Hip hop became part of modern culture during the '80s and over
the years, it has become a lifestyle for many. Based on unique new art
forms that developed in the streets because of a need for self
expression, it is commonly known to contain four elements: DJ-ing,
MC-ing (rapping), Graffiti and B-Boying. This article is going to look
specifically look at hip hop culture in music.
Briefly, hip hop
music is defined by four key stylistic elements: Rapping/MC-ing,
DJ-ing/Scratching, Sampling (or Synthesis), and Beat boxing.
Rapping
Rapping,
as it is commonly known, is also referred to as emceeing, MC-ing,
spitting bars, or rhyming. Historically, it is believed that rapping is a
form of expression embedded within ancient African culture and oral
tradition.
Today, rapping is a primary ingredient in hip hop music
and reggae. This style of music can be broken down into different
components, namely: content, flow and delivery.
Content refers to
the lyrics or words spoken by the rapper. Rappers usually talk about the
world's current events in their content. Some even use rap to satirize
or criticize some of the things happening in society.
The flow of
the rap refers the rhythms and rhymes of a hip hop song's lyrics and how
they interact. Flow can be broken down into rhyme, rhyme schemes, and
rhythm (also known as cadence). Sometimes, flow is also used to refer to
elements such as pitch, timbre, volume.
Delivery refers to the
execution or performance of the rap. When preparing to deliver or
perform a rap routine, a rapper must develop vocal presence,
enunciation, and breath control. Vocal presence is the uniqueness of a
rapper's voice on record. Enunciation affects the flow of rap - some
rappers choose also to exaggerate their enunciation for comic and
artistic effect. Breath control involves taking in air without
interrupting the rap delivery. This is essential in any delivery because
with poor breath control, one cannot deliver difficult verses without
making unintentional pauses in between hip hop dance songs.
DJ-ing
DJ-ing
involves the use of turntablism, an art of manipulating sounds and
creating music using phonograph turntables and a DJ mixer.
Among
the first few hip hop DJ's was Kool DJ Herc. Kool Herc created
break-beat DJ-ing which became the foundational development of DJ-ing in
hip hop history. This type of DJ-ing involves the isolation of breaks
in songs. A break is a musical fragment only seconds in length in which
all or most of the music stops except for the percussion.
Besides
Herc's techniques, DJs Grandmaster Flowers, Grandmaster Flash, Grand
Wizard Theodore, and Grandmaster Caz also made further innovations with
the introduction of scratching.
Sampling
Sampling
involves taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and
reusing it as an instrument or a sound recording in a different song or
piece. While sampling, producers will physically manipulate tape loops
or vinyl records on a phonograph.
Sampling in hip hop dance songs
first emerged with Kool Herc, contemporary disc jockeys and imitators
creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks on two turntables.
Over
time, sampling technology has become more advanced, modern equipment
allowed not only more memory but more flexibility for creative
production. Producers were able to filter and layer different hits,
re-sequence them into a single piece.
Unfortunately, with the
emergence of new and hi-tech equipment, it may prove to be very
expensive to keep up with the technology causing a decrease in the
quality of the album.
Beat Boxing
Beat
boxing is a unique form of music style that do not use any kind of
instrument or electronic equipment to produce. It is the vocal
percussion of hip hop culture involving the production drum beats,
rhythm, and musical sounds using the human mouth, lips, tongue, and
voice. Specifically, this is done through singing, vocal imitation of
turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical
instruments.
Generally considered to be part of the same DJ-ing,
beat boxing is typically used to provide a musical backdrop or
foundation for rappers to rhyme over.
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