There are lots of kinds of rap! I probably won't remember all the types here, but here are the ones I can think of.
[b]The Old School: ~1970-1987[/b]
This was the beginning. Most of it was from New York and there weren't too many distinctive styles yet.
[i]Old School Rap[/i]
Old school rap is hella old rap from the old days, like the 80s basically. Back then, it was all pretty silly and nobody could rap very well. There were lots of 808 drum machines, bad scratching, and shouting.
Afrika Bambaataa - Planet Rock
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lDCYjb8RHk[/media]
LL Cool J - Rock the Bells
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DphkDgAMKqY[/media]
Run DMC - It's Like That
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hN1SKVx31s[/media]
Schooly D - I Don't Like Rock and Roll
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MtXvtZAPWY[/media]
[b]The Golden Age: 1988-1994[/b]
Here's where things started to get more diverse. You started hearing different sounds in different parts of the country.
[i]Political Rap[/i]
Embodied and championed by Public Enemy, the black power rap of the late 80s and early 90s helped to move the genre away from its innocuous party-music origins and into more aggressive territory, giving rise to NY hardcore rap.
Public Enemy - Fight the Power
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PaoLy7PHwk[/media]
KRS-One - Love's Gonna Getcha (Material Love)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtrNj47u1D8[/media]
X-Clan - Fire & Earth
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXG3mdJpo2c[/media]
[i]NY Hardcore[/i]
One of the founding forces in gangster rap, hardcore rap in New York was characterized by sparse, often atonal beats, jazz samples, and aggressive & lyrical raps.
KRS-One - Sound of da Police
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VRZq3J0uz4[/media]
Nas - NY State of Mind
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKjj4hk0pV4[/media]
Wu Tang Clan - Da Mystery of Chessboxin
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl6jwab3HWk[/media]
[i]Conscious Rap[/i]
While these artists also drew inspiration from their political rapper forebears, the music was smoother, less aggressive, and more political. Jazz samples were very popular.
A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It?
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbDFS6cg1AI[/media]
De La Soul - The Magic Number
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0irL1M15DH8[/media]
Digable Planets - Where I'm From
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl-pjb7y3y0[/media]
[i]West Coast[/i]
Originating in South Central LA, the West Coast gangster sound was created almost single-handedly by producer Dr. Dre. Easily identified by its booming George Clinton samples, thick basslines, and fluttery portamento synth leads. Slow, synthy, and funky.
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_TcszezOVE[/media]
Dr. Dre - Fuck Wit Dre Day
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTfGCe3dZ1A[/media]
Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWfbGGZE07M[/media]
GTA San Andreas Theme
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4VTq0sa9yg[/media]
[i]Bay Area[/i]
The Oakland area was home to a distinct scene. I don't know much about it but in its early stages it was derived from the LA West Coast style, but weirder and funkier.
E-40 - Practice Looking Hard
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij_wBcUKqxo[/media]
Del the Funkee Homosapien - Mistadobalina
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e29ZR1MNOUA[/media]
The Coup - Me and Jesus the Pimp in a '79 Granada Last Night
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbiot-mH0EQ[/media]
[b]Early 90s: ~1993-1996[/b]
Early 90s was mostly the various geographic styles of the golden era becoming more developed. Also notable was the feud between Death Row Records, a Los Angeles label affiliated with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and 2Pac, and Bad Boy Records, a New York label featuring Puff Daddy, the Notorious B.I.G., and others. The "East Coast vs West Coast" beef defined the mid-90s and ended with the deaths of 2Pac and B.I.G.
[i]East Coast (New York)[/i]
East Coast rap continued its tradition of dense, rapid lyricism. Super-producer DJ Premier of Gang Starr came to define the East Coast sound, with his heavily chopped samples and crisp drums.
DJ Premier Medley (2 Parts)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=youm845zkS0[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsnCD1GeA2A[/media]
Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Rampage, LL Cool J, & Busta Rhymes - Flava In Ya Ear Remix
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8pG1mG7BeI[/media]
(This is worth watching for Busta Rhymes at the end alone)
Method Man - Bring the Pain
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0BlXy3Roj4[/media]
Smif N Wessun - Bucktown
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRNBY4BvylU[/media]
[i]West Coast (Los Angeles)[/i]
Similarly, Dr. Dre continued to define the West Coast aesthetic. To kids growing up in California at this point, Tupac was the king of the world.
2Pac - Hit Em Up
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4HjsZqOaQ0[/media]
Snoop Dogg - Doggyland
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJBWvi20YOo[/media]
2Pac - California Love
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXQQG9B6c[/media]
[i]Southern Rap[/i]
Southern rap began to develop its own slow, groovy style at this point. UGK was a seminal group. I don't know much else.
UGK - Diamonds & Wood
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uijHb5U1pD8[/media]
[b]Late 90s: ~1997-2000[/b]
This was a gaudy, exciting, and rather tasteless period in rap history. Following the deaths of 2Pac and Biggie and the collapse of the East-West beef, the price of the rivalry was becoming all the more apparent. Tensions dissipated and the two styles began to blend together. Dr. Dre began producing songs for East Coast rappers like Busta Rhymes, and DJ Premier did a few songs for West Coast artists as well.
[i]East Coast[/i]
At this point, rap had hit the big time. Money was flowing everywhere. As a result, production quality went up dramatically, and displays of wealth like jewelry and cars became fashionable. A young New York rapper named Jay-Z became emperor of hip-hop with the help of visionary producers Timbaland and Kanye West. West's proclivity for using sped-up "chipmunk" soul samples defined a new sound for East Coast hip hop.
Method Man - Judgement Day (this video exemplifies how garish and overbudget rap videos were getting at this point)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBF-pZUbAUw[/media]
Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel & Scarface - This Can't Be Life (produced by Kanye West)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZ-tqRzenPQ[/media]
B-Real, Coolio, Method Man, LL Cool J, & Busta Rhymes - Hit Em High (this was a tie in with the movie Space Jam, another example of rap's rapid commercialization in the late 90s)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewOzi5-AZXU[/media]
Busta Rhymes - Break Ya Neck (produced by Dr. Dre)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrghtXWfVYM[/media]
[i]West Coast[/i]
By this point, a now-wealthy Dr. Dre had largely abandoned his cheap synths and funk samples, moving on to a sparser, more epic style that incorporated lots of strings and brass. At this point, though, Dre's music was becoming a mainstream rap staple, and less and less associated with the West Coast.
Xzibit - Bitch Please (produced by Dr. Dre)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBMaYLrl3mU[/media]
Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg - Lay Low
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwUyT1rDiPE[/media]
Dre also adopted Detroit rap prodigy Eminem, who became a runaway success among white audiences, and whose vulgar, graphic lyrics made him one of the most controversial celebrity figures in recent history.
Eminem - My Name Is
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-Hx6ifFTk8[/media]
[i]Conscious Rap[/i]
In response to the shamelessly commercialized rap industry, a number of (mostly New York) artists emphasized a revival of Golden-era socially conscious music. The style was characterized by soul samples, emulation of the old DJ Premier style, and lyrical fixation on poverty, pro-black politics, and criticism of the rap industry.
Mos Def & Talib Kweli - Definition
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx5aVI2zsFE[/media]
Common - I Used to Love H.E.R.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C99iG4HoO1c[/media]
KRS-One - A Friend
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NmygFf1_ik[/media]
[i]Backpack Rap[/i]
The cousin of conscious rap, backpack rap was marked by denser and more complex lyrics than ever before, replete with science fiction and comic book references. Beats were often strange, even grating. Catchy choruses were almost nonexistent. A largely white and middle-class phenomenon, backpack rap was often disparaged as being nerdy, pretentious, and out of touch with the genre's roots in black street culture.
Company Flow - End To End Burners
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09AYVC470MA[/media]
Jedi Mind Tricks - Chinese Water Torture
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLIEQWMQDr4[/media]
Deltron 3030 - 3030
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7_jbluF0qo[/media]
Lyrics Born - Asia's Verse
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDIWotLYOGY[/media]
[b]The 2000s[/b]
Mainstream rap during this period was characterized by two things: the rise to fame of 50 Cent, and the explosion of the South onto the scene. Underground rap also developed significantly.
[i]East Coast[/i]
After being shot 8 times and not dying, 50 Cent became legendary. A ruthless businessman, 50 Cent engineered a series of "beefs" that sent him to the top of the rap game, along with his crew, G-Unit. Armed with a heaping helping of Dr. Dre beats, they revitalized gangster rap on the pop charts.
50 Cent - In Da Club (produced by Dr. Dre)
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWkAicipmXw[/media]
Another vitally important song was the incredibly spartan "Drop It Like It's Hot" by Snoop Dogg. Produced by avant-garde weirdos The Neptunes, the song consisted of a few drum samples, a brief series of synth stabs, and a tongue-clucking noises. Against all expectation, it was a smash hit, setting the stage for other experimental producers like Timbaland to succeed on the pop charts.
Snoop Dogg - Drop It Like It's Hot
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfgMC6F0FVo[/media]
[i]West Coast[/i]
The West Coast was barely alive at this point. Snoop Dogg had long since abandoned his home turf for the greener pastures of the pop charts. Its last hope was a Blood rapper called The Game, who had achieved some success by allying himself with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. However, after winding up on the wrong end of a 50 Cent beef, The Game's career went down the tubes, as did any hope of a West Coast resurgence.
The Game - Red Bandana
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryzwXTK6A2o[/media]
[i]Southern Rap[/i]
While the south had had some forerunners, like Ludacris, it truly conquered hip hop in the 00s. With its entirely synthesized, dance-influenced aesthetic, stoned tempo, and generally unambitious lyrical content, it was often criticized by NY rappers and the underground scene in general as being dumb, commercialized, and "ruining hip hop," as nearly every rapper today is either from the south or mimics the style.
Rick Ross - Hustlin
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAZdA9axCMw[/media]
Lil Jon - Get Low
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbfC9tC8UQc[/media]
T.I. - What You Know
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5lIWti4VUw[/media]
Slim Thug - Wood Grain Wheel
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfou43yT66w[/media]
[i]Alternative Rap[/i]
The conscious rap and backpacker rap of the late 90s coalesced into the alternative, or "underground" rap scene of today. It is a fairly diverse one, and there are many sub-styles, but generally the sound is derived from mid-to-late 90s East Coast production, and common lyrical themes are criticism of the rap industry and the "gangster lifestyle," and the rapper's own skill at rapping. Alternative rap fans (who tend to also be fans of 90s-era rap) often like to claim that their favorite music is "real hip hop" and that "mainstream" rap (generally Southern rap, pop rap and art rap) is "fake." Alternative rap places a high value on its sense of social responsibility, although homophobia and sexism are still rampant.
Gift of Gab - Rat Race
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Cs4iLeR60[/media]
Aesop Rock - Daylight
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd_W_x3nclY[/media]
Dilated Peoples - Worst Comes to Worst
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Z-4973tN4[/media]
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK9coz8yM3w[/media]
Pack FM - Plucking Daisies
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpkvzfOdbMc[/media]
[i]Hardcore Underground[/i]
A subgenre of alternative rap, the hardcore stuff is still somewhat anti-commercial and political, but dispenses with the notion that rap should be sensitive and socially conscious. Most of this stuff is about murder and misogyny. Basically Eminem, but with movie soundtrack samples instead of Dr. Dre beats.
Army of the Pharaohs - Seven
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cASLfP6mkC0[/media]
Jedi Mind Tricks - Heavy Metal Kings
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNITJsOrHr0[/media]
Apathy - Baptism By Fire
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTmiCYDbdzI[/media]
Immortal Technique & Mos Def - Tell The Truth
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kjL2KKil20[/media]
[i]Hyphy[/i]
This is a long and storied genre and I can't do it justice here, but basically the funky Bay Area music we left back in the Golden Age has grown into something decidedly bizarre. The music has an associated car culture that is responsible for the "ghost riding" and "stunna shades" phenomenons. Fast-pased, synthesized and cartoonishly weird, hyphy is without a doubt the silliest of rap genres. It's definitely a love it or hate it thing. I think it's awesome.
Mac Dre - Feelin Myself
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNRvUadnp9Y[/media]
Mistah F.A.B. - Ghost Ride It
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLvlGVNInw4[/media]
The Federation - 18 Dummy
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ou9rqJ9ss[/media]
Kafani & Keak Da Sneak - Fast
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HzaRcfBDqE[/media]
[i]Jerk[/i]
Jerk music is a pretty newly popular thing. Although it sounds very similar to hyphy, jerk music is associated with the "jerking" dance scene in Southern California. Instrumentation is extremely sparse, to the point where most beats are an 808 kick and a few snare samples. Skinny jeans are big in the jerking community (lol) so expect to hear a lot about that.
New Boyz - Cricketz
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk2JOON_Xgw[/media]
New Boyz - You're A Jerk
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUGyAHSQhpo[/media]
[i]Art Rap (Hipster Rap)[/i]
This is a nebulous thing and hard to nail down, but in the past few years there has been heavy cross-pollination between the hip hop and hipster subcultures. As a result, a lot of experimental, effeminate, or just plain bizarre artists have been blowing up the pop charts, most notable Kanye West and the Young Money roster.
Kanye West - Power
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zCF5xXFOY[/media]
Nicki Minaj - Massive Attack
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W772mvcDejo[/media]
Lil Wayne & Cory Gunz - 6 Foot 7 Foot
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eq9VZLq4NE[/media]
Drake - Fear
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4W5E3vqflc[/media]
That's all for now. I might add more later.
The word 'RAP' stands for 'Rhythmic American Poetry'
RAP is a music genre.
Hip-Hop is a culture.
jesus christ
shut the fuck up bat shit
wu tang > all
D LO
YOU ALREADY KNOW THO
WE DON'T GIVE A FUCK ABOUT A NIGGA OR NO HOTO
What do you think about Southern Rap TH89? haha
Also, come on. [b]You have to add Act A Fool and Still Fly[/b] to the Southern Rap 2000's section. :v:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7gnSyuIik[/media]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7gnSyuIik[/url]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iCd6UHR-3I[/media]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iCd6UHR-3I[/url]
Well i learned quite a bit reading this
I love me some concious rap :v:
Holy shit that OP is huge
so many videos
I'll have to read it later :v:
africa bambaataa rules and you know it th89
OK now I've read the whole thing, didn't listen to any of it though, because my flash player is fucked on this computer and the internet here is pretty bad.
It was an interesting read.
Where the hell is lupe fiasco?
This is fantastic, it's refreshing to read a rap thread that actually explores the history of the genre rather than labelling it as good or bad with a sweeping statement and a few selective examples.
I'm surprised that you didn't include nerdcore in the mix though, especially as you're part of the scene. It's really risen in popularity over the past few years. That is, unless I've gotten the wrong end of the stick at some point and you're not DJ Snyder/Kasparov.
I used to hate rap until I stopped caring and adopted the view that you can like what you please, but I have avoided the genre. I had decided to attempt to listen to one song from every sub-genre you posted, but most the time I listened to the beginning and move the slider to a few points just to get the general theme of the song. After doing that I came to the conclusion that rap wasn't my thing but only some of it was god awfully bad (most of which was the later stuff).
There was this one rap song that I genuinely liked that was posted in some thread somewhere, but I can't remember the name, but a lot of other people replied saying that is was good and it had surprised them.
[QUOTE=Kingy_who;27213536]I used to hate rap until I stopped caring and adopted the view that you can like what you please, but I have avoided the genre. I had decided to attempt to listen to one song from every sub-genre you posted, but most the time I listened to the beginning and move the slider to a few points just to get the general theme of the song. After doing that I came to the conclusion that rap wasn't my thing but only some of it was god awfully bad (most of which was the later stuff).
There was this one rap song that I genuinely liked that was posted in some thread somewhere, but I can't remember the name, but a lot of other people replied saying that is was good and it had surprised them.[/QUOTE]
honestly alot of people seem to hate rap not in artistic or musical terms but purely just because (same way that some people just like rap and hate metal etc) but i think there are no bad genres just bad artists, i used to hate rap when i was younger but after i started listening to it more and more i realized that alot of it is very good it's all just a matter of finding an artist you can enjoy
moar grrrime
[QUOTE=mfb412;27212878]Where the hell is lupe fiasco?[/QUOTE]
Alternative rap. I didn't include everybody.
[QUOTE=PulpedFiction;27213121]I'm surprised that you didn't include nerdcore in the mix though, especially as you're part of the scene. It's really risen in popularity over the past few years. That is, unless I've gotten the wrong end of the stick at some point and you're not DJ Snyder/Kasparov.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Plectophera;27216017]moar grrrime[/QUOTE]
I was thinking about adding another section about rap's bastard children, stuff that exists in kind of a separate universe from the rest of the music, like nerdcore and foreign hip hop and Juggalo music. They're not really a part of the American hip hop canon.
Where does the rap the pops up halfway through a seemingly unrelated pop song come into this?
[QUOTE=TH89;27216507]Alternative rap. I didn't include everybody.
I was thinking about adding another section about rap's bastard children, stuff that exists in kind of a separate universe from the rest of the music, like nerdcore and foreign hip hop and Juggalo music. They're not really a part of the American hip hop canon.[/QUOTE]
:( Nerdcore really isn't that bad.
I really enjoyed reading about an indepth history of one of my favourite genre's and I will check out some of the artists you listed. Thanks TH89
[QUOTE=Kingy_who;27216708]Where does the rap the pops up halfway through a seemingly unrelated pop song come into this?[/QUOTE]
History of pop.
I liked "backpack" rap, I remember listening to a decent amount of Deltron3030 in the past. Although its kinda nerdy, at least it isn't like nerdcore persay
I read it all and listened to the stuff that sounded niteresting as you described it, and concluded that I really like 00's Hardcore Underground
[QUOTE=mynames2long;27217934]I read it all and listened to the stuff that sounded niteresting as you described it, and concluded that I really like 00's Hardcore Underground[/QUOTE]
Get Servants in heaven, Kings in hell by Jedi Mind Tricks.
[editline]5th January 2011[/editline]
Rated agree by a mod. Life complete.
I don't know if I'll look like a total idiot posting Hip-Hop in here, but I really enjoy this.
[MEDIA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKOHiwMLgIU[/MEDIA]
Golden Age of Rap :saddowns:
[img]http://images.g4tv.com/ImageDb3/169394_S/DJ-Jazzy-Jeff.jpg[/img]
WHAT A TIME :v:
Fucking informative, thnx for sharing TH89. im still a bit unclear about some things, but ill research those on my own
Marvellous thread, I am already fairly well versed in knowledge of Hip Hop, but this has educated me further. No matter how silly you say it is, LL cool J will always hold a place in my music library.
Ayo my quality controoolll
captivates your mind body and soul
Not bad, pretty comprehensive for a FP thread.
Edit:
Also, notice how everything after the 2000's (other than Underground/Alternative turned to shit.)
I really have never liked Rap but now after reading this I might start to like the older stuff
I have to admit, the old school rap is p good, and I am one to hate rap.
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