation law suits • Talented and respected MC
New Jack Swing • Evolved out of New York City • Merging of a hip hop beat, light rap, and R&B vocals • Guy • "Groove Me" - Guy • Blackstreet - formed in 1994 • "No Diggity" - Blackstreet • Keith Sweat • "I Want Her" - Keith Sweat • Bell Biv DeVoe • "Poison" - Bell Biv DeVoe