Jenkins Quiz (05/05/20)
(24) Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) - cont.
A Several record companies agreed to place stickers on offending records. B Rappers and other artists (Frank Zappa) resented the group. C. Ice-T on "Freedom of Speech" (1989) assured the group that they were actually working against their own concern: "The sticker on the record is what makes it sell gold."
(24) Ice-T - cont.
A. "Colors" (1988) was the title song for the film Colors (dr. Dennis Hopper) about cops facing LA gang violence, starring Robert Duvall and Sean Penn. B. The song has two characters that alternate narrating—one is a "psychopath" gangbanger, the other a kid resisting the gang life. C. "I'm Your Pusher" (r13, 1988)—incredibly influential track that was often misunderstood as glorifying the life of a drug dealer. D. Uses sample from Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman."
(24) Horrorcore
A. A subgenre of hardcore rap that draws on extreme topics such as necrophilia, psychotic behavior, gore, paranoia, and misogyny.
(24) Conscious/Knowledge/Jazz Rap - Queen Latifah
A. All Hail the Queen (1989) with "Ladies First." Black Reign (1993) brought her greater success with "U.N.I.T.Y." and "Just Another Day." B. After Order in the Court (1998), she focused more on soul and jazz as well as her acting and commercial endeavors.
(24) Notorious B.I.G
A. Along with Tupac, one of the most influential rappers of the 1990s. A complete master of flow—laidback delivery, clever approach to rhythm, employs intriguing strings of vowel sounds that overrides the rhymes at times. B. Ready to Die (p15 r3 1995) produced by Puffy Combs on Bad Boy Records. C. Biggie led a protégé group called Junior M.A.F.I.A. that included Lil' Kim (who raps with him on songs like "Another"). D. Emphasizes mafioso tales—bigger than life crime stories. E. Life After Death (1997), a double album released sixteen days after his death. F. The song "Mo Money Mo Problems" helped inaugurate the "shiny suits" era of hip hop that Puff Daddy promoted.
Thrash (the Big Four) (cont.) - Anthrax
A. Anthrax: NYC based; signed by Zazula of Megaforce Records after the success of Metallica's Kill 'Em All. B. They released Fistful of Metal (1984) with singer Neil Turbin; it features "Metal Thrashing Mad." C. Turbin was fired, in part on the advice of music journalist Eddie Trunk. D. The band hired Joey Belladonna—the singer on their most famous releases. E. Spreading the Disease (1985) and then their breakthrough Among the Living (1987), featuring "Among the Living" (based on Stephen King's The Stand), "A Skeleton in the Closet" (based on King's "Apt Pupil"), "I am the Law" (based on the comic book character Judge Dredd), as well as "Caught in a Mosh," and "Indians." F. The next album, State of Euphoria (1988) employed some elements of rap and socially conscious lyrics. Included "Be All, End All," "Misery Loves Company" (based on King's Misery), "Who Cares Wins" (about the homeless situation), and "Antisocial" (a cover but one of their biggest hits). G. Released "Bring the Noise" (1991) with Public Enemy.
(24) Boogie Down Productions (BDP) - cont.
A. August 1987: Sterling was shot and killed when coming to the aid of his friend D-Nice. B. KRS-One changed the direction of BDP (now basically a solo project) to be "conscious-oriented" rap. C. The next album, By All Means Necessary (1988), is a landmark recording in the development of conscious rap, although the album cover shows KRS-One with an Uzi and thus still resonates with the gangster imagery he set forth with Criminal Minded.
(24) Divisions
A. August 27, 1991: Biz Markie releases album I Need a Haircut with the track "Alone Again" that uses a sample from Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)." O'Sullivan sued and the court decided that all samples must be cleared by the original artists. B. The court pulled the records off of the shelves in addition to the fine!!! C. This radically altered how rap artists dealt with samples (far fewer, less creative use of samples by many artists) and makes the industry move toward a greater concentration on "beat making." D. East/West factions: The West Coast faction was led by Suge Knight of Death Row Records. E. The East Coast faction is led by Puff Daddy and his label Bad Boy.
(22) Rock Superstars (cont.)
A. Bon Jovi had a huge impact on the mainstream with Slippery When Wet (p1, 1986) featuring "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Living on a Prayer" (both #1s). B. High, soaring vocals, tasty but impressive guitar, good riffs, and poppy, sing-along choruses.
(23) Metal Blade Records and Metal Massacre
A. Brian Slagel, a record store employee in LA, founded the independent label Metal Blade Records in 1982, based in California; he intended to promote the bourgeoning California metal scene. B. The first release was The New Heavy Metal Revue presents Metal Massacre in 1982; Metal Massacre albums were then released in various volumes for the next several decades. C. These albums (at least the first 12 volumes) featured unsigned bands, many of which later became famous. D. The first volume included "Hit the Lights" by Metallica and "Tell the World" by Ratt. Slayer, Overkill, Voivod, Lizzy Bordon, and Possessed all got their starts on these compilation albums.
(22) Rock Superstars
A. Bruce Springsteen was already an established star by the 1980s. B. He emerged into the popular imagination in 1975 with Born to Run. C. His songs often address the struggles of the working class and this has made his music a flashpoint for both liberal and conservative talking points. D. The album Born in the USA (p1 1984—30 million sold, among the highest selling of all time) has seven singles in the Top 10. E. Ronald Reagan attempted to use "Born in the USA" (1984) as a theme song of sorts for his re-election campaign—ignoring the critical view of the US that the song espouses.
(22) Glam Metal
A. Characteristics: combines elements of heavy metal, hard rock, and punk with a focus on catchy hook-based melodies and guitar riffs. b. There is often an emphasis on the virtuosic guitar solo (although they are often kept short to accommodate the 3'30" length of the typical hit single). C. Vocal harmonies are often employed—particularly in the power ballads (emotional songs that build to a heavy climax). D. The lyrics generally deal with sex and love, often addressed to a specific woman ("you")—this derives from the hard rock influence more than metal, as does the relatively high male voice (modeled after Robert Plant but with a raspy nasal sound). E. The drumming tends to be heavy-handed and often lacks the subtlety of Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath.
(23) Death Metal
A. Characteristics: palm muting, tremelo picking, heavy distortion, low tuning, double kick drum and blast beats (sixteenth-note figures divided among the bass drum, snare, and cymbal or ride), B. Abrupt shifts in meter and feel, deep, growling vocals, chromatic chord progressions. C. Lyrics often deal with slasher violence, religion, philosophy, and science fiction.
(22) Guitar Virtuosos in the 1980's (cont.)
A. Danny Gatton: influenced by country and jazz; created what he called "redneck jazz" with a series of influential but not wide-selling albums. B. He drew from many genres including soul, rockabilly, rock, etc. C. He was considered by many one of the greatest guitarists (Vai thought so) and was called a "Whitman Sampler" of music. D. He started releasing albums in the mid 70s. E. Perhaps his most famous is the 1991 album 88 Elmira St., an instrumental album featuring his version of the Simpsons theme song.
(24) Conscious/Knowledge/Jazz Rap
A. De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (p24 r1, 1989), employs jazz and soul samples (indeed this is one of the great records for sly use of samples). B. More positive themes, less aggressive than other rap groups. C. Part of the Native Tongues collective that includes A Tribe Called Quest and, for a while, Queen Latifah.
(24) G Funk
A. Death Row Records signed Dr. Dre, The Chronic (p3 r1, 1993) featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg who touts a freer, smoother, somewhat slurred approach to rapping flow. B. The tracks draw heavily on Parliament-Funkadelic and other 1970s funk artists—(few samples, also live musicians) usually played at an exaggeratedly slow tempo that gives it a "dragging," hypnotic feel; deep, marked bass lines; female backing vocals; high-pitched synth lead. C. Lyrics are often about women (sometimes degrading), drugs, violence, but also party lyrics. D. Heavily influenced by Mobb Music (Too Short, E-40). E. The Chronic was a major album, sealing Dr. Dre's reputation.
(22) British and European Heavy Metal (cont.)
A. Def Leppard: moved away from their New Wave of British Heavy Metal early sound to incorporate a greater pop sensibility in three highly successful albums that help set the sound of glam metal: High n' Dry (p38 uk 26, 1981), Pyromania (p2 uk18, 1983), and Hysteria (p1 uk1, 1987). See songs like "Photograph" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me."
(23) Crossover Thrash (Punk Metal)
A. Develops out of the hardcore scene but with strong metal leanings. Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity, Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, Stormtroopers of Death.
(24) N.W.A (*****z With Attitude)
A. Eazy-E: a drug-dealing entrepreneur was looking to invest his money in the burgeoning rap scene. B. Met with manager and promoter Jerry Heller and played his version of Ice Cube's track "Boyz-N-The Hood"—detailing a murder in the park and an attempted murder in a courtroom. C. Eazy-E's flow is non-committal, like a barely interested observer (notice again the descending pitch approach like Schoolly D). D. He released the track through Macola Records (a pay-for-pressing company). He also released "A Bitch Iz a Bitch" with Ice Cube rapping in his confrontational style.
(22) Guitar Virtuosos in the 1980's
A. Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads serve as models for the virtuosic ideal of heavy metal guitar for much of the 1980s mainstream metal and rock.
(23) Progressive Metal
A. Emerged out of the American power metal scene and defined, prototypically, by the "Big Three:" Queensrÿche, Dream Theater (although they are more typical of the 90s and 2000s), and Fates Warning. B. The major influences seemed to have been King Crimson (experimental but power-chord based), Black Sabbath, and Rush (combining elements of prog rock with a Led Zeppelin influence). C. Progressive metal bands invoke stylistically diverse influences (jazz, folk, classical, Middle Eastern music, ragtime) and differ widely along the spectrum of accessibility: some bands like King's X are closer to mainstream metal while others like Opeth are closer to death metal.
(24) Wu-Tang Clan
A. Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers) (p41 r8, 1993). B. A hip hop collective formed on Staten Island in 1992, originally with RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa—the quintessential East-Coast example of hardcore rap. C. Enter the Wu Tang is considered one of the most important hip hop records of all time. D. Each rapper also has his own projects, some being spinoffs of Wu-Tang. E. Examples: Method Man, Tical (1994); Ol' Dirty Bastard, Return to the 336 Chambers: The Dirty Version (1995); Raekwon, Only Built For Cuban Linx... (1995); GZA, Liquid Swords (1995)—all produced by RZA, at least in part. F. RZA plays piano on many tracks—inspired by Thelonious Monk; his idiosyncratic approach to samples was hugely influential on Kanye West and others.
(22) Glam Metal (cont.)
A. Fashion: teased hair, makeup (sometimes exaggerated to the point of emulating KISS, sometimes more in the androgynous mode of David Bowie or the New York Dolls); tight jeans, leather pants, or colorful spandex; chains, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, headbands, scarfs (around the neck, on the microphone stand, as a bandana); many bands indulged in a debauched lifestyle with drugs, hotel room destruction, visits to strip clubs, and heavy partying which often made headlines in the rock press.
(24) Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC)
A. Founded by Tipper Gore in 1985; this group sought to limit children's access to material it deemed inappropriate—particularly cultural products that referenced drugs, sex, or violence. B. They proposed a ratings system similar to the one used by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
(24) Conscious/Knowledge/Jazz Rap - Arrested Development
A. Founded in Atlanta in 1988 by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative hip hop group in contradistinction to gangster rap. B. 3 Years, 5 Months, and 2 Days in the Life Of... (1992) features "Tennessee," "People Everyday," and "Mr. Wendal." Their followup Zingalamamudi (1994) just didn't sell and they split, reuniting later.
(24) Conscious/Knowledge/Jazz Rap - A Tribe Called Quest
A. Founded in Queens in 1985; originally rapper/producer Q-Tip, rapper Phife Dawg, producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and rapper Jarobi White. B. The Low End Theory (1991) was a major influence on "jazz rap;" includes "Scenario" with Busta Rhymes (his verse was so celebrated, it launched his solo career). C. Beats, Rhymes and Life (1996) with "1nce Again." Q-Tip presents a philosophical outlook while Phife presents the more down-to-earth, pragmatic view on many of the songs.
(24) Horrorcore - Geto Boys
A. Geto Boys: Houston group and pioneers of the genre with Grip It! On That Other Level (1989) featuring "Mind of a Lunatic." B. We Can't Be Stopped (1991) has Bushwick Bill on the cover, in the hospital after being shot in the eye. C. The album features their breakout hit "Mind Playing Tricks on Me."
(23) Hardcore Punk (Cont.) - Musical Characteristics
A. Harder, faster, more brutal than the first generation of punk; far less indebted to the sound and chord progressions of the late 50s/early 60s; a total rejection of new wave music. B. Abrupt shifts in tempo, emphasis on rhythm and speed, unpredictable song forms (not usually verse-chorus); C. The songs are often surprisingly short (many under 30 seconds), D. Shout/scream/chant singing (audience members are encouraged to sing along, so it becomes a group chant); E. The music is played at very loud volumes and is meant to feel like a kind of assault, "buzzsaw" distortion and power chords, emphasis on the minor scale. F. There are occasional guitar solos but mostly such displays of virtuosity were viewed as the inauthentic trappings of hair metal. G. The drumming is an essential part of hardcore: Lucky Lehrer of the Circle Jerks is one of the progenitors of the sound—hard hitting, emphasis on the D beat (constant offbeat snare with a dotted pattern in the bass drum).
(24) Schooly D - cont.
A. He released "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" (1985)—considered the first gangster rap song. B. The title refers to the Park Side Killers gang of Philly, to which Schoolly D belonged. C. The cover art was hand drawn by Schoolly D. D. The song dramatizes and glamorizes gang life; the beat (composed by Schoolly D—not a sample) is menacing and lo-fi, E. Schoolly D's flow stands in contrast to other rappers of the era—relaxed, conversational but also conspiratorial (notice the slightly descending pitch motive for almost every line)—first-person narrative of a gangster turned rapper who does drugs, has sex with a prostitute, hears another rapper stealing his flow, considers killing him, but stole his show instead.
(24) Nas
A. Illmatic (1994) on Columbia Records; features productions by DJ Premier and others (including Q-Tip). B. Multisyllabic internal rhymes, productions that include the "hip hop sublime" (an intentional mismatch of pitch resulting from layering samples). Strong sense of metaphor; great feel for "realism."
(22) Rock Superstars (cont.)
A. John Cougar Mellencamp: the great representative of "heartland rock." B. Like Springsteen, many of his lyrics deal with working-class issues. C. He was one of the founding members of Farm Aid (founded 1985). D. Songs like "Jack & Diane" (1982), "Pink Houses" (1983), and "Paper in Fire" (1987) were huge hits. E. His songs often feature traditional instruments (dulcimers, harps, fiddles) alongside rock instruments. F. The album Scarecrow (1985) is viewed by Mellencamp as the start of the alt-country genre.
(24) N.W.A (*****z With Attitude) - cont.
A. Joined with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre (who just left a Prince-inspired electronic funk group), MC Ren, and DJ Yella to record Straight Outta Compton (p37 r9, 1988) as N.W.A. and Eazy-E's Eazy-Duz-It (1988). B. Eazy-E established Ruthless Records and promoted several artists including D.O.C. and J.J. Fad; through Heller, Eazy signed a non-exclusive deal with Priority Records (distributed through EMI) who made their reputation through the California Raisins. C. Ruthless artists could make independent deals—this provided Eazy a lot of flexibility.
(24) Boogie Down Productions (BDP)
A. KRS-One (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone; Kris Parker) and DJ Scott La Rock (Scott Sterling)—Sterling worked in a homeless shelter where he met Parker: B. First single: "Say No Brother (Crack Attack Don't Do It)" in 1986; C. Criminal Minded (1987, r73): social and political criticism; first album to have firearms on the cover. D. Includes "My 9mm Goes Bang" (1986)—concerns the murder of a rival drug dealer and subsequently his gang—and "Criminal Minded" (1987). E. Also includes "South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over"—two songs that proclaim the centrality of the Bronx to hip hop (in contradistinction to claims made by other artists for the other boroughs). F. The latter song is a specific diss to MC Shan, a Queens rapper whose song "The Bridge" touted the Queens-bridge housing projects as vital to the development of hip hop.
(24) Southern California Gang Culture
A. Main gangs: Crips and the Bloods. In the mid 80s, there were roughly 200 gang-related deaths in So.Cal. each year. B. 1986 LA Gang demographics: 68% Black male; 2% Black female; 22% Latino; 0.5% Latina; 7.5% Other. 150,000 Crips vs. 25,000 Bloods; average age: 16; deaths: 398. C. The crack epidemic and the Rockefeller Drug Laws: in New York selling two ounces or more of heroin, morphine, cocaine, or cannabis, or possessing four or more ounces of any of these substances carried a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life (the cannabis part was repealed in 1977).
Thrash (the Big Four) (cont.) - Megadeth
A. Megadeth: derived from Metallica with guitarist/singer Dave Mustaine; mascot: Vic Rattlehead. Becomes increasingly virtuosic with various lead guitarists. B. Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good! (1985) was their debut on independent Combat Records, led to the signing with Capitol Records. C. Released Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? (1986) with more socially conscious lyrics and anti-capitalism as a theme—but also occultism ("Bad Omen") and serial killing ("Black Friday"). D. So Far, So Good...So What! (1988) continues to explore large social issues like nuclear war and freedom of speech; the technical virtuosity of this album (and the next) keeps rising. E. They added guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman for the next album Rust in Peace (1990) featuring "Hangar 18."
(24) Schooly D
A. Melle Mel and Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" (1982) portrayed the oppression of Blacks by the police (the song ends with their arrest) but Schooly D reverses the trajectory of fear. B. "Gangster Boogie" (finally rel. 1984) described a gangster terrorizing the inhabitants of the ghetto. C. DJ Lady B (on Power 99 in Philadelphia) assured Schoolly D he would have trouble finding a label. D. Schoolly decided to press his own record and distribute it through local independent record stores; he launched Schoolly-D Records in 1983, the first artist-owned rap label.
Thrash (the Big Four) (cont.) - Metallica
A. Metallica: Originally from LA but relocated to San Francisco. B. Originally: James Hetfield (guitar, vocals), Lars Ulrich (drums), soon added Dave Mustaine (who was subsequently fired), and Cliff Burton (bass). Hetfield designed the logo. C. They were featured on the first Metal Massacre volume. D. As they prepared to record their first album (to be titled Metal Up Your Ass), they replaced Mustaine with Kirk Hammett (Mustaine maintained for years that Hammett simply played solos Mustaine had written). E. Megaforce Records, run by Jon Zazula, renamed the album Kill 'Em All (1983); fusing British heavy metal and punk, this album is often considered the inauguration of the thrash style: fast tempos, double time snare work, a bass solo with drums ("Anesthesia—Pulling Teeth"), palm mutes and tremolo picking. F. On the strength of this album and its follow-up Ride the Lightning (1984), Elektra Records signed Metallica, leading to the release of their celebrated Master of Puppets (p29, 1986). G. Increasingly elaborate guitar textures, prominent instrumental sections in most songs, barking vocals. H. Cliff Burton died in a bus accident and was replaced by Jason Newsted of Flotsam and Jetsam; the new formation released ...And Justice For All (p6, 1988). I. Then they began working with producer Bob Rock and released Metallica (the "Black Album") in 1991—a total overhaul of their sound, much more radio-friendly hard rock in place of thrash; it was their first 1p.
(23) Thrash (the Big Four)
A. More ambitious than the typical heavy metal band, a thrash band generally cultivated very fast tempos that alternated with moodier slow sections, featured intense, virtuosic guitar solos, tremolo picking, double-bass drumming, and an aggressive approach derived from Black Sabbath and Motorhead. B. The term "thrash metal" first appeared in February 1984 in an article in Kerrang! by Malcolm Dome discussing Anthrax's "Metal Thrashing Mad."
(24) Terminology
A. Most rappers in the early days of the "gangster rap" genre thought of themselves as performing "reality rap" or "street reporting." B. The term first appears in the Los Angeles Times in an article by Robert Hilburn in 1989, claiming that Ice-T popularized the "L.A. gangster rap image."
(24) Ice-T
A. Moved to California from New Jersey. Started as an actor in b-boy films Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984). B. Began working the local rap scene; became interested in Schoolly D and wrote "6 'n the Morning" (1986) and called Schoolly to get his permission. C. The song is another first-person narrative in which the hero escapes a police raid, beats a woman, gets arrested for weapons possession (an Uzi and hand grenade), goes to jail, assaults a fellow inmate, leaves, starts pimping, and gets in a shoot-out with four wounded and two dead. D. The hero then steals a car, has sex, and ditches town for NYC. E. Ice-T called it "faction"—factual situations in a fictional story. F. Robert Christgau compared him to Iceberg Slim in a 1988 review.
(22) British and European Heavy Metal
A. Ozzy Osbourne quits Sabbath in 1977, releases two classic albums with guitarist Randy Rhoads: Blizzard of Oz (p2 uk7, 1980) and Diary of a Madman (p16 uk14, 1981). B. Rhoads was originally in Quiet Riot (see below); his tenure with Ozzy established Ozzy's style and insistence on working with strikingly virtuosic guitarists (after Rhoads died, Ozzy worked with Jake E. Lee, Zack Wilde, and Gus G.). C. Randy Rhoads manages to combine the neoclassical approach established by Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple with the new virtuosity developed by Rhoads himself and Van Halen (see below) to create a riff-driven song structure tied to surprising neoclassical guitar solos featuring technical elements such as hammerons and pulloffs, tapping, swift arpeggio-based moves through Baroque-inspired sequential chord progressions, and moments of collapse (often articulated through a whammy bar dive or chromaticism). D. His work on "Mr. Crowley" is a good example of his neo-classical approach and "Crazy Train" is the classic introduction to his use of riffs and intimations toward more traditional chordal thinking (the implied suspension figures in the verse progression, for example).
(22) British and European Heavy Metal (cont.)
A. Power Metal: inaugurated by Iron Maiden. B. Features virtuosic guitar parts (usually two closely related guitar lines unfolding together in parallel or simple counterpoint), fast instrumental parts but with a relatively slow sense of harmonic change (that is, a slow harmonic rhythm in comparison with Thrash), some double bass patterns in the drums (though not as emphasized as other forms of metal), use of keyboards, a high quasi-operatic, clean vocal delivery, a focus on fantastical or mythical lyrical subject matter, a conceptual emphasis on album art. Maiden's Number of the Beast (p33 uk1, 1980) established an early model. C. Helloween (West Germany) founded by guitarist Kai Hansen—added vocalist Michael Kiske and released the two Keeper of the Seven Keys albums in 1987 and 1988—considered among the most important offering in power metal.
(22) Guitar Virtuosos In the 1980's
A. Precedents: Jimi Hendrix, of course, serves as the godfather of rock guitar virtuosity. B. His emphasis on the sheer power of the instrument through effects, distortion, and feedback invested the guitar with a symbolic vitality (a kind of Dionysian sublimity) it didn't have before. C. Eric Clapton (particularly in the Blues Breakers and Cream) and Jimmy Page had similar impacts. Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple inspired many guitarists to employ classical elements in their playing (as can be seen in Progressive Rock, Randy Rhoads, and Yngwie Malmsteen). D. Frank Zappa provided another source of influence—one that pertains to a more experimental manner of virtuosic display.
(23) Death Metal - Possessed
A. Quintessential death metal band, formed in 1983 in San Francisco. B. Featured guitarist Larry LaLonde, who went on to play with Primus. C. Released Seven Churches (1985), which opens with Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield from the Exorcist soundtrack for their opening track "Exorcist." - side note: A. Death, founded in 1983 in Florida, released Scream Bloody Gore (1987), considered by some critics to be the first "true" death metal album.
(24) Ice-T - cont.
A. Rhyme Pays (p93 r23, 1988 on Sire Records) includes "6 'n the Morning" and "Squeeze the Trigger." B. The latter includes lyrics concerning police killing kids with "warning shots" and the Reagan Iran-Contra affair. C. "Pain" discusses the unglamorous aspect of the gangster life—the likelihood that one will be incarcerated or killed. D. The album sold well among White teenaged boys. E. It was also one of the first albums (along with Just-Ice, Kool & Deadly (Justisizms)) to have the explicit content warning label proposed by the PMRC.
(24) Boogie Down Productions (BDP) - cont.
A. Robert Christgau (Village Voice) objected to the violence depicted but celebrated KRS-One's intellect: "KRS-One's talk of ****ing virgins and blowing brains out will never make him my B-boy of the first resort. I could do without the turf war, too...His mind is complex and exemplary—he's sharp and articulate, his idealism more than a gang-code and his confusion profound."
(23) Hardcore Punk (Cont.) - Elements of Style
A. Slam dancing (or moshing): pushing/bumping up against each other and stage diving—a parody of violence that actually is rather violent (people get hurt, concussed). B. Fashion is anti-fashion: combat boots or sneakers, t shirts, jeans or army pants, crewcuts and skinheads, sometimes spiked armbands.
Thrash (the Big Four) (cont.) - Slayer
A. Slayer: LA-based. Use of odd modes (like Locrian); lyrical topics include necrophilia, hate crimes, terrorism, (anti-)religion, serial killers, genocide, torture, and Satanism; adorned the stage and T-shirts with pentagrams and inverted crosses. B. They have continually been the subject of a great deal of controversy—album delays and bans, lawsuits, and condemnation. C. Started as a cover band of NWOBM songs; their song "Aggressive Perfector" appeared on Metal Massacre III (1983) and then they signed to Metal Blade Records, releasing the self-financed Show No Mercy (1983) featuring "Antichrist"—it was Metal Blade's highest-selling release thus far. D. Then Hell Awaits (1985) featured longer and more complex songs, more emphasis on the thrash sound, backwards voices, etc. E. They were then signed to Def Jam Records and released their most influential album Reign in Blood (p94 1986)—simpler songs, more hard core punk influence. F. "Angel of Death," about Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, led the distributor, Columbia Records, to refuse to carry the album; it was distributed by Geffen instead. G. South of Heaven (p57 1988) was a deliberate attempt to move away from their sound on the previous album; it as a critical failure. H. Slayer was highly influential on the rise of death metal.
(24) N.W.A (*****z Wit Attitude) - cont.
A. Straight Outta Compton includes "**** the Police" produced as a court case with D.O.C. as the bailiff and Dre as the judge; the skit is not separate (like in a lot of golden era and old school rap) but is an essential element of the form. Ice Cube, Ren, and Eazy-E prosecuted the case against the police. B. Ice Cube's verse starts with a clear couplet but then the rhythm accelerates and includes a tri-syllabic rhyme ("authority"/"minority"). C. Eazy-E also wanted a hit on the record so "Express Yourself" was designed to be profanity-free and "Something 2 Dance 2" was a bid for commercial appeal. D. The song "**** Tha Police" was so controversial, the FBI contacted the record company to warn them against such releases. Even more than earlier rap, this music found a huge audience with Midwestern white teens. Advertised as "the world's most dangerous group."
(24) Horrorcor- The Insane Clown Posse
A. The Insane Clown Posse: maybe the most notorious group of the genre. B. Their followers/fans are the notoriously out-of-control Juggalos.
(23) Progressive Metal - Fates Warning
A. Their fourth album (the first with new singer Ray Alder) was No Exit (1988) with songs based on existential philosophy and the first metal suite: "The Ivory Gate of Dreams." B. Perfect Symmetry (1989) displayed more focus on intricate rhythmic arrangements and odd meters, set the stage for 1990s progressive metal.
(23) Crossover Thrash (Punk Metal) - cont.
A. Thrashcore: blast beats, less funk influence: Dirty Rotten Imbeciles B. Grindcore: very short songs, created more or less by Napalm Death (their song "You Suffer" from 1987 is one second long). A lot of dissonance, blast beats, etc. Often concerned with anti-military and animal rights themes along with gory and provocative lyrics. There are several sub-genres.
(22) Rock Superstars (cont.)
A. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Third album Damn the Torpedoes (1979) establishes their reputation with songs like "Don't Do Me Like That" and "Here Comes My Girl." B. Southern Accents (1985) saw more emphasis on the country influences and the video "Don't Come Around Here No More" was a hit on MTV.
(24) Tupac Shakur
A. Tupac Shakur emerges on Interscope Records (related to Death Row) with his first solo album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991. B. "Trapped" and "Brenda's Got a Baby" poetic quality and concern with social justice. C. Dan Quayle attacked the album when a defense attorney claimed the album as inspiration for a cop shooting in Texas. D. He immediately earns a reputation for the depth of his lyrics and the violence of his rhymes and general manner. E. He becomes one of the most outspoken figures in the East-West feud. F. Then a series of classics: Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. (1993) continues his social concern with "Keep Ya Head Up" but also hints toward playa rap with "I Get Around;" Me Against the World (1995) with "Dear Mama;" All Eyez on Me (2996), an amazing album even though it was made in a hurried fashion to satisfy his contract with Death Row; features "California Love" (a G Funk tune), "My Ambitionz as a Rider," and "I Ain't Mad at Cha."
(22) Rock Superstars (cont.)
A. U2: one of the dominant bands of the 1980s with Bono as the leader. B. Their music combines a social critique ("Sunday Bloody Sunday") with a slick romanticism ("One," "With or Without You"). C. Bono's soaring delivery of memorable refrains allowed their output to leave an indelible mark on listeners.
(23) Hardcore Punk
A. Underground movement based on independent labels and local fans, starting in the late 1970s as one of several paths out of the first generation of punk, particularly in New York, Southern California, and San Francisco. B. Continues the DIY aesthetic of punk, anti-art, anti-commercialism, anti-authoritarian, anarchist, heightened sarcasm, confrontational sound and lyrics. C. Hardcore rejected the art-school, skinny tie trappings of new wave, regarding such artists as poseurs. E. By the early 1980s there were strong scenes in Washington D.C., Boston, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. F. There was a social/ethical element to many of these scenes. Hardcore spawned the "straight edge" movement (no drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity); the "hardline" movement (veganism); and the "youth crew" (straight edge, hardline, but with social optimism in place of punk's traditional pessimism). G. The hardcore genre and its various subcomponents are good examples of subcultures—they define themselves as cohesive social movements in opposition to the larger (hegemonic) social system (whether that be the U.S. at large under Reagan or the current state of punk and new wave music—which they hated). H. The scene largely involved young white males with some notable exceptions (see the great band Bad Brains).
(22) Glam Metal (cont.)
A. Van Halen: Van Halen (19p 1978)—one of the highest selling debut albums in rock—featured "Running with the Devil" and "Eruption." B. The latter is a guitar solo featuring extended guitar techniques—in particular, tapping—which involves slamming a finger from the picking hand down on a fret and pulling off to fingers on the fretting hand and then pulling off and hammering on with that hand; usually arpeggios are produced. C. "Eruption" quickly became the hallmark of the virtuosic metal guitar style with many other guitarists attempting to match up to it (see, for instance, Rhoads's guitar solo on the Ozzy Osbourne live album Tribute). D. They then had a string of successful albums culminating in 1984 (2p for five weeks, 1984), which was recorded at 5150 Studios (Eddie Van Halen's personal studio just constructed), featured more keyboards than before (see "Jump") and included the major hits "Panama" and "Hot for Teacher." E. Roth left the band for a solo career (see below) and Van Halen hired vocalist Sammy Hagar.
(23) Death Metal - Celtic Frost.
A. Very influential Swiss band in extreme metal styles like death metal, black metal, and avant-garde metal. B. Their debut full-length album To Mega Therion (1985) with artwork by H.R. Giger on the cover, was formative in the development of those three subgenres of metal. C. As they develop, death metal and black metal will diverge around two elements: the growling deep vocals of death versus the higher-pitched frantic screaming of black, and black metal tends to emphasize more atmospheric textures. D. All of those elements are in their early form on this album.
(24) Pulp Street Novels
A. Writers such as Iceberg Slim (Pimp of 1967) and Donald Goines (Dopefiend of 1971): tales of pimping and murder, often taken from real-life experience. B. Ice-T took his name from the inspiration of Iceberg Slim. C. Goines's Crime Partners was made into a film starring Ice-T and Snoop Dogg (2001) and Never Die Alone became a film starring DMX (2004).
(24) Conscious/Knowledge/Jazz Rap - Digable Planets
A. another jazz-influenced hip hop group. Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) (1993) included "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like That)" (15p) a strong crossover hit. Their second album, Blowout Comb (1994), was much darker and concerned with Black Panther and Communist themes.
(23) Crossover Thrash (Punk Metal) - Suicidal Tendencies
A. founded in 1980 by singer Mike Muir in Venice, CA as a hardcore punk band. They reportedly had connections with the local gang, Venice 13, and there was violence at several of their early gigs. B. Soon chapters of a new gang sprang up around the band—these gangs were called the Suicidal Boyz. C. Their song "I Saw Your Mommy" appeared on a compilation album. D. Their first album, Suicidal Tendencies, was released in 1983 on Frontier Records. E. The song "Institutionalized" was one of the first hardcore songs to have an MTV video; it also appeared in the film Repo Man (1984) and an episode of Miami Vice in 1986. F. The band soon signed with Epic Records and released How Can I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today (1988), which demonstrated the metal leanings of guitarist Rocky George, changing their sound to become "crossover thrash"—more complex song structures, greater virtuosity. G. Robert Trujillo joined on bass, bringing a funk influence, and they released their most celebrated album: Lights...Camera...Revolution! (1990); features "You Can't Bring Me Down."
(23) Progressive Metal - Queensrÿche:
A. founded in Bellevue, Washington in 1980; their third album Operation: Mindcrime (50p 1988) is a concept album about a junkie Nikki brainwashed into being an assassin; he is divided between his fervor for the cause and his love for Mary, an ex-prostitute turned nun. B. The lyrics stick very close to the storyline (unlike many concept albums); the arrangements are clever and play with typical song structures.
