The Different Styles of Hip Hop Music

There are four different styles of hip hop music. They are old school, new school, conscious, and trap. Each style has its own unique elements.

Introduction

Hip hop is a genre of music that developed in the United States in the 1970s. It is characterized by a rhythmic and often rhyming speech that is chanted or rapped over a background beat. Hip hop music has been a global phenomenon, with its popularity spreading throughout the world.

In the United States, hip hop emerged from African American and Latino communities in New York City. The earliest hip hop songs were focused on social issues and daily life in urban neighborhoods. As the genre developed, it began to incorporate elements from other genres of music, including R&B, disco, rock, and pop. Hip hop also became increasingly associated with violence, crime, and gangs.

Today, hip hop is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It has influenced other genres of music, as well as fashion, dance, language, and culture. There are many different styles of hip hop, each with its own unique flavor and history.

Hip Hop Styles

There are many different styles of hip hop music. Some of the most popular styles are rap, R&B, and pop. Each style has its own unique sound and feel. Rap is typically fast-paced and has a strong beat. R&B is usually slower and has a smoother sound. Pop is a mix of both styles and often has a catchy hook.

Old School Hip Hop

Old school hip hop is said to have ended around 1984. It was a time when block parties were regular occurrences, and music was created with turntables and a microphone. MCs would entertain the crowds by rhyming over the beats of the DJs. This style of hip hop is characterized by four elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Classic old school tracks include “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang and “The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow.

New School Hip Hop

New school hip hop is a style of hip hop characterized by use of the latest sampling technology and drum machines, combined with a focus on melody. Thought to have emerged in the early 1980s, it was pioneered by artists such as Afrika Bambaataa and the Beastie Boys. New school hip hop is often marked by its use of synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers, and heavy basslines.

West Coast Hip Hop

Originating in California in the early 1980s, West Coast hip hop was characterized by its slow, gangsta rap style. Early pioneers of the genre included Dr. Dre and Ice T, who rose to prominence with their albums Straight Outta Compton and Power, respectively. By the early 1990s, West Coast hip hop had become commercially successful, with artists such as Snoop Dogg and Warren G achieving mainstream success. Today, West Coast hip hop is still going strong, with artists like Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q continuing to innovate and push the boundaries of the genre.

East Coast Hip Hop

East Coast Hip Hop is a hip hop music style that developed in New York City in the late 1970s. East Coast Hip Hop has a more complex lyricism than other styles of hip hop and frequently makes use of multisyllabic rhymes. It also tends to have a slower tempo than other hip hop styles. This style is often associated with Afrika Bambaataa’s Zulu Nation, as well as with the early work of artists such as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, the Sugarhill Gang, Doug E. Fresh, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, Boogie Down Productions and De La Soul.

Dirty South Hip Hop

Dirty South Hip Hop is a style of rap that emerged from the Southern United States in the 1990s. The style is characterized by its focus on southern culture and its unique sound, which blends elements of electronic music with traditional Hip Hop. Dirty South Hip Hop is often considered to be a more aggressive and hard-hitting style of rap, with many artists using explicit lyrics to describe violence and crime. However, there are also many Dirty South artists who focus on positive messages and provide social commentary on issues affecting the south, such as poverty and racism.

Midwest Hip Hop

Midwest hip hop is a regional genre of hip hop music that refers to the Hip Hop music created in the Midwestern United States. Midwest hip hop is often characterized by its traditional, old-school focus, as well as its heavy jazz and blues influence. The Midwest also has a long history of producing Hip Hop artists with a focus on political and social consciousness, which has led to the region being nicknamed “The conscience of Hip Hop.”

Conclusion

Hip hop music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the South Bronx in the 1970s. Today, there are many different styles of hip hop, from the hardcore rap of Kendrick Lamar to the more pop-influenced sounds of Drake. Whatever your taste, there is sure to be a hip hop artist that you enjoy.