Introduction to Hip-Hop Music

Study Notes

Hip-hop is a genre characterized by a strong rhythmic beat and a rapping vocal track.
It originated in New York City in the 1970s among Black, Latino, and Caribbean youth.
It emerged during a period of rising crime and poverty in the Bronx, New York City.

Strong, rhythmic beat, created using electronic music production techniques (sampling, sequencing).
Rap: Lyrical skills of MCs (rappers) to tell stories rhythmically.
Sampling: Incorporating parts of one song into another (vocals, instruments, or sounds).
Scratching: A technique used with turntables to create a percussive sound, adding texture to the music.
Breaks: Extended sections with only drums, allowing dancers to showcase skills and providing a breather for listeners.

Mumble Rap: Characterized by hard-to-understand mumbled lyrics.
Anti-rhyme: Playing with traditional rhyming rules.
Lo-fi Bedroom Hip Hop: Low-quality production, relaxed vibe, often recorded in bedrooms.

Found a place within hip-hop as DJs took disco or funky hits, and bent their rhythms to their will.
Loop-based sampling; Splice or Arcade, old funk, and/or soul records.
Sound or Instrument-based sampling; Digitally creating an acoustic instrument; Replicating old synth, keyboards, or drum machines.

A section of a song with only percussion instruments, particularly drums.
Creates an energetic, rhythmic space.
Dance opportunity: Provides dancers, specifically breakdancers, opportunity to showcase skills.
Building anticipation: Transition creates buildup, excitement, and listener engagement.
DJ Techniques: Used to mix tracks, extend parts of songs, and create seamless transition between songs.
Sampling: Used to take drum-heavy sections of older funk, soul, and/or disco records to create new beats and rhythms.