Hip Hop: The Good, the Bad, The Ugly

We already listened to one of the first Rap / Hip-Hop songs, when we discussed Disco music. Do you remember the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight”; rhyming rapped over looped vamp sampled from Chic’s “Good Times”?

But what is Hip-Hop? It is important to note that “Hip-Hop” firstly refers to a subculture; particularly an African American subculture that developed in the Bronx in New York City in the 70s. Part of Hip Hop is a creative expression through art (graffiti writing), dancing (B-boying), as well as music in the form of DJing and MCing. DJing refers to the use of synthetic instruments like a turn table, drum machines, and music editing controllers to “sample,” “loop,” “scratch,” and so on. MCeeing refers to “rapping,” in which the rapper / MC perform rhythmical rhymes, or poetry put to beat. The MC may also “beatbox,” which is the act of mimicking percussion instruments, i.e. drums, using one’s mouth and voice.

In the 1970s, particularly in the Bronx area, youth had parties (e.g. “block parties” and “tennis court discos”) in which DJs created dance music. The music were often a combination of sampled snippets from the popular songs of the day, for instance Chic’s “Good Times.” Over these sampled rhythms people would perform their rhymes.

One of the first DJ’s during this time was Clive Campbell (aka DJ Kool Herc), known as the “Father of Hip Hop.” DJ Kool Herc sampled beats from different songs and mixed them together, or one after the other, to create syncopation and polyrhythm. DJ Kool Herc’s prodigy was Joseph Saddler (aka Grandmaster Flash).

Watch a part of an episode called “The Perfect Beat,” from a series called “Rock & Roll,” below. While listening to it, try to answer this question: How is Hip-Hop music different from all the other established genres of music?



Below is a list of some representative Hip-Hop music:

• Sugar Hill Gang: “Rapper’s Delight” (1979)
• Kurtis Blow: “The Breaks” (1980)
• LL Cool J (with Rolando Hudson): “I Need Love” (1987)
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (Will Smith): “Summertime” (1991)
• Will Smith: “Men in Black” (1997)
  

Traditionally Hip-Hop music made social commentary, expressed political concerns, and contemplated personal issues; however, the themes in Hip-Hop have evolved to less noble topics.

Thematically Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself” (2002) is quite positive. How would you summarize this song? In other words, what are the topic, idea, and theme of this song?



Unfortunately few contemporary Hip-Hop songs are so inspirational. Instead, Hip-Hop music have has become a medium for promoting a warped idea of masculinity and gender violence (misogyny). Learn more about these issues at the Independent Lens’ Hip-Hop page.

Following is a trailer for the great documentary Beyond Beats & Rhymes, which is well worth seeing.



You can learn more about this documentary at the Independent Lens website. The website also includes a timeline of Hip-Hop’s development and a glossary of common terms when discussing Hip-Hop music.