Development of Rap and Hip Hop

Rap

The history of rap has its roots since the day of slavery. It was developed especially in African American urban communities. They used rap music to represent the pain and mistreatment they experienced in their personal life's. Rap is spoken word poetry. Rock and roll played an important role in the birth or rap music. Black people wanted to demonstrate society how important they were as well as white people. They weren't going to let them feel inferior. "Im black and Im proud" became a universal anthem for the black power. Also Rap is used to describe life often in areas like "the ghetto", because rap music also developed in this poverty areas. 

"Keep in mind when brothas start flexing the verbal skillz,

it always reflects what's going on politically, socially,

and economical/y." --Musician Davey D

Rap can be interpreted by most people as a form of expression in they daily life's, which includes racism, sexism, violence, drugs and war. However others might belief it's a vulgar form of music, specially not a good influence for kids as most rappers/artists include many swear words in their songs. Millions of people enjoy rap, it depends upon your taste and if you grew up influenced by it. Nevertheless, lyrics might be inappropriate in some cases. 

Some of the most recognized Hip-Hop/Rap Artists

Gangsta rap is a different type of rap which is associated with urban street gangs and is characterized by violent and tough talking. One of the most influential bands described as gangsta rappers are the NWA.  

Now a days rap is getting more commercial. Which means that artists are just making their songs to get money out of them. Some rap artist such as Nelly and 50 Cent think of rap as just a business now and are doing as many commercial tracks to sell cd’s.

Furthermore, rappers express their personal issues throughout their songs. This can be a way of relieving their stress and problems. They experience hard and difficult situations about life, most people feel identified with their songs because they might be going through the same situation and it gives them hope, which is why they like their music.

Raps Future

The rap industry is growing at a fast rate, political issues are also being addressed in some of the artists songs and in the media. For example recently Lil Wayne has a song over Kanye West’s beat for “Damage is Done” where he briefly discusses the event of Hurricane Katrina.

What is Hip Hop Culture?

"Hip Hop is the constantly evolving spirit and consciousness of urban youth that keeps recreating itself in a never-ending cycle"

Hip hop and rap are very similar, it's difficult to define why are they different.  Some of the main differences are musical features, culture and message. Also their musical features are different. For example Rap is a combination off rhyming an poetry to a musical beat, while hip hop music includes rhythm, blues and beat boxing. Some people say that “Rap is something you do, but hip-hop is something you live.” They first developed in New York City in the 1970s. 

Most of the best known hip hop musicians are male, however woman started rapping in the 1980s.  Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah and MC Lyte were among the first. 

 

 MC Lyte

Mc Lyte is an American rapper, she gained fame in the 1980s. She was the first solo female rapper to release an album with 1988's called Lyte as a Rock. Apart of being a rapper, she was also an actress. Her first song was called "I cram to understand you" I think she was trying to show how being in the shoes of someone else feels. 

                                    

Opinion

I personally think that the music you listen to defines who you are. Rap can be seen and interpreted in many ways and it depends on the type of rap you listen to. For me it might mean some bunch of words that are not even understandable but we can't judge that because for the artist it can be something significant and powerful. If you read carefully the lyrics of many rap songs, they show a deep meaning and they even include many similes and metaphors. It could just be the way they release their anger and fears, their way of projecting their pain and most of the time we won't understand if we haven't gone through the same situations.  We shouldn't judge rap because of the stereotype it has been given of drugs, sex, violence and money. Some artists content might have a different point of view which can be positive in some cases. We should learn from the positive aspects rap demonstrates. I don't listen to rap music because I think people have degraded it's meaning, artists from the 1970s and 80s did rap because they felt the need of expressing their feelings and emotions, most of the rappers now just want to sell records to produce money. They are giving music another meaning and they are doing it without the passion.

Bibliography

http://www.helium.com/items/427343-the-history-of-rap

http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-did-rap-start

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1993/4/93.04.04.x.html

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-rap-and-hip-hop.htm