Info about Rap Music
History of Rap
The history of rap dates back to the early 70’s. Rap, which is also referred to as hip hop, is a growing trend that has become popular among the teenage audience. The origins of rap date back to some of the early African American rappers that introduced it to culture. New York City was one of the first areas to be exposed to rap, and it has now spread across the globe.
DJ’s in New York started popping up everywhere in the early 70’s, as a complement to disco and funk was demanded. Clubs began seeking a new flavor for their dancers, and it was apparent that a new trend was looming. Consequently, artists began integrating innovation into their music style, which included rhyming and rhythmic beats. It was the rise of the DJ that brought forth the rise of rap music, as the two went hand in hand.
MC’s grew popular, as their duties now became instrumental in the entertainment industry. It was the MC’s priority to continuously entertain the audience and ensure that there were no dull periods. The MC (also referred to as the emcee) introduced the DJ and discussed the lineup of entertainment that was planned for the evening. MC’s needed to have a certain personality, which was usually charismatic and outspoken. Their stage presence needed to be recognized by the whole audience and appreciated for those who were looking to gain the most out of their clubbing experience.
Aside from the MC’s and DJ’s, breakdancers, taggers, and rap artists blossomed in the club scene of New York City in the early 1980’s. The combination of these performing artists helped plant the seed for rap music, as dancing, singing, and rioting (in a controlled manner) were all critical components that helped one fully enjoy the rap experience.
The late 1970’s and early 1980’s served as the benchmark period for the introduction of rap to society. Several branches of the genre formed in later years. For instance, by the early 1990’s a sub-genre known as gangsta rap dominated the music scene. This form of music integrated a strong lyrical component with a hidden message, usually involving violence or sex. American youth was the target market of this music, and moral issues dominated as the hot topic surrounding the impact of this music. The socio-economic hardships of rappers were recounted in lyrical form, and the tone of the music and connotation of the themes describes left many curious as to whether or not teenagers should be subject to this vulgarity. Today, hip-hop music is one of the hottest trends across the globe.
Consideration of the performers is necessary when recalling the rap genre. After all, it is the life of the artists that constitutes the central theme of the music. It is not common to hear a rap song with a positive theme that instills a happy feeling among its listener. Instead of issuing public statements about these hardships, rappers have decided to sing their difficulties and attached cuss words to them to appeal to a young crowd. Accompanied by a catchy rhythmic beat, teenagers have fallen in love with the style, as it is not uncommon to browse a teenager’s iPod and find hundreds of rap titles.
With rap came two other components of the theme worth noting: breakdancing and tagging. Breakdancing was a style of dancing that involved constant movement of body parts while lying on a floor. Tagging was simply using graffiti to convey a message. Breakdancing has become so popular that competitions are held all across the globe, with fans practicing new styles every day. Europe and Asia are home to some of the biggest breakdancing competitions. Though the rap style is now only a few decades old, its impact has been immeasurable. Evolving from the streets of New York City and venturing all across the glove, the style of rap will undoubtedly continue to have an impact in the overall development of today’s youth.