What’s Happening in the Hip Hop Music Scene
Contents
Keep up with the latest in the hip hop music scene with this blog. From new releases to upcoming artists, we’ll keep you in the know on what’s happening in the world of hip hop.
The Rise of Rap
In the past few years, there has been a surge in the popularity of rap music. This surge can be attributed to the success of mainstream artists such as Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. Rap music has become more popular than ever before, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Let’s take a look at the rise of rap music.
The early days of rap
Rap music can be traced back to the early 1970s when DJs in New York City began playing a style of music called disco rap. This new style of music was a combination of the rhythmic sounds of disco music and the rhyming lyrics of rap. DJs would often play two copies of the same record, one for the crowd to dance to and one for the MC to rap over.
The first rap song to become a hit was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. This song, released in 1979, was based on the instrumentals from the hit disco song “Good Times” by Chic. “Rapper’s Delight” became an instant hit and helped to launch the careers of many other rappers, including Grandmaster Flash, who is credited with inventing many of the techniques used in today’s rap music.
The golden age of rap
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, mainstream rap music was influenced by the Afrocentric political rap and social protest of Public Enemy, N.W.A., Boogie Down Productions,Paris and Sister Souljah. Gangsta rap also rose to prominence at this time, fueled by the ascent of West Coast G-funk hip hop. Mainstream rap music became increasingly pop-oriented and commercially successful with artists such as M.C. Hammer, Vanilla Ice and Tone Lōc.
The rise of trap music
Over the past few years, trap music has taken the hip hop world by storm. Born in the Dirty South, trap music is a subgenre of hip hop that is characterized by its heavy use of 808 drums, dark melodies, and Southern slang. Intrap music often tells stories about the grim realities of life in the inner city, such as drug dealing and gang violence.
While trap music has been around for decades, it has only recently gained mainstream popularity. In 2013, trap music began to cross over into the pop world thanks to hits like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop” and Baauer’s “Harlem Shake.” Since then,trap music has only become more popular, with artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Cardi B topping the charts with their infectious trap hits.
There’s no doubt that trap music is here to stay. So if you’re looking to get into the hip hop game, you need to learn about trap music. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this exciting genre!
The Evolution of Hip Hop
Hip hop music has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the Bronx. What started out as a way for people to express themselves has grown into a multimillion dollar industry. Hip hop has evolved over the years, with new styles and subgenres emerging. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of hip hop and how it has changed over the years.
The influence of disco
Disco music was the biggest influence on early hip hop. DJs would play popular disco songs in clubs and at block parties, and people would dance. MCs would often talk over the music, using the rhythms to keep people dancing and sometimes adding rhyming lyrics. As time went on, MCs began to rhyme more and the music became more focused on the MCs rather than the dancers. This evolution of disco into hip hop is sometimes called “the Casanova Effect”, named after a Puerto Rican DJ who was one of the first to talk over disco music in New York City.
The influence of rock
The type of music commonly known as “hip hop” developed in the 1970s in New York City, primarily among African Americans and Latino Americans. Hip hop music originally had a hard-hitting, percussive sound, often with an emphasis on ” scratching ” by DJs using turntables to create rhythmic effects. This style was later followed by rappers who delivered rhymes over these beats.
The influence of pop
The influence of pop music on hip hop is undeniable. In the early days of hip hop, songs like Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks” introduced the music to a wider audience and helped it gain mainstream appeal. In the 1980s, artists like Run-D.M.C. and Beastie Boys took the music to new heights with their crossover hits, while Public Enemy and N.W.A brought a more political edge to the genre.
In the 1990s, hip hop continued to evolve, with artists like Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. bringing a new level of lyrical depth and emotional intensity to the music. At the same time, groups like Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest were pushing the boundaries of what hip hop could be, infusing their music with elements of jazz, soul, and funk.
Today, hip hop is one of the most popular genres in the world, with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and J Cole carrying on the tradition of innovation and excellence started by their predecessors. And while some might say that pop music has diluted or commercialized hip hop, there’s no denying that without pop’s influence, hip hop would not be the phenomenon it is today.
The Future of Hip Hop
Hip hop has been around for decades and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, hip hop is only getting bigger and more popular. With more artists breaking onto the scene and more people listening to hip hop, the future of hip hop looks bright. Let’s take a look at what the future of hip hop might hold.
In recent years, social media has had a major impact on the music industry as a whole, and hip hop is no exception. Artists are now able to connect with their fans directly and build up followings much more quickly and easily than ever before. This has led to a situation where some of the biggest names in hip hop are those who have been able to make the most of social media platforms like YouTube, Soundcloud, and Instagram.
Some people have argued that this is having a negative effect on the music itself, as artists are more concerned with getting views and likes than with making good music. However, it is also undeniable that social media has allowed for a much greater level of creativity and self-expression than was previously possible. In many ways, social media has democratized the hip hop music scene, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to evolve in the future.
The influence of streaming services
In recent years, streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music have had a major impact on the music industry as a whole. For hip hop artists, these platforms provide an easy way to reach a wide audience and build a following. In addition, they offer exposure to new fans who might not otherwise be familiar with their music.
In the past, hip hop was largely dominated by terrestrial radio and sales of physical albums. However, streaming has changed all that. Now, more and more people are turning to digital platforms to listen to their favorite tunes. This shift has had a major impact on the way that hip hop is consumed and has led to new opportunities for independent artists.
The popularity of streaming services has also resulted in changes in the way that hip hop is marketed and promoted. In the past, record labels would heavily promote specific songs or albums in an attempt to get them radio play or push them up the charts. However, with streaming, there is less need for this type of promotion. Instead, labels are now focused on getting their artists’ music onto these platforms so that it can be discovered by new fans.
The influence of streaming services is likely to continue to grow in the coming years. As more people turn to digital platforms to listen to music, hip hop artists will need to adapt their strategies in order to reach the widest audience possible.
The influence of the internet
In the late 1990s, hip hop music experienced a golden age. Thanks to the internet, new artists and styles were able to emerge and find an audience more easily than ever before. This led to a period of creativity and experimentation that is often considered the genre’s peak.
However, the same forces that allowed for this golden age also hastened its end. As file-sharing became more prevalent, music sales plummeted, and labels cut back on their investment in hip hop. At the same time, mixtapes became an increasingly important way for new artists to gain attention.
The result is that the landscape of hip hop has changed dramatically in recent years. There are now fewer record labels willing to take a chance on new artists, and mixtapes have become the primary way for new music to reach listeners. This has led to a increase in the number of unsigned artists, as well as a change in the sound of hip hop as a whole.
What does the future hold for hip hop? It’s hard to say for sure, but one thing is certain: the internet will continue to play a major role in shaping the genre’s evolution.
