1. HISTORY OF HIP-HOP
Fast growing music genre, Hip Hop,
has been developing since the 70’s
and has had a major impact on
the music industry. It all began in
the Bronx by a Jamaican DJ
named Kool Herc. Herc’s style of
deejaying involved reciting rhymes
over instrumentals. He would start
rapping over instrumentals which
was seen unordinary at the time.
The scene eventually shifted
towards Brooklyn then all over New
York. Some of the earliest rap songs
ever recorded include “King Tim III’
by Fatback Band and “Rapper’s
Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang.
2. CODES & CONVENTIONS
The hip hop genre itself originated from blues, jazz and gospel music.
We can classify hip hop with its rap verses over an upbeat drum
percussion. Hip hop has been mainly dominated by black artists;
some of the lyrics surrounds itself around the struggle of blacks in
America in the past. Some of the themes discussed in hip-hop would
be moving but most commonly, it is known as a ruthless music with a
lot of cussing and profanity. In old school hip hop, rappers are
stereotyped for wearing baggy clothes with their oversized top and
snapbacks. Some of the rappers are often topless and would usually
wear a lot of jewellery. The durag tradition has been set by fellow
rappers; it is a recognisable iconography to gangster music. The
rappers themselves often originated from the ghetto and would
express the struggle they had while growing up thought their words.
They would usually be very proud of where they come from
especially if it’s a rural dangerous area – e.g., Big Sean and Eminem
when they shout it Detroit. There has always been a lot of rivalry
within hip hop – one of the most familiar one is West Coast vs East
Coast where they would cuss each other; it is a competitive industry.
3. SUB GENRE
Today’s hip hop has been slightly adjusted to fit in with other
modern day music. In the 21st century, pop music is hybridised
with rap to form a new level of hip hop. Unlike old school,
modern day hip hop has hooks and more varied instruments
since technology has evolved. A lot of recent hip hop music as
been classified as alternative hip hop since it consists odd
melodies and mixed rhymes including music from Kid Cudi and
Travi$ Scott. Artists like A$AP Rocky hybrids trap music with hip
hop. Grime is a UK based sub genre that is more aggressive.
TRAP GANGSTA GRIME SOUL
4. LEADING ARTISTS
Hip hop is a very competitive genre. A lot of
hip hop debuted from Los Angelas. One well
known and top of the game rappers right
now is Kendrick Lamar from Compton, south
of Los Angelas. Easy E, another Compton
rapper, began the game, but now Kanye
West and Eminem have changed the game
with modern influence. Artists like them and
Drake, Jay Z, Chris Brown, have been
dominating the charts in the recent decade.
Many underground hip hop artist aim to start
a career through social media including
YouTube in hope they will hit the billboard.
5. RECORD LABELS
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label,
focused predominantly on hip hop and urban music,
owned by Universal Music Group. Although it started
of as a rock label, it is now the biggest rap music label.
G.O.O.D. Music is a small American record label founded
by rapper and producer Kanye West in 2004. It is currently
owned by the ‘The Island Def Jam Music Group’.
G.O.O.D is an acronym for Getting Out Our Dreams.
Roc Nation Records is a record label found by Jay
Z in 2008. Just like good music it is a smaller label
run by an artist himself. In June 2009, Roc Nation
inked a 4-year distribution deal with Sony Music.
6. ISSUES /REPRESENTATION
The culture of hip hop in the present day
surrounds itself more around ‘gangsters’
and ‘drugs’. The negative lyrics surrounding
drugs, sex and violence influence people
who is listen to the music. Although their are
successful female artists in the hip hop
industry such as Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalia,
hip hop constantly objectifies women and
represents them as sexual figures – there is
very little respect. In music videos, male
rappers would have stripers in the
background as a way to show what they
can have and female rappers wear tight
clothes or show some cleavage to attract
male gazers. It gives a negative impression
towards young African young people as
the rappers are representing them.
