The world of rap music is wide and ever-growing. Numerous talented artists emerge every day from every corner of the world makes the field of rap competitive and lively. This genre of music is special. Special in a lot of ways. The aspect of storytelling in music resides arguably the best in this genre.
What is Rap?
Rap is a style of popular music. It was developed by disc jockeys and urban Black performers in the late 1970s. Rap has a pattern of beat that appears to be insistent and recurring. It acts as the background and counterpoint to rapid, slangy, and often boastful rhyming patter intoned by a vocalist or vocalists: This backing music, which can include digital sampling (music and sounds extracted from other recordings). Hip-hop would specifically involve rapping, deejaying (turntable manipulation), graffiti painting, and break dancing.
The birth of rap took place in America. New York was the city where it all started in the early 1970s. Whereas, the interesting part is coming up. Even before the 1970s, even before New York. Africans unknowingly used Rap as a form of communication. In olden days, African villagers addressed as “griots” used to play basic handmade instruments while narrating stories of their family and local current events. This style of talking while music is playing in the background is rap music as it is known to us in its root form. Interestingly, the griot is still a major form of communication in Africa that survives to this day.
Origin of Rap
In Bronx, New York on August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc (now known as the first DJ & founding father of hip hop) & his sister Cindy used to host back to school parties in the recreation room of their building. These gatherings became the foundation blocks which contributed in sparking the beginning of a new culture which we know today as Hip-Hop. One night during DJ Kool Herc’s set, he tried to do something new which he called “merry go round”. He made use of two turntables which played the same breakbeat section of the James Brown record “clap your hands”. Once the initial turntable finished playing the section he used to switch to the other turntable and play the same section again.
Rap and its Styles
Melodic Rap Style
Melodic rap style is currently the most popular form in the world of rap music. As the name suggests, this form focuses more on the melodies. Most leading artists in the world use this style because of its demand and likeability factor. Artists like Drake, Kanye West and Travis Scott are the biggest examples who emphasize more on the melodic style of rap alongside harmony are therefore, highly successful.
Lyrical Rap Style
Lyrical rap style emphasizes more the lyrics as the name suggests. The artists carefully design the song, using the lyrics, word plays, punch lines, similes, metaphors and bars. The lyrical style of rap revolves around this. The artists like MC Dom, Nas and Lil Wayne are prime examples of rappers who use this style. For instance, Lil Wayne songs have a metaphor, simile in almost every line.
Mumble Rap Style
This style of rap has been developed and introduced recently. This style is comparatively very new. Artists like Future, Lil Uzi vert, and Migos are some of the prime examples of artists who pushed this style of rap. Along the way, these artists have garnered a massive fan following as Mumble rap style emphasizes more on the beats of the song because the lyrics in the rap aren’t so clear. Certain words in a song are made the hook line and are said repeatedly and used. Lyricism and melody don’t play a major role in this style.
Fast Rap Style
This style of rap emphasizes more on the speed of rapping. The aim of the artists here is to perform on the fast beats of a song. The artists who use this style are called ‘Fast-paced rappers’. Artists who master this style of rap are Eminem, who is considered the greatest rapper of all time, Snoop Dogg, Raftaar, and Dr Dre. Moreover, the vibes in this style are usually laid back and chilled.
Mainstream/ Commercial Rap Style
The usual approach of this style is just being casual. There isn’t any particular way to perform this but just multiple things are said during this form of rap be it the cars, style, outfits of the rappers because this style is usually used during parties and functions. As a result, this form of rap is comparatively easier.
Conscious Rap Style
A lot many international artists are there who performed this style of rap pretty well. This rap style focuses more on talking and presenting real life issues in a rap. In addition, conscious rap talks about the social and political issues any country or a region may be facing at the time. Alongside, talking about the issues. Artists put their views forward with even the solutions in this form. Thus, conscious rap style is an important way to express yourself. EPR is one of the Artists in India who perform this style.
Gangsta Rap Style
This form of rap is all about the streets. This style emphasizes street culture, being raw and aggressive. As a result of being raw, Gangsta rap style has become quite popular in recent years as the audience has broadened for this type of music.
Diss Rap Style
This is the most controversial form of rapping as it emphasizes dissing the other artists, creating controversies. Similarly to Gangsta style, diss form of rap is also vey raw. However, this is the way a lot many artists survive in the business.
Rap Artists to look out for
Eminem
The Greatest of All Time. Eminem is the biggest selling artist of the 21st century. He is famous for his incredibly fast rapping which no other rapper could match. Eminem’s biggest hits are Lose Yourself, Love The Way Your Lie, Guilty Conscience and Rap God.
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is one of the leading artists of the rap industry and rightly so. He has established himself as one of the best in terms of impact and storytelling. Kendrick Lamar’s biggest hits are Alright, HUMBLE, Backseat Freestyle and Loyalty.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne is one of the new generation artists who is adored and loved by the audience all over the world. His speciality is that Lil Wayne is incredibly good with rhymes, thus, his songs and music are catchy. Lil Wayne biggest hits are Stuntin’ Like My Daddy, Go DJ, 6 Foot 7 Foot, and Famous.
Parting Words from Podium
The rap genre of music is something really new but also something that developed at a very rapid rate. The audiences love it and the genre is versatile and flexible, thus, it stands out as the ever-changing nature of art according to time and culture as it is always a factor. The talented artists who helped make this genre reach all over the world deserve praise as genre promotion would not have been possible without them. Hence, the quality of artists in recent years is only increasing and that is a major positive for the World of Rap Music. Read about other forms of music to enhance your diversify your taste of music.
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