Evolution of Rap Music
All one has to do is simply observe their surroundings to realize the huge impact of rap music on today's society. The way people dress, talk, and act have all been influenced by the cultural phenomenon known as rap music. Almost every aspect of American culture has been or is being influenced in one way or another by rap music. Let's use driving as an example. While at a stop light roll down the car window and odds are rap music is being played by at least one, if not all, of the surrounding cars. Music television stations, such as MTV, BET, and even The Music Box, seem to stick mainly with playing rap videos. I think it is safe to say that rap is the preferred choice of music for most of America's youth. Over the past twenty years, it has become an important fixture in American society. It's funny to think that at one time rap music was thought to be nothing more than a fad that would go away as times changed. Rap music has had its ups and downs, but, through it all, has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar industry with a massive following.To those who aren't familiar with rap music, Dictionary.com defines it as, "A form of vocal music in which rhyming lyrics are chanted to a musical
He started the technique known as "beats" or "break-beats. However, rap music's roots can be traced back hundreds of years to Western Africa. Like the work songs, country blues was almost sung speech. " (Chernoff 42) In African music, the rhythm, or beat, is highly emphasized. "The Kagan is slim and high pitched. " (Chernoff 36) Basically, African music has different sounds and rhythmic patterns and numerous other characteristics depending on the social topic. " These "beats" were made using two turntables and replaying the choruses of songs over one another. " It was the first album to have major success with white America. " (Blow 21) Even though Sugar Hill opened many doors for rap, the group and the album was considered a sell out to white America since it went against many contemporary rap albums (released or unreleased) that depict the struggles and hardships that blacks in America were facing. Gangs, drugs, graffiti, and break-dancing were part of the Hip-Hop subculture. As a result, Kool Herc won out in popularity, thus the Rap/Hip-Hop style of music and subculture was born. All of that changed on June 25, 1949, when Billboard Magazine used the term R&B. "The slaves distinguished their songs according to the ways in which the songs were used as well as employed special terms to apply to the different categories. Their credibility is based on their rhythmic patterns.
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