The Changing Language Of Rap Music Culture
Introduction
Rap refers to a mode of music belonging to American of African descent which encompasses rhyming words that is sang to a musical accompaniment. As a music genre, rap music is indisputably one of the most famous types in the world. In the present day, it is called hip-hop. Over a century ago, just before rap emerged onto the music scene of America, musicians from West Africa were reciting stories rhythmically, with an accompaniment of the drum beats. Meanwhile, Caribbean Islands' folk artists were too telling stories rhythmically. It is these Caribbean and African artists that lay a basis for the present-day American rap musical genre. The Caribbean and the West African artists act as the protagonists or role models that helped significantly in the emergence of rap music in society. The culture of rap has undergone several stages since its inception and its restriction as increased as the years go by.
Background Information
It is with no doubt that rap made an incredible impact in the 1970s. The following are some of the most significant group of rap artists that stole the show in the 1970s. The first one is The Last Poets, which was made up of spoken word performers. In the year 1970, they released a debut album. Their work was considered a forerunner to rap musical genre because it was a fragment of the Black Arts Movement. In the year 1973, DJ Cool Herc also called Clive Campbell hosted what was considered as the original party of hip hop on Sedgwick Avenue. Tagging of Graffiti spread throughout the city of New York. People tagging wrote their names then followed by a number of their streets, for instance, Geoffrey 187. In the year 1974, DJ Kool Herc influenced Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa. They all began Djing at celebrations all over the Bronx. In 1975, Grandmaster Flash invented a new mode of Djing. His method connected two melodies during their beat pause. In 1976, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore established a more advanced technique of Djing which entailed scratching of a record underneath the needle. In 1977, the culture of hip hop continued spreading throughout the five regions of New York City. The Rock Steady Crew was molded by break dancers Jimmy D and Jojo. Additionally, Graffiti artists such as Lee Quinones began painting murals on handball or basketball courts and subway trains.
Sugar Hill Gang began in 1979. The group was recorded in by an owner of a record label owner and entrepreneur, Joe Robinson together with his wife, Sylvia Robinson. It was the original group in a recording of a profitmaking song called 'Rapper's Delight. ' Kurtis Blow became the foremost rapper in signing to the main label then he released 'Christmas Rappin'. Wendy Clark, also called Lady B, released 'To the Beat Y'ALL. ' She was one of the pioneer female rap artists. In1980, Kurtis Blow released his album called 'The Breaks. ' He became the first rapper to feature on a television screen. In 1981, Disco Daddy and Captain Rapp released 'Gigolo Rap' which was the first rap album from West Coast.
The Beginning
Emanating from Bronx, New York City, in 1979, Sugarhill Gang rose from the metaphorical barriers of the inner city into the dominion of the conventional with its first worldwide hit 'Rapper's Delight. ' Though rap and hip hop had been in existence before Sugarhill Gang, it had failed to go beyond the community of African American, in the years of 1960s and 1970s. Sugarhill was the first specialized rap sect to bring new music style to the public. Sugarhill Gang had other minor achievements with their hits such as “8th Wonder' and 'Apache. ' Unfortunately, the group was disbanded in the year 1985 (Funk). However, the group made a comeback in 1994 and performed Vibe's a-year anniversary. They dazzled a crowd which included Heavy D, L. L Cool J, and Treach. The show sparked a fresh interest in what is generally called 'Old School' that is still experienced in the modern-day. Many of the group's songs are still played regularly on local radio channels.
Rap music has a constructive impact on African American because it acts as a channel, to both artists and listeners, for understanding the adversities of raising within the fights of inner city life initiated by institutional racism. Rap musicians who became famous and managed to escape a life of the inner city comprehend real tribulations that American of African descent underwent and inspire the Black American youths to also try their best in fleeing the inner city. Moreover, rap musicians use their celebrity power to as a voice of African American for the promotion of political and social changes. This is shown most in the recent days in concerts and music videos by musicians like Kendrick Lamar. Among the notable scenarios of political activism in rap music happened in the year 1987 when Ice-T's released a track entitled 'Squeeze the Trigger' and in 1988 when NWA released a hit called 'Fuck tha Police. ' The duo songs address brutality by the police, which then became a common subject in rap melodies for the past thirty years.
The Middle
It was in the year 1991 that rap music underwent a significant change (Thompson). Rap music claimed the first spots on Billboard 200. For numerous years, historians have been considering this as the rap sanctification conventional music charts, the watershed period in present-day music, marking the end of hard rock and the start of a time where hip-hop has come up with numerous genres like country music.
Artists such as Ice Cube, Biggie and Tupac sang the hip hop genre of music. This is in accordance with the founding fathers Afrika Bambaataa, Clive Campbell, and others. The main themes found in their songs apart from fun were unity, peace, and love. The primary objective of their songs was to strengthen peace between the Whites and the Blacks. Their songs became like a religion, culture, and education to the people. Moreover, an artist like Tupac encouraged a lot the less fortunate Blacks from ghetto to embrace education. His main message was that no matter where one comes from, he or she can achieve anything he or she wishes to. When hip-hop was initially created, people thought it would not last. Nobody took it seriously. Hip-hop not only presented a new style, but it also provided musicians with a fresh voice. Initially, musicians spoke of empowerment and unity Black people. Some of them even went to the extent of incorporating names of their friends of many days who may not have happened to be in the music sector. All in all, the message of the artists was peace. In the present-days, has lost its meaning and the primary objective is intended to portray in the society. Nowadays, the main subjects and topics overriding this sector are; drugs, money, and sex.
Taking an example of the hit 'This is America' by Donald Glover, also called Childish Gambino, which talks about gun control and violence in America, it has received overwhelmingly positive responses globally on social media platforms. For instance, using her Twitter handle, Erykah Badu described Glover as a genius for his musical theme.
Future of Rap
Lyrics of rap still exit even today. It still tells of a rapper's stories just as it used to do initially. However, for a rapper to get signed into a major label, he or she does not need to be composed about the life of an innermost urban setup. It is mainly because the theme that was initially passed by rap music has completely changed. Nowadays, the message passed revolves around drugs, money or sex as opposed to initially idea of unity and peace. It is most likely that upcoming artists will not be interested in writing songs about harmony since they will consider that an old kind of music. They will modify the current subject of sex, money, and drugs in their compositions.
Conclusion
The original rap music which dwelt on highlighting issues directly affecting the Blacks was the best. It moreover, promoted peace and better coexistence between the Whites and the Blacks. It supported equality and significantly encouraged blacks to embrace education. However, the present day rap has lost its meaning to some percentage. The main message it portrays only surrounds the subjects of drugs, money, and sex.
Works Cited
- Lewis, Femi. 'How Did Hip Hop Culture Begin?. ' ThoughtCo. N. p. , 2017. Web. 21 Mar. 2019.
- Funk, Clayton. 'Sugarhill Gang. ' Aaep1600. osu. edu. N. p. , 2019. Web. 21 Mar. 2019.
- Thompson, Derek. '1991: The Most Important Year In Pop-Music History. ' The Atlantic. N. p. , 2015. Web. 21 Mar. 2019.
