Rapping

Rapping, also called dropping, rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing, is an African American art form of vocal delivery and emotive expression. It includes rhyme, rhythmic speech, and often street vernacular. Rapping is usually done over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The main parts of rap are the content, or lyrics, the flow or rhythm and rhyme, and the delivery, including cadence and tone.

Rap is different from spoken-word poetry because it is usually performed off-time to musical accompaniment. It also differs from singing, which changes in pitch and may not always use words. Some rap artists may play with vocal qualities instead of relying on pitch. Rap is a key part of hip-hop music and is closely linked with the genre, sometimes being called "rap music."

Rap has roots in the West African griot tradition, certain vocal styles of blues and jazz, an African-American game called playing the dozens, and 1960s African-American poetry. It began in the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s as part of the hip-hop cultural movement. Rapping started from announcements made by DJs and MCs at parties and grew into more complex lyrical performances.

Rap is usually performed over a beat provided by a DJ, turntablist, or beatboxer. In studios, a producer often creates the beat for the rapper to flow over. Rap style sits between speech, prose, poetry, and singing. Originally, the word "rap" meant "to lightly strike," but it now describes quick speech or repartee. It has been used in the English language since the 16th century and became a slang term for conversation in African American vernacular in the 1960s.

Rap music has been important for expressing social and political issues, such as racism, poverty, and political oppression. By the 21st century, rap had become a global phenomenon, influencing music, fashion, and culture around the world.

History

See also: African-American music, Music of the United States, History of poetry, and Talking blues

Etymology and usage

The word "rap" has many meanings. It can mean to hit something quickly or to speak sharply. By the late 1960s, "rap" was a slang term for giving a speech or talk, common among people in protest movements. It later came to describe a style of music.

Rap began to describe talking over records in 1970 on Isaac Hayes' album ...To Be Continued with the track "Monologue: Ike's Rap I". Over time, it became a way to speak rhythmically and creatively.

Roots and origin

Rapping has roots in West African traditions where storytellers spoke rhythmically over drums. Blues music, with its roots in work songs and spirituals, also influenced rap. Early blues musicians like Joe Hill Louis used rapping styles. Jazz and spoken word poetry also helped shape rap.

Jazz musician Muhammad Ali used rhymes and poetry in his talks, influencing later rap artists. In the 1970s, people in the Bronx began rapping over music, creating a new style.

With the decline of disco in the early 1980s, rap became a new way to express yourself. It used simple beats made from mixing different records, allowing young people to create music without expensive equipment.

Proto-rap

Early forms of rap were influenced by jazz poetry and comedy records. Musicians like Gil Scott-Heron mixed poetry with music, inspiring future rap artists. In the Caribbean, DJs spoke rhythmically over beats, calling it "rap" as well.

The first rappers often spoke over music at parties. DJ Kool Herc began using simple rhymes, inspired by American music he heard. Others like DJ Hollywood developed new ways to rhyme with the music.

Old-school hip-hop

Main article: Old-school hip-hop

Old school rap from 1979 to 1984 had simple rhymes focused on having fun. One exception was Melle Mel, who used his lyrics to talk about important issues and inspired future rappers.

Golden age

Main article: Golden age hip-hop

The golden age of hip-hop, from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, was when rappers created complex rhymes and wordplay. Artists like Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, and Rakim made rap lyrics more creative and powerful. This innovative period ended around 1993–94.

Flow

Flow in rap music is all about the rhythms and rhymes in a song’s lyrics and how they work together. It includes how the words match the beat, the patterns of rhyming, and the way a rapper delivers their lines. Rappers often focus on staying right on the beat, stressing certain words to match the music’s rhythm.

There are many styles of flow, and rappers have developed different ways to make their rhymes more complex and interesting. Some use simple patterns, while others create more complicated rhymes and rhythms. Over time, rap has evolved, with artists finding new ways to make their flow unique and exciting.

Performance

To be a good rapper, you need to have a strong voice and speak clearly. Rappers need to control their breathing so they can keep going without stopping. Some rappers add a little tune to their rapping. For example, Egyptian Lover was the first to mix singing with rapping. Other famous rappers like 50 Cent and Ja Rule also add a bit of melody to their songs. Some can even harmonize with the music, like Lauryn Hill, T-Pain, and Drake.

Rapping fast and clearly is a sign of skill. In some styles of hip-hop, like chopped and screwed, slower rapping is preferred. The fastest rapper ever was Domingo Edjang Moreno, known as Chojin, who rapped 921 syllables in one minute in 2008.

Emcees

In the late 1970s, the word "emcee" or "MC" came to mean a rapper. An MC uses rhymes to introduce the DJ, keep the crowd excited, or talk about themselves. Over time, "MC" came to mean different things, like "mike chanter" or "microphone controller." Some people use "MC" to talk about rappers who are very skilled. Many think James Brown was the first MC because his style influenced many rappers.

Female rappers

Many female rappers have become very famous, including Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj, MC Lyte, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, and Eve.

Subject matter

Old school hip-hop often focused on fun "party rhymes" to get crowds excited, and this theme is still common today. Rappers also talk about love and relationships. Artists like Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D, and LL Cool J helped make love a big part of hip-hop.

Some rappers talk about important social issues. Artists such as KRS-One, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jay-Z, Nas, and The Notorious B.I.G. discuss topics like fairness and equality. Others, like The Coup and Tupac Shakur, speak out about problems in their communities.

A few rappers focus on showing off wealth, mentioning expensive brands like Cristal, Rémy Martin, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Gucci, and Versace in their songs.

Some rappers use clever wordplay, like comparing things in interesting ways and using rhymes. Rappers such as Fabolous and Lloyd Banks write whole songs using these comparisons, while others like Rakim and Jay-Z are known for their imaginative lyrics.

Rap has created its own special words and phrases. Areas like the Bay Area, Houston, Atlanta, and Kentucky have added their own local slang to hip-hop. As rap became more popular, it influenced fashion, movies, sports, and dancing, shaping the way many young people talk and think today.

Freestyle and battle

There are two kinds of freestyle rap. One kind is when rappers recite lyrics they have already written, but they don’t know the beat in advance. This style became very popular in the late 2000s. Sometimes, the DJ changes the beat during the performance, and the rapper must keep their rhythm smooth and natural. They might also change their voice or style to match the new beat.

The other kind of freestyle rap is more challenging. It is called “off the dome” or “off the top,” where the rapper makes up their lyrics completely on the spot, without preparing them ahead of time. This kind of rap is very respected because it shows creativity and quick thinking. In battle rapping, two or more rappers compete in front of an audience. The winner is chosen by the crowd or judges. Shows like MTV’s DFX and BET’s 106 and Park feature these battles. The movie 8 Mile helped many people outside the African-American community learn about battle rapping.

Derivatives and influence

Throughout the history of hip-hop, new music styles have grown up that include rapping. Whole genres like rap rock, rapcore, and rap metal began when rap mixed with rock, metal, and punk music. Other styles such as hip house also came from blending rap with different sounds. Many popular music types that focus on strong beats have included rapping at times, like disco, jazz, new wave, funk, contemporary R&B, reggaeton, and even Japanese dance music.

In the UK, a style called grime started in London in the early 2000s, led by MC Dizzee Rascal. This brought more UK rappers to perform in America. Another style, Hyphy, comes from Oakland, California, and features slow vocals with hip-hop beats, often talking about car culture. A group called Beltaine's Fire mixes hip-hop with Celtic music, playing live without samples or machines.

Bhangra, a music style from Punjab, India, has also blended with reggae and hip-hop. One famous song in this mix is "Mundian to Bach Ke" or "Beware the Boys" by Panjabi MC and Jay-Z, which helped make the style even more popular.