Final exam
NWA
"n----s with attitude" ALBUM: Straight Outta Compton (1988) • "Straight Outta Compton" • "F--- Tha Police" • "Gangsta Gangsta" HARDCORE Eazy-E formed it in March 1987
g-style
-lyrical themes -Street sensibility -Ghetto origins -Issues concerning reality and "authenticity" (later understood as "Keepin' it Real")
east coast/west coast rivalry
Ice Cube leaves N.W.A. (1989) records in NYC with Public Enemy's production team (1990) • Tim Dog "F---- Compton" (1991) • Dr. Dre leaves NWA in summer 1991 with Suge Knight's help: - Dr. Dre "F---- wit Dre Day" (1992) - DJ Quick "Way 2 Fonky" & "The Last Word" - Compton's Most Wanted "Who's F-ing Who" • Death Row attains 2pac in 1995: top roster in rap West Coast [and Southern] Rappers not getting the recognition (respect?) other rap styles were getting • 1991-1993: West Coast artists were out-selling East Coast artists by 3-to-1
beatbox
Similar to Scat but... -Imitate the drum machine -Doug E Fresh (feat. Slick Rick) "The Show" (1985)
feminism
advocacy of rights for women, based on a theory of equality.
freestyle
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.
baadman
an outlaw figure in folk narrative. might resort to acts of violence, but could also be understood as a character who is getting things accomplished within an unjust social system. Rules by force and intimidation. Feels justified in "beating" the system, by any means necessary. *stagolee = example*
jazz-rap fusion
attempts to fuse African-American music of the past with a newly dominant form of the present • Afrocentricpolitical consciousness Bridged generation gaps - Introduced Old Style of music to younger listeners - juxtaposed hybrid styles - rappers became more integral to the production—live musicians vs. rapping over looped samples or improvised sections Herbie Hancock and Grand Mixer DS.T. (DXT) "Rockit" (1983) • 1st "hip hop song" by black artists to get on MTV • (cf. Run DMC as 1st RAP ARTISTS in 1984; Blondie as 1st Rap Song by white artist in 1980)
first generation white rappers
being an alien to the familiar. 1986-1991; eg vanilla ice
missy elliot
beneficiary of queen latifah's pushes. 1997 hits sock it to me, the rain. interesting way of developing rhymes
womanism
black feminism. coined by Alice Walker. to give visibility to experiences of African American women and other women of colors
descent
common cultural or historical background shared by members of a musical community. developed in an attempt to clarify musical collectivities through the process of this, dissent, and affinity
choppin it up and stylin
crunching sentences together faster than normal to break up the rythm
pioneer of the internal rhyme
eric b and rakim
debbie harry
lead singer of blondie. insturmental in crossing over pop to hip hop "Rapture". gave her performing spot on SNL to funky 4 plus one more to give them credit
epicenters
miami, atlanta, houston, memphis, new orleans, virginians
snap music
music with snaps in it
g funk
pioneered by Dr. Dre on his 1992 release The Chronic • SOUND: piercing synthesizers, slow grooves, deep bass, and, occasionally, faceless backing deep-vocals • most popular genre of hip-hop in the early '90s - Dr. Dre "Roach Clip" • Cf. PARLIAMENT "P.Funk" (1975)
rap music
the most dominant form of hip hop musics, has always been the product of African American Verbal Arts and Language.
euro-american pioneers
vanilla ice, beastie boys
scat
"vocal technique that imitates instrumental parts through use of vocables" (i.e. syllables without meaning)
toasting
(praises about an anti- authority, respected heroic figure) -can be an enactment, a recasting or exaggeration of an actual event • THESE folktales are poetic narratives about everyday life experiences that celebrate the defiant acts of individuals
R&B rap fusion
- introduced melody to the tradition - R&B artists added the hip-hop aesthetic to the tradition by incorporating raps, "shout-outs," slang, and hip-hop rhythms - The use of term "hip hop" as style dominantly today Hip-hop artists began to team up with R&B artists and producers. • They incorporated sung choruses and verses from R&B, borrowed rhythmic patterns, guitar licks, and other musical features from both R&B and funk traditions.
new school
1984-1992. style of music that moved away from boasting and party lyrics towards greater diversity in themes and styles. inspired by Busy Bee and Kool Moe Dee batle and is a response to the Sugar Hill Records model
incubation Period
1988 (NWA) to 1992 (Dr. Dre's The Chronic) • Rises out of underground • Formulaic(?) • Commercialism
GANGSTA RAP
Artistic Responses to Gangsta's domination -Recording industry shifts direction: Favors Rap (gangsta) to Rock & Pop
spirituality and rap
Christian themes in non-Gospel rap (Lauryn Hill, MC Hammer...) - "Gospel Rap" opened doors to making Christian pop music cool - Jewish rap in U.S. (limited) - Muslim rap in U.S. As in work of P.E. (Nation of Islam), 5% Nation Rappers (Wu-Tang, Brand Nubian,etc), or Yasiin Bey/Mos Def & Tribe Called Quest (Sunni Islam)
clowning
Dance styles that channels emotions, exaggerated, movements, aggressive posturing, fighting swings but no acrobatics. not the same thing as krumping
Black Nationalism in New School
First: a recognition of a convergence of political purpose, objectives, and goals Second: identification rooted in a perceived commonality of oppression. Third: based on the justification of a commonality of culture.
hard racism
Intentional, overt -Examples: •Using racist epithets •Impose laws
afrocentric rappers
Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, and X-Clan (a.k.a.) "the Native Tongues") -Rural Message/Afrocentric Rap Artist • Arrested Development (Originally "the Secret Society") - -"Tennessee" (1992) -"Mr. Wendal" (1992)
second wave femcee
Laryn Hill, missy elliot, lil kim, foxy brown, eve.
trickster
Lives by his wits, constantly scheming and manipulating others. The trickster is a major figure in African and African-American folktales. *Brer Rabbit = example*
juice crew
Marley Marl and RADIO DJ Mr. Magic from Queensbridge, Queens New York -Roxanne Shanté & MC Shan (early stars) • MC Shan "The Bridge" (1985) -Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, & Big Daddy Kane (late 80s stars) • Marle Marl (featuring Master Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane) "The Symphony"
schoolly d
Philadelphia • First to produce gangsta themed rap -1984 "Maniac" and "Gangsta Boogie" • 1985 "PSK What Does It Mean?"
def jam records
Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin • Mission: produce records that were a true expression of Rap Music Culture CROSS-Over into Mainstream market -"Walk this Way"(1986) -"Fight for you Right"(1986)
soft racism
Unintentional, covert This is more complicated; something that everyone has either practiced (usually inadvertently) including people who have been victims of racism.
black nationalism
a U.S. political and social movement -rooted in the 19th Century -But most prominent 1960s (for our purposes) -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 was 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 positive creativity, vision and healing through the 4 elements and the community members
mashups
a kind of beat juggling in which a dj creates a piece of music by digitally overlaying instrumental segments with vocal segments from tow or more recordings to create a music collage
turntablism
a musical art from developed by hiphop djs and scratch artists. transforms the turntable and other things into an instrument
scratch art
a piece of beat juggling music created by layering multiple scratching sound effects dominating the the melodic moments in a sound collage
bounce music
a southern style of rap music that incorporates new orleans parade strutting beats with the hip hop aesthetic
five percent nation
a splinter group of the nation of Islam guided by the teachings of Clarence 13X. Included Wu-Tang Clan. Based on concepts of black nationalism and principles associated with the nation of islam
gangsta rap
a style of rap music distinguished by a raw, edgy, raucous sound and gritty tales about urban life. The lyrics were an accurate reflection of reality and sometimes exaggerated stories of debauchery and outlaw behavior. the most comercially successful form of hip hp music and the late 80s/90s and caused controversy - refers to a commercial product •Eventually becomes "umbrella term
popular music
a 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
hardcore
aggressive delivery and back to basics rock sensibility. rhymes of social and political commentary as well as graphic portrayals of city life. started in 1984. Artists like Run DMC and LL Cool J
message rap
aka conscious or nationalist rap. more serious with lyric content. songs about national, social and political issues
response rap
aka dis rap. a reply to another rap songverbal dueling/ritual insults in a battle-like structure. Roxanne Shante had one of the most famous ones.
Crips
born 1969. ' Acronyms: C.R.I.P.s Community Revolutionary Interparty Service Started by 15-year old Raymond Washington • Modeled after Black Panther Party (b. 1966) • Original purpose: - Secure resources (money, labor), - Protect the community - Re-invest in the community
sylvia robinson
catalyst to put elements of hiphop culture into the studio, recording rappers, and selling records
third wave feminism
coined by Rebecca Walker. focuses more on lesbian and non-white women. focus on abolishing gender role expectations. defended porn, sex-work, and reproductive rights
affinity
describes how a community of performers and fans are attracted to the same style of music. people are drawn to a musical style as a way of participating in a larger community that does not necessarily correspond to their national or ethnic identity. related to descent and dissent
latino freestyle
electronic dance music that had its greatest crossover popularity in 1984-1992. relies heavily on electronic drums, bass and synthesizers. lyrics are sung in English and usually by a female vocalist.
second generation white rappers
finding the familiar alienating and out of place. 19998-2003; emenim and milk bone. popularize metal-rap
rap-metal
fuses the most aggressive elements of hardcore rap and heavy metal. popular during late 90s and was typically the domain of white musicians with white audiences. performed with cathartic intensity by shout rapping lyrics. always features a rapper as a frontman. Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine.
blaxploitation films
genre popular in the 70s made with black performers and aimed at a black audience. typically glorify black criminals and portray blacks as pimps, pushers, prostitutes, and gangsters.
crunk
high energy club music that emerged in the 90s. gritty hoarse chants and antiphonic repetitive refrains
first wave femcee
included MC lite, salt n peppa, roxanne shante, queen latifah. Golden era artists
hip-hop
is and always will be a culture from urban Caribbean, Latina, and African-America
cindy campbell
kool herc's sister who hosted the party where he started b beating
queen latifah
major powerhouse but dropped by her label bc they didn't support women the way they supported men. Motown picked her up and she released Black Rain. *first cd from a female rap artist to go gold* showed women can be successful in the industry if they get the support they need.
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 - b (as modifier) - examples: pop music; a pop record; a pop group
nerdcore
musical scene surrounding white rappers on the internet who exploit their privileges like expensive schooling and love for sci fi
the underground
not a genre. understood as independent rap. a few emerging scenes like midwest (Minneapolis) and west coast (LA)
beatboxing
oral imitation of rhythm instruments
sean combs
produced craig mack's "flava in ya ear" and notorious BIG's "juicy"
participatory culture
promotes ways fans can be actively engaged beyond the consumption of pop culture. can include textual poaching, invent/renew the work of an original author. in hip hop, the community didnt help the composition of songs, but was integral to the process.
Black Musical Aesthetic
rhythmic Structures: poly-textured and polyrhythmic sounds * Vocals, vocables, and instruments played in percussive style. * Call-n-Response (antiphony). * "Fill-up" limited musical space wit a lot of sound. * Embodiment. Relationship between music-making and movement (dance) *Layering of sounds qualities, textures, varying tonal qualities or timbres
Ice cube leaves NWA and records in NYC with public enemey
source of tension for east coast/west coast rivalry
dozens, toasting, boasting, call and response
southern african american verbal arts
cocaine rap
southern neogangsta rap style that focused on the drug trade in the 2000s in particular cocaine and Miami as the port of entry for south american narcotics
chopped and screwed
southern style of rap music from houston. hazy sleepy groove with cuts, scratches pauses and rewinds accompany slowed down mixes. Pioneered by DJ Screw
5% Nation Rappers
splinter group of the Nation of Islam founded by Clarence 13X in 1963. • Doctrine based on concepts of Black Nationalism and, in part, the Nation of Islam. • A central belief is that black people are the Original people and that Allah is the Supreme God. • The Lessons classify the people living on Earth: - 85% are The uncivilized people - 10% are The rich slave-makers of the poor - 5% are Poor righteous teachers Brand Nubian "Allah & Justice" (1993)
native tongues
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" (1988) • De la Soul "Buddy" (1989) • Brand Nubian "I'm Black & I'm Proud" (Native Tongue & 5% Nation rappers)
dirty south
term used to describe the sound that emerged from the South Bronx
soul
the ideology of Black Power. • echoes the voices of college-aged students -Rejected integrationist philosophy (1950s Civil Rights leaders) -Replace with a nationalist ideology of Black Power Focus on African heritage and values vs. European heritage and values
dissent
the reaction of new artists to earlier aesthetic rules such as the underground rap movement in the late 90s reacting to gangsta rap
golden era
time period that addresses the change that took place after both the b-beat party period and old school commercial era. marks the crossover phenomenon that will establish rap music as musical genre. mostly based in NYC. characterized by skeletal beats, electric guitar riffs and samples from hard rock or soul tracks, dis rap and heavy commercialization of street style
backpackers
used to identify young hiphop enthusiasts who were looking for an alternative expression that was not gangsta, not materialistic,a nd not devoted to raising consciousness in the community. the earliest participants were commited to anticommercialism and anitmaterialism, so much so that it earned them a rep for being complainers and nerds
Rodney king incident
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
1988
when NWA was founded; first rap grammy went to Will Smith for "parents just don't understand"
1989-1997
when east coast/west coast rivalry was
death row v. bad boy
who the actual beef was between in east coast/west coast rivalry
1984
• year of Schooly D • Ice-T • 'Bridge Wars'
1996
• year of Snoop Dog • Notorious BIG • 2pac
proto g funk
•Controversy: Dr. Dre is generally believed to have developed the sound, but Cold187um and KMG of Above the Law, Laylaw for Lawhouse Production have claimed that they developed the sound. •Above the Law "The Last Song" (1990) - Dre production •Above the Law ft. Kokane - "Kalifornia" (1994)
diversity
•Recognizing the existence of difference of lifestyle within a society -Sex and gender -Ethnic groups -GOAL: The respect of different cultures and interculturality -A definition: -Understanding that different cultures do not necessary share the same aesthetics, tastes, or values.
