The Tempo of Hip Hop Music
Contents
- The history of hip hop music and how it has evolved
- The different subgenres of hip hop music
- The different styles of hip hop music
- The different elements of hip hop music
- The different production techniques used in hip hop music
- The different instruments used in hip hop music
- The different vocal styles used in hip hop music
- The different lyrical content used in hip hop music
- The different topics covered in hip hop music
- The different purposes of hip hop music
How fast is too fast when it comes to the tempo of hip hop music? We break it down and explore what might be the perfect speed for this genre.
The history of hip hop music and how it has evolved
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 music is typically composed of a rhythmic vocal style called rap that is accompanied by background music produced by a turntable. The first commercially successful hip hop single was “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, which was released in 1979.
During the 1980s, hip hop music became more popular with the release of hit songs such as “Walk This Way” by Run-DMC and “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy. In the 1990s, hip hop music continued to evolve with the releases of albums such as The Chronic by Dr. Dre and All Eyez on Me by Tupac Shakur. In the 2000s and 2010s, hip hop music has become even more popular with artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar achieving widespread success.
The different subgenres of hip hop music
Beside the four main subgenres of hip hop music, there are several other subcategories and fusion genres that have been derived from hip hop. These include Christian hip hop, Chicano rap, conscious hip hop, horrorcore, nerdcore, political hip hop and psychedelic hip hop, among others.
The different styles of hip hop music
Hip hop music first developed in the late 1970s in New York City,NY , when DJs began to isolate the percussion break from funk and disco songs for their dance parties. Hip hop music has since evolved and now includes a wide range of styles, including rap, dancing, and beatboxing.
The different elements of hip hop music
Hip hop music is composed of four basic elements: rap, deejaying, break dancing, and graffiti art. Rap is a vocal style in which the words are spoken rhythmically over a musical background. Deejaying is the spinning of discs on a turntable to create continuous rhythmic sounds. Break dancing is a form of acrobatic street dancing that involves spins, flips, and other complex moves. Graffiti art is colorful, often political artwork created in public places.
The different production techniques used in hip hop music
Hip hop music is usually characterized by four distinct elements: MCing, DJing, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Hip hop production is the process of creating hip hop music in a recording studio. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music creation, including recording the rapping of an MC, a turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and scratch effects, and the creation of a rhythmic backing track, using a drum machine or sequencer, it is most commonly used to refer to deconstructing pre-existing musical tracks to produce beats.
The tempo of hip Hop Music has changed and evolved since its inception in the late 1970s. In the beginning, most tracks were around 115 BPM (beats per minute). This was due largely to the limitations of equipment at the time as well as the influence of other genres such as disco (think Saturday Night Fever) which was popular at the time. As technology improved and sampling became more commonplace, tempos began to increase. averaging around 125 BPM by the early 1990s. This was due in part to the influence of Miami bass music which tended to be faster than other hip hop sub-genres. By the mid-1990s, tempos began to slow down again, averaging around 115 BPM. This was likely due to the growing popularity of West Coast gangsta rap which tended to have a slower tempo than other sub-genres.
The different instruments used in hip hop music
Hip hop music is usually created with sampling, which is taking a section of another song and incorporating it into a new song. Sampling can be songs, dialogue, or sounds. It usually has a strong beat and often uses repetition. The different instruments used in hip hop music are the turntable, drum machine, sampler, and synthesizer.
The different vocal styles used in hip hop music
The vocal style in hip hop music has changed and developed over the years since the genre emerged in the 1970s. Early songs were often based on a simple back and forth call and response between two rappers, but as the genre has developed, artists have begun to experiment with different vocal styles.
One common style is to rap in a fast, rhythmic style known as ‘flow.’ This style is often used in battles between rappers or when an artist is trying to show off their lyrical prowess. Another popular style is ‘double-time,’ where a rapper raps twice as fast as normal, usually for comedic effect.
Artists have also begun to experiment with singing in hip hop songs, which has led to the development of ‘melodic rap.’ This style often uses Auto-Tune or similar software to create catchy hooks that are easy for listeners to sing along to. Some critics argue that this style of rap is diluting the genre, but many fans enjoy the new sound.
The different lyrical content used in hip hop music
Hip hop lyrics have changed throughout the years, becoming more complex and often carrying messages about society and life. The different lyrical content used in hip hop music can be categorized into three main types: party lyrics, social commentary lyrics, and story-telling lyrics.
Party lyrics are the most common type of hip hop lyric and usually just talk about having a good time. They often mention drugs, alcohol, women, and money. Social commentary lyrics are less common and usually address issues like racism, violence, and poverty. Story-telling lyrics are the least common type of hip hop lyric and often tell a story about somebody’s life or something that happened to them.
The different topics covered in hip hop music
Hip hop music covers a wide range of topics, from love and relationships to politics and social commentary. While some artists focus on one specific topic, others touch on multiple topics in their music.
The different purposes of hip hop music
Hip hop music can be used for many different purposes. Some people use it to tell their stories, some use it to reflect on their culture, and some use it to just have fun. No matter what the purpose is, hip hop music is a powerful tool that can influence people in many different ways.