Survey of Hip Hop Final
Pioneers of the Soul Sound
James Brown (Godfather of Soul/Soul Brother #1)
1983 film ______ introduces mainstream America to breakin'
flashdance
Racism may operate at three levels:
individual, institutional, cultural
Juice Crew
innovative rap posse that sparked rap's first rap rivalries
Hardcore Rap Heros
mid 80s-mid90s & beyond
Rock Steady CrewL: "Hey You It's the Rock Steady Crew" (1985)
on east coast: melodic rapping and the electro-rap style is sounding dated by '85
DEF: "Gospel music"
religious music of African Americans that emerged in urban centers during the early decades of the 20th century
Music Industry Influences: 1988 1st magazine devoted to hip-hop music, culture, and politics
the debut issues "The Source"
What is the goal of diversity?
the respect of different cultures and interculturality
Did this attention to race appear in Old School?
yes, but covertly
X-related Rap
"Gangsta Rap" even though there is nothing about gang activity, just hyper sexualized lyrics from a heteromale perspective Ex: 2 Live Crew "Dick Almighty"
Run DMC proclaimed they are ______
"New School"
a forefather of hip-hop dancing
"breakin' and "breakin' 2 electric boogaloo" (1984)
Black Power Movement
(1960-1970s) inspired by Black Nationalism, which advocated for self-sufficiency, self-control, full participation in the decision-making process on issues affecting the lives of black people, and self-awareness (difficult to do based on zoning in America)
Rap Ballad
- LL Cool J "I Need Love (1987) Known for being tough and hard -known for his toughness: "I can't live without my radio"
NWA
-"Straight Out of Compton" album Established the Gangsta Rap model Commercial force with no air play but shocked middle class teenagers all over the county Reactionary and responding to occurrences that were happening in their every day lives
"Classic" Gangsta Era
-1984: Schooly D, Ice-T, Bridge Wars -Incubation Period: 19888 (NWA) to 1992 (Dr. Dre's The Chronic) commercialism, rises out of underground -1996: Snoop Dog, Notorious BIG, 2pac
5% Nation Rappers
-85% are The uncivilized people -10% are The rich slave-makers of the poor -5% are Poor righteous teachers -Brand Nubian "Allah & Justice" (1993)
First type of Black nationalism and new school rap: Political
-A recognition of a convergence of political purpose, objectives, and goals; Nationalist group focuses itself on a particular reality; These artists helped to make African Americans self sufficient to learn their history and immerse themselves in their past; suggests 5% nation Artists include: Public Enemy, Paris, Boogie Down Productions (later), KRS-One, Sister Souljah. Ex: "THE RACIST" by Boogie Down Production (1990)
Toasting (1900-present)
-African American verbal art genre; praises about an antiauthority, heroic figure; -toasts can be an enactment, recasting, or exaggeration of an actual event -These folktales are poetic narratives about everyday life experiences that celebrate defiant acts of individuals
Freestyle (1984-1992)
-An electronic dance music from NYC (then Miami) in the mid-80s produced by Latin@ artists. Sound is electronic drum & bass heavy and lyrics revolve around teen-love/loss. -This is not rap music but is a part of hip hop culture -Women dominated this genre -a latin brand of hip hop music
Gangs Part II: 1986-1992
-Artistic Responses to Gangsta's domination -Recording industry shifts direction: Favors Rap (gangsta) to Rock & Pop
Third type of Black nationalism and new school rap: Afrocentric
-Based on the justification of a commonality of culture; Nationalism that emerges from culture, is inclusive and not reactionary; suggests that African Americans should have a common agenda since africa is the source of black ideals and social order express their heritage from beats, dress, etc; a group who collaborated together as the native tongues and arrested development Artists include: Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, and X-Clan (a.k.a.) "the Native Tongues"
Blaxploitation films (~1971-1975)
-Began as a film genre in the early 1970s about African Americans and made by African Americans -Become the exploitation of African Americans by producers of Black-oriented films
How to Distinguish Hard Core Rap
-Beginning with Run DMC -Distinguishing sound & appearance from O.S: tougher, "street," aggressive delivery, being "hard" -DJ plays an important role again
Soul as Political Ideology
-Black Power Movement was inspired by the Black Nationalism Movement. -Echoes the voices of college-aged students
G-Funk
-Coined by Dr. Dre on his 1992 release The Chronic SOUND: piercing synthesizers, slow grooves, deep bass, and, occasionally, faceless backing deep-vocals
Late Blaxploitation
-Dramatize and often glorify black criminals, and portray black men as pimps, pushers, prostitutes, and gangsters. -A lot of toasting in this film; Becomes commercialized. Ex: Black Caesar (1973); Dolemite (1975)
Fever Records
-Established by Sal Abbattiello w/ Lewis Marinteé -Club owner of the Disco Fever 1976-1986 (Hip Hop showcase) -Produces Nayobe "Please Don't Go"
Early Blaxploitation
-Features hustlers committed to "cleaning up the streets" films and characters achieved cult status. -"The Black Community" Written by Black people for Black people Ex: Sweet Sweetback's Badassss Song (1971) and Shaft (1971)
Soul
-Focused on African heritage and values -Often a resource for Conscious Rap and Afrocentric Rap -The ideology of Black Power
Human Beatboxing
-Form of vocal percussion -Ex: Doug E Fresh "La Di Da Di" (1985)
1960s-1970s Black Nationalist poets:
-Gil Scott Heron "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" -"*****s Are Scared of the Revolution" (1970)
Freaking the Note
-Hardcore Style, "Internal Rhyme," celebrates the DJ, created by Eric B and Rakim -"Eric B is President (1986/1987) Articulating every word Doesn't rely on couplets Gets the label as the best lyricist Doesn't shout, talks smoothly
Second type of Black nationalism and new school rap: Oppression
-Identification rooted in a perceived commonality of oppression; Long-lasting; Rests on the recognition of the common caste system, but disregards diversity within the black community (income, religion); Street-centric rap artists; Reactionary Artists include: Boogie Down Productions (early), NWA, Eazy-E, Geto Boys, Compton's Most Wanted Ex: Post-STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (East Coast-West Coast Strife)
Rodney King Incident
-King was beaten and arrested by LAPD during a police traffic stop on March 3, 1991; -On April 29, 1992, All 4 LAPD officers were acquitted -Led to the Los Angeles riots and mass protest
The Trickster
-Lives by wits, scheming and manipulating -Major figure in African American folktales Ex: Brer Rabbit and Ice T
Gangsta Style (G-Style)
-Lyrical themes -Street sensibility -Ghetto origins -Issues concerning reality and "authenticity" (later understood as "Keepin' it Real")
Emergence of "Message" Rap
-Nationalist: aka Nation-Conscious rap or Conscious rap (Hard) -Afrocentric -5% nation (hard) -feminist/womanist (can be hard)
Censorship and 2 Live Crew
-Obscenity Charges in Broward County, Florida -Arrested in adult club for performing music from album. -Determined "legally obscene" -acquitted one month later -1992: ruling on obscenity was overturned
The Native Tongues
-Originally: Jungle Brothers, Afrika Bambaataa, De La Soul; A Tribe Called Quest; Queen Latifah. Later: Brand Nubian -to spread a positive message through music without taking away the gritty realism and street logic that came with hardcore hip hop -to help bring socially conscious hip hop to the mainstream -Jungle Bros "What's Going on" -Brand Nubian "Im black and & Proud"
Popification
-Rap artists began employing the R&B verse-chorus and funk song structure (ca. late 80s) -the pop Structure to rap by these artists will give rise to what some call hip hop today: cf. R&B-rap fusion
Queen Latifah
-Relied on both feminist and afrocentric themes, never really attacks/disses men -Ex: "Ladies first" (1989)- Represents sisterhood, afrocentrism, and black power (Apache wrote the verses of this song, not queen latifah)
Message Rap/Nation-Conscious Rap
-Rooted in Black Nationalist Poets in 1960s-1970s -Popularized with "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five -But fathered by Kurtis Blow or Brother D and the Collective Efforts Forever changed the concept of what hip hop rapping can be -Opened up opportunities for purposeful message rappers, unintentional gangsta rappers, and small old school trend
Beatboxing
-Similar to Scat but imitates 808 drum machine -Ex: Doug E Fresh (feat. Slick Rick) "The Show" (1985)
Diversity
-Understanding that different cultures don't share the same aesthetics, tastes, or values -recognizing the existence of difference of lifestyle within a society --sex and gender --ethnic groups
Soft Racism
-Unintentional, covert -Not just unusual events -In everyday life and can go unobserved -Microaggressions
Black Nationalism
-a U.S. political and social movement -rooted in the 19th century -Sought to acquire economic power and political self-determination, a sense of community among African Americans -an alternative to being assimilated by a predominantly white American nation -Wanted to promote their own identity as people with African ancestry
Womanism
-black feminism -Coined by alice walker but discussed women of color often experience misogynistic microagressions that middle class white women wouldn't experience
Tactics against Rap
-cilvil responsibility -censorship
Black Arts Movement
-mid 1960-1970s -"the artistic sister of the Black Power Movement"
Pop
-music of general appeal, esp. among young people, that originated as a distinctive genre in the 1950s. It is generally characterized by a heavy rhythmic element and the use of electrical amplification modifier: pop music; a pop record; a pop group
Tracy "ICE-T" Marrow
-name from pimp-poet, ICEBERG SLIM -"Rhyme Pars" (1987) -"Grand Larceny" (1987) -Paired w/ chicano rapper MC Kid Frost
"The Message" (1982) Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five
-song rejected by entire group -Melle Mel sole lyrical contribute from group -"New School" artists will gibe us a new brand: message rap--> hardcore era
Popular Music
-term to indicate music that is mass-reproduced and disseminated via mass media; and that has at various times been listened to by large number of Americans (in our case). (in Larry Star & Christopher Waterman's American Popular Music (2003).
Summary of Black Musical Aesthetic
-vocals, vocables, and instruments played in percussive style -"Fill-up" limited musical space with a lot of sound -Embodiment: relationship between music making and movement (dance) -layering of sounds qualities, textures, varying tonal qualities or timbres
"Classic Gangsta Rap" timeline
1984: g-rap, 1988-1992: incubation period, 1996: new wave
Gangsta Rap
A commercial product (an umbrella term)
Forefather of Hip Hop Dancing
Adolfo Quiñones (specialized in locking)
Worldview
How individuals in a culture receive and interact with their philosophy of the world
Black Nationalism
As the political belief and practice of African Americans as a distinct people with a distinct historical personality who politically should develop structures to define, defend, and develop the interests of Blacks as a people
Gangs in LA
C.R.I.P.S (1969)
Rural Message/Afrocentric Rap Artist
Challenged the bleak sounds and angry lyrics that was gangsta rap Ex: Arrested Development (Originally "the Secret Society")
Dance as coping mechanism
Clowning & Krumping
Communicative competence and contextualization
Competent ways to make a design that fits an aesthetic but changes refitted for where you are from making your personal context different but still tied to past roots
Boss Lichelle Laws (BO$$)
Detroit ; Female gangsta rapper; Signed to Def Jam West label (1st female group); Album : Born Gangstaz; "Born Gangsta" (1993); "Outro: Call from Dad" (1993) Denounced as jumping on the gangsta rap bandwagon and doing it bc that's what sells
List of Womanist Styles/Feminists Themes in Hip Hop
Dissin' /Answer-rap/Response-rap (Roxanne Shante and The Real Roxanne)
Early: Reality Rap
G-Style
1988 Grammy Winner
Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance was "Parents Just Don't Understand" DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Two types of Racism
Hard Racism/Institutionalized Racism and Soft Racism
Hard Racism/Institutionalized Racism
Intentional and overt Can be seen visibly: using racial epithets and imposing laws Racism is about power
Latino Rap Crossover
Latino artists rapping with their latino musical influence Ex: Fat boys "Let's Get Funky" (1985)& "Jail House Rap" (1984)
Informed by Hardcore trends: changes to Pop Rap and R&B grooves
MC Hammer (1989) "You Can't Touch This"
Material Culture
Materials can be from America but design matches worldview and aesthetic of African textiles (is an example of communicative competence and contextualization)
Novelty/humorous rap
Melodic rapping and electro rapping, was dated on the East Coast by 1985 Ex: Rock Steady Crew "Hey You It's the Rock Steady Crew" (1985) was #1 on the UK pop charts
Types of Hard Core Rap
Message/Conscious, Gangsta Rap, Freaking the Note
Example of Freestyle rap song
Nayobe "Please Don't Go" (1984)
Brother D and Collective EFFORTS (1980) "HOW WE GONNA MAKE THE BLACK NATION RISE"
One of the first message rap songs but missed their audience because it sounds like a disco song, you can just listen to the music and miss the critique
PMRC
Parents Music Ressource Center -founded by Tipper Gore
Suburban Rap
People could understand it more because they were middle class Ex: (humorous/suburbanrap) -DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince "Parents Just Don't Understand" (1988) was Humorous Suburban Rap Ex: (suburban) De La Soul "Potholes in My Lawn" (1988)
Black Nationalism as ACTION
Positive creativity, vision and healing through the 4 elements and the community members
Def Jam Records' Mission
Produce records that were a true expression of Rap Music Culture
Race in Old School
Racism was covert in old school Ex: Sylvia Robinson "It's Good to Be Queen"
Rap Music IS big business in the 1990s.
Record Industry: a rap album is cost effective
Embodiement
Relationship between music-making and movement (dance)
The badman
Rules by force and intimidation -Feels justified in "beating" the system because all odds are stopped against him Ex: Stagolee (if wronged takes matters in to own hands) and Eazy-E
Womanist Styles
Salt-n-Pepa "Push It" (1986) MC Lyte "Paper Thin" (1988)
Who was the first to produce Gangsta Rap?
Schooly D Ex) 1985 "PSK What Does It Mean?"
The Fading of Graffiti
Shifted to galleries but seemed less genuine, arrests dropped, rise drug use, gangs, and firearms
Civil Responsibility
Sought to oppose the expression of misogynistic and sexist and self-deprecating sentiments and images in hip hop culture through boycotts and conscious raising
Censorship
Sought to prevent the sale of vulgar music that offends the mainstream moral sensibility by suppressing the First Amendment
Beat Boys and Beat Girls
Started from 1963 film "Flashdance" and videographers coined the term "Breakdancing" Marks the shift of breakin' from local to mainstream
New School/Golden Era Sound
Started in the late 1985-1989 Elements of "hard core," included diversity in terms of artists and styles, no longer about Old School party themes, and critics lack of representation
Commercialization of Hip Hop
Started with Def Jam Records producing cross overs in to mainstream Queens Bridge Rivalries sparked national interest
It Takes a Nation
The musical production was chaotic Using multiple beats as opposed to jamming around one beat (which was a typical Def Jam sound) Chuck D starts getting VERY political Rap lyrics as meaningful/serious
Scat
Vocal technique that imitates instrumental parts through use of vocables (i.e. syllables without meaning)
Feminism
advocacy of the rights of women, based on theory of equality
B-boyin' or breakin' becomes a formalized tradition interpreted by dance companies and videographers
breakdancing
MIAMI BASS (aka Booty Bass)/Bass music
cf. Detroit, Michigan's Techno scene and Miami, Florida dance -derived music scene. Miami bass is known for its more frenetic Tempo and its sexually oriented lyrics. Minimalistic coming out of the south but also influenced by Caribbean music since it is in Miami
Run-DMC "King of Rock" (1985)
critique of the absence of black pioneers in the history of rock and roll
