The Various Genres of Hip Hop Music
Contents
In this blog post, we will be discussing the various genres of hip hop music. We will also touch on the history of hip hop and how it has evolved over the years.
Introduction
Hip hop music has come to be one of the most popular genres of music over the past few decades. It is a genre that has its roots in African American culture and can be traced back to the 1970s. Hip hop is characterized by its use of rhyming lyrics, simple beats, and often contains samples of other songs. The genre has evolved over the years and there are now many different subgenres within hip hop. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most popular types of hip hop music.
What is Hip Hop?
Hip Hop is a genre of music that developed from a combination of African American music styles, including rap, DJing, and break dancing. The first Hip Hop song is widely considered to be “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, which was released in 1979. Hip Hop music has evolved over the years and now includes a wide variety of subgenres, including trap, conscious Hip Hop, and Drill.
Origins of Hip Hop
Hip hop music, also known as rap music, is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States in the 1970s. Hip hop is characterized by a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted, or “rapped”, over a backing beat. Hip hop music has become one of the most popular genres of music in the world, with fans of all ages.
The origins of hip hop are often traced back to the Bronx, a borough of New York City. In the 1970s, block parties were held in African American neighborhoods where people would gather to listen to music and dance. These parties were often times interrupted by fights or other disorderly conduct. To avoid these problems, some partygoers began to rap instead. This new style of music quickly became popular and soon spread to other parts of the United States and even around the world.
Hip hop music is often subdivided into various subgenres. The four main subgenres are old school hip hop, gangsta rap, conscious rap, and trap rap. Old school hip hop is the style of hip hop that was created in the 1970s and early 1980s. This style is characterized by its simple melodies, easy-to-understand lyrics, and basic beats. Gangsta rap is a subgenre of hip hop that emerged in the mid-1980s. This style is characterized by its lyrics which often deal with inner-city crime and violence. Conscious rap is a subgenre that developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This style focuses on raising social awareness through its lyrics. Trap rap is a subgenre that emerged in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This style is characterized by its heavy use of electronic music production elements such as synthesizers and drum machines.
The Elements of Hip Hop
Hip hop is a genre of music that developed in the United States in the 1970s. It consists of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted. It developed as part of hip hop culture, which originated in New York City with block parties and graffiti art.
The four elements of hip hop are MCing, DJing, graffiti writing, and break dancing.MCing (or rapping) is a vocal style in which the artist speaks rhythmically and rhymed lyrics. DJing is the use of turntables to create beats, rhythms, and songs. Graffiti writing is the use of spray paint or markers to create artwork on surfaces in public spaces. Break dancing is a type of dancing that involves acrobatic moves and requires a great deal of physical strength and coordination.
The Various Genres of Hip Hop Music
Hip hop music consists of four main genres: rap, trap, conscious hip hop, and underground hip hop. Rap is the most mainstream and commercially successful genre of hip hop music. Trap is a subgenre of hip hop that originated in the early 1990s in the southern United States. It is defined by its dark, violent, and gritty lyrical content. Conscious hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop that focuses on social and political issues. Underground hip hop is a subgenre of hip hop that is not as commercially successful as the other three genres.
Hip Hop Old School
One of the earliest Hip Hop genres was Old School Hip Hop. This style was developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s and is characterized by its simple, repetitive beats and lyrics that were often freestyled. Some of the most famous old school Hip Hop songs include “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang and “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Hip Hop New School
Other notable Hip Hop New School artists include Kid ‘n Play, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, Slick Rick, Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy, Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Digital Underground, N.W.A., Ice Cube, Queen Latifah andSalt-N-Pepa.
Hardcore Hip Hop
Hardcore hip hop is a genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Hardcore hip hop is characterized by aggressive, self-destructive lyrical content and themes of violence, drug abuse, and criminal activity. Hard-hitting beats and bass lines are also characteristic of this genre.
Hip Hop Funk
The earliest use of the term “hip hop” is often credited to Keith Cowboy, rapper with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. While the term was used as early as 1972, it didn’t gain widespread usage until the release of Schoolly D’s “P.S.K.What Does It Mean?” in 1985. Funk and disco samples were commonly used by early hip hop artists, giving the genre its distinctive sound. Kool Moe Dee, Afrika Bambaataa, Sugarhill Gang, Run-DMC, and Doug E. Fresh are just a few of the artists who ushered in this new era of music.
Hip Hop Jazz
Hip hop jazz is a subgenre of hip hop music that combines elements of jazz and hip hop. The music is characterized by its use of Jazz harmonies and grooves, as well as its incorporation of elements from other genres, including R&B, soul, and funk.
Hip hop jazz first emerged in the early 1990s, with artists such as Us3 and Brand New Heavies incorporating jazz samples and influences into their music. The genre gained wider popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with artists such as J Dilla, Erykah Badu, and D’Angelo incorporating more pronounced elements of jazz into their music.
Today, hip hop jazz is enjoyed by fans of both hip hop and jazz, and has spawned a number of subgenres, including acid jazz and neo-soul.
Hip Hop Soul
Hip Hop Soul is a subgenre of Hip Hop that combines elements of soul and R&B with Hip Hop. The genre first emerged in the early 1990s with artists like Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu, who blended Soul and R&B with Hip Hop to create a new sound. In the 2000s, Hip Hop Soul evolved into what is now known as Neo-Soul, a subgenre that includes artists like Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar, and Macklemore.
Hip Hop Rock
Hip hop rock is a subgenre of hip hop music that fuses the rhythm and lyrics of hip hop with the sound, instruments, and attitude of rock music. The resulting sound is often a harder-edged version of traditional hip hop, with distorted guitars, drum loops, and aggressive lyrics.
One of the earliest examples of hip hop rock was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang, which mixed elements of disco and funk with rap. In the 1980s, groups like Run-D.M.C. and Public Enemy helped to popularize the genre with songs that mixed heavy beats with socially conscious lyrics. In the 1990s, groups like Rage Against the Machine and Beastie Boys continued to push the boundaries of what could be considered hip hop rock.
Today, there are many different subgenres of hip hop rock, from the more punk-influenced sound of groups like Anti-Flag to the alternative metal of Linkin Park. No matter what style you prefer, there’s sure to be a hip hop rock band out there that you’ll love.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hip Hop music is a very popular genre that has evolved over the years. There are many different subgenres of Hip Hop, each with its own unique sound and style. If you’re a fan of Hip Hop, there’s sure to be a subgenre that you’ll enjoy.
