 | Rapping: Encyclopedia - Rapping
Rapping
This article is on the art and practice of rapping. For information on "rap music", see Hip hop music. For the English folk dance, see Rapper sword.
Rapping, the rhythmic delivery of rhymes, is one of the four central elements of hip-hop culture. Rap can be delivered over a beat or over human beatboxing. A rapper may also perform acapella without any accompaniment. Due to its increasing popularity, rapping has also been assimilated into other musical forms.
Rapping - Rapper vs. MC
By standard definition, a rapper is anyone who raps lyrics and an MC—also spelled 'emcee'—is a rapper who performs for crowds.[1] MC traditionally stands for Master of Ceremonies but has been assigned various secondary meanings by rappers and fans of hip-hop. In the mainstream press, 'rapper' is almost always used in favor of 'MC' in reference to those who rap.[2]
Hip hop music, Hip hop culture, Battle rap, Freestyle rap, List of rappers, List of hip hop musicians, Poetry
Rapping - History
Rap has developed largely along the lines of African-American culture and music. It has always been greatly influenced by other trends in American music.
Rapping - Rapping before hip-hop
As with all music originated by African-Americans, rapping in hip-hop music can be traced back in many ways to its African roots. Centuries before America even existed, the griots of West Africa were rhythmically delivering stories to their village over drums and sparse instrumentation. Because of the time that has passed since the griots of old, the connections between rap and the African griots are widely recognized, but not clear-cut. However, such connections have been acknowledged by rappers, modern day "griots", spoken-word artists, mainstream news sources, and academics.[3][4][5][6]
African-Americans created the blues, which had their roots in work songs and spirituals of slavery, around the time of their emancipation from slavery. There are examples of recorded rapping in the blues as early as the 1920s.[7][8] Many have observed the similarities between Blues and rap lyrics, and some have gone as far as to say that hip-hop is "the living blues."[9] The following 1928 blues lyric by Jab Jones, with the backing of the Memphis Jug Band, is comparible to modern rap delivery and lyrical content:[10]
Stealin', stealin', pretty mama
Don't you tell on me
I'm stealin' back to my
Same old used to be
Now, put your arms around me
Like the circle round the sun
I want ya to love me, mama
Like my easy rider done[11]
Jazz originated around the beginning of the 20th century, influenced by the Blues as well as other musical traditions in America. Improvised jazz, called vocalese, is comparable to the freestyling of hip-hop rappers. Freestyling has also been said to derive from the art of improvising songs that often distinguishes jazz. The scat singing of jazz could be seen in the rap song Rapper's Delight by the Sugarhill Gang.
Louis Jordan, a popular jazz/R&B/proto-rock artist from the 30s to the 50s has been said to have rapped his vocals in the 1947 track Look Out (Sister):[12]
And look here, if he buys you crocks of champagne,
take a train and go to Maine,
get outta town before it's too late.
If he says "Darlin' you look just like my mother",
go home and get your big brother
and have him snapped up.[13]
Jamaica was constantly influenced by these changes in American music. In the 50s, the descendants of Jamaican slaves were mixing their folk music—calypso and mento—with the jazz, soul, and rock music which were all developing in America. This fusion of styles and genres resulted in the creation of ska and eventually reggae. As early as 1969, Deejays were toasting (an African tradition of rapping tales of heroism) over dubbed Jamaican beats. A famous and popular toast was (and still is) Shine and the Great Titanic:
Up stepped a Black man from the deck below (that they called Shine)
Hollerin', "Captain, Captain, don't you know
There's forty feet of water on the boiler room floor".
The captain said, "Go back, you dirty black,
We got a thousand pumps to keep this water back.
Shine went back below and began to think
That, umph, this big bad muthafucka is bound to sink.[14]
Rapping - Rapping in hip-hop
Rap history can be divided along the same lines as hip-hop. The first era was the pioneering old school, which was characterized by relatively simple rhyme lyrics and delivery. The second era was the golden age, which dominated from 1986/1987 (expert opinions vary on when Run-DMC became the central force in rap) until 1993. The golden age was characterized by tough raps, and a focus on lyrical technique. The third period of hip-hop history refers to the ongoing modern era, since 1994.[15]
The toasts of dub music would become the template for the beginning of rap in hip-hop. Jamaican immigrant DJ Kool Herc (the inventor of hip-hop) brought the toasting of the Jamaicain dancehall to New York City parties as early as 1970:[16]
There goes my mellow Coke La Rock in the house
There goes my mellow Clark Kent in the house
There goes my mellow Timmy Tim in the house
There goes my mellow Ricky D
There goes my mellow Bambaataa[17]
Kool Herc's rhymes were influenced by Jamaican dub music as well as the funky soul artist James Brown.[18] DJ Kool Herc's rhymes became increasingly complex:
Ya rock and ya don't stop
And this is the sounds of DJ Kool Herc
and the Sound System and you're listening to
is what we call the Herculoids.
He was born in an orphanage;
he fought like a slave fuckin' up faggots all the Herculoids played
When it come to push come to shove
the Herculoids won't budge
The bass is so low you can't get under it
The high is so high you can't get over it
So in other words be with it[19]
The Herculoids which are mentioned above were DJ Kool Herc's crew, and the first hip-hop crew ever. The first member of the Herculoids was the rapper Coke La Rock, who was the first hip-hop MC.[20][21] According to rap piooneers Kurtis Blow and Kool Moe Dee, the first person to rap in a hip-hop style distinct from the Jamaican toasts was DJ Hollywood, who rapped over disco beats:[22][23]
Up my back and around my neck
Woo-Ha got the girls in check[24]
The Furious Five (Grandmaster Flash's five MC's) advance the art of rapping by making five rappers sound like one through syncopation. Melle Mel of the Furious Five is often seen as the first great innovator of rapping in hip hop.[25] He advanced the art of rapping through his wordplay, delivery, and socially conscious subject matter:
A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smilin' on you but he's frownin' too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto livin' second-rate
And your eyes will sing a song called deep hate
The places you play and where you stay
Looks like one great big alleyway
You'll admire all the number-book takers
Thugs, pimps and pushers and the big money-makers
Drivin' big cars, spendin' twenties and tens
And you'll wanna grow up to be just like them, huh[26]
While Spoonie Gee of the Treacherous Three was pioneering the love rap,[27] rapper Kool Moe Dee—also of the Treacherous Three—advanced rap through a focus on speed rhyming and advanced wordplay:[28][29]
To say rap is not work
Is ludicrous
Whoever said it
Must be new to this
When you hear me
You'll compare me
To a prophet for profit
Not merely
Putting words together for
Recreation
Each rhyme's a dissertation
You wanna know my occupation
I get paid to rock the nation[30]
By 1978, MC's had stolen the spotlight from DJ's, largely thanks to the Furious Five.[31]
The first hip-hop rap single was the Fatback Band's King Tim III in 1979.The song, which was rapped by the rapper of the same name, is about being tough and lifting weights.[32] Shortly after, the rappers in the Sugarhill Gang released a more successful single of their own (using Grandmaster Caz's rhymes), called Rappers Delight:
The hippie the hippie
To the hip hip hop, a you don't stop the rock it
To the bang bang boogie, say up jumped the boogie
To the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
Now what you hear is not a test--I'm rappin' to the beat
And me, the groove, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet
See I am Wonder Mike and I like to say hello
To the black, to the white, the red, and the brown, the purple and yellow[33]
On the west coast, rappers like Egyptian Lover were making the first "sing-raps" as early as 1980, and Schooly D became known for the first "crime raps".[34]
In 1980, the popular music group Blondie was the first non hip-hop group to release a single with hip-hop raps on it, in its number one song, Rapture. Kurtis Blow, one of the pioneering old-school rappers, is regarded as the first commercially successful rapper, because he was the first rapper to be signed to a major label. Rappers and rap groups like Kurtis Blow, the Sugarhill Gang, and the Furious Five, would go on to influence the avant-garde golden age rhymes of Run-DMC.[35]
The golden age began with the popularity of Run-DMC around 1987 with their triple-platinum selling album, Raising Hell.[36] Run-DMC, as the first hardcore hip hop group, caused a paradigm shift in hip-hop to the tough rhymes that would characterize the golden age. Also, Run-DMC were the first rappers to attract a significant rock audience to hip-hop thanks to their raprock collaboration with Aerosmith on Walk this way. The following lyric is from Peter Piper, a song from Raising Hell that has been referred to as the first golden age hip-hop song:
Now Dr. Seuss and Mother Goose both did their thing
But Jam Master's gettin loose and D.M.C.'s the king
Cause he's adult entertainer
Child educator
Jam Master Jay king of the crossfader
He's the better of the best best believe he's the baddest
Perfect timin when I'm climbin I'm a rhymin apparatus[37]
The golden age rappers that would follow were influenced by the innovations of Run-DMC. As early as 1986, Rakim—of Eric B. and Rakim— was pioneering the use of internal rhymes, creative word choice, and intricate metaphors. His flow has been celebrated and imitated by many rappers, and Kool Moe Dee regards him as the "inventor of flow."[38][39]
KRS-ONE, of Boogie Down Productions began making "dis tracks" around the same time as Rakim. KRS-ONE was a proto-gangster in his earlier work, but began to focus on socially-conscious and political lyrics upon the death of his close friend and DJ, Scott la Rock. KRS-ONE helped pave two paths in rap— hardcore crime raps("da da deng wa da da da deng, listen to my nine millimeter go bang") and later, politically conscious message raps:[40]
I say: one two three, the crew is called bdp
And if you wanna go to the tip top
Stop the violence in the hip-hop[41]
KRS-ONE's most famous dis raps were directed at MC Shan of the Juice Crew. Big Daddy Kane, also a member of the Juice Crew, was known primarily for his pimpster and lover-man raps. Like rapper Heavy D, Big Daddy Kane's lover-man persona has had a significant influence on rappers to this day:
And if the girlies want my tip they gotta pay a fee
I love bonin', and all my friends they will agree
That when it comes to pimpin' hoes...it ain't easy[42]
The Juice Crew's Biz Markie was the first popular comedy rapper. He was known for his juvenile humor and fun approach to the topics he covered. He had a gold hit with Just a Friend:
I asked her her name, she said blah-blah-blah
She had 9/10 pants and a very big bra
I took a couple of flicks and she was enthused
I said, how do you like the show?
She said, I was very amused
I started throwin’ bass, she started throwin’ back mid-range
But when I sprung the question, she acted kind of strange
Then when I asked, do ya have a man, she tried to pretend
She said, no I don’t, I only have a friend[43]
Rapping - The importance of rhyme
Undoubtedly the most important element of rap lyrics is rhyme. In other forms of poetry, rhymes that span many syllables are often considered whimsical, but in hip-hop the ability to construct raps with large sets of rhyming syllables is often considered skillful. Rappers use single rhyming words (intellectual/ineffectual) as well as multiple words wherein constituent syllables rhyme (monsoon/on soon). In rare cases a lyricist is able to display impressive rhyming alongside topic coherence. Rappers that can accomplish this are often celebrated by fans of hip-hop.
Rapping - Different types of rhymes
The following methods are used when writing lyrics:
- Consonance - the repetition of consonant sounds.
- Assonance - the repetition of vowel sounds.
- Half rhyme - a rhyme reliant on consonance.
- Internal rhyme - a rhyme which occurs within a single line.
Rapping - Rap writing and delivery
Rapping - Vocal Presence
Vocal presence refers to the ability to distinguish a rapper on a record. Among others, Mystikal and Notorious B.I.G. have a distinct voice and a signature style that distinguishes them on records.[44]
Rapping - Vocabulary
Many hip-hop listeners believe that a rapper's lyrics are enhanced by their vocabulary.
There is a lot of slang in rap, from international hip-hop slang to local/regional slang. Some artists, like The Wu-Tang Clan, have a slang all of their own. African American Vernacular English has always had a large effect on hip-hop vernacular, because it is a predominantly black culture. Certain regions, such as Bay Area (E-40), Atlanta (Outkast), and Kentucky (Nappy Roots) have a vernacular all their own that can be used to distinguish the area's rappers.
Rapping - Cadence
Cadence is the overall balance of a rhyme in relation to the beat, as far as emphasis and speed. Cadence can indicate that a chorus is about come, or that song is about to end. Cadence can also be used to emphasize a given rhyme or word. Snoop Dogg is considered to have a versatile cadence[45], because of his ability to rap over variously styled beats equally well.
Rapping - Prosody
Unlike many other forms of poetry, rappers typically don't think about meter and feet very heavily. The goal instead is to unconsciously develop a flow that doesn't plod along, instead staying enticing and lively. Rappers sometimes use popular poetic forms such as iambic pentameter.
Rapping - Enunciation
Speaking clearly is important in rapping. Enunciation in rap is sometimes exaggerated, which is often considered a sign of skill.
Rapping - Style voice tone and attitude
These terms are essentially the emotions and personality expressed by a rapper in his or her lyrics and delivery.
Rapping - Speed
This is the tempo/speed that a person raps at. An example of a fast rapper is Twista, who at one time held the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest rapper. Rebel XD broke his own 1992 record in 1998 on Guiness Primetime, rapping 683 syllables in 54.5 seconds (12.5 syllables per second).[46] Consecutively, MC Ricky Brown rapped 723 syllables in 51.27 seconds (14.1 syllables per second) on his track "No Clue" at B&G Studios on January 15, 2005, and currently remains the world's fastest rapper.[47]
Rapping - Breath control
Breath control refers to the ability of a rapper to control his or her inhaling and exhaling while they rap so as to make their breathing not interfere with his or her flow of lyrics. Breath control can be observed by a rapper's ability to rap out fast and/or difficult verses without making noticeable pauses. Breath control is intertwined with a rapper's flow, speed, and delivery.
Rapping - Wordplay
Wordplay includes double entendres, alliteration, and all other variations of wordplay.
Rapping - Melody
Rap sometimes contains melody in its delivery. Rappers such as South Park Mexican and 50 Cent often add a slight melody to their lyrics. Groups like Bone Thugs N Harmony make such use of melody to the point where they are half singing in many of their songs. The goal of melody in a rap is usually to mimic the melody looped in the beat or create a harmony with it.
Rapping - Other techniques
Other techniques used in rapping include enjambment and hyperbole.
Rapping - Substance
Delivery can be representative of a rapper's skill, but the message of a rap is considered more important. A rapper who possesses little substance alongside lots of style doesn't show as much skill as one who has a message or story, because their creativity is ignored in lieu of lack of an important statement. The message can be braggadocios in nature, about one's life, about politics, about philosophy, and many other topics.
"The Message", a concept rap written by Melle Mel and performed by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, pioneered the inclusion of political content in hip-hop rhymes and rapping ceased to be solely focused on personal issues.
One element that has always existed in rapped rhymes, dating back to hip-hop's inception, is 'the struggle'. This struggle was originally financial or personal in nature. With "The Message", the idea of "the struggle" was put in another context: the hardships of the ghetto. As hip-hop evolved acts focusing on politics and social issues emerged, such as Public Enemy.
Rapping - Freestyling and battle rapping
Rapping - Freestyle rapping
A freestyle rap is a rapped verse (or verses) which consists solely of lyrics made up as the rapper goes along. Some rappers will inadvertently reuse old lines, or will consciously prepare canned "freestyle" verses. Therefore, freestyles with proven spontaneity are valued above all others. Rappers will often reference relevant persons, places, or objects in their immediate setting to prove their authenticity and originality.
Rapping - Battle rapping
MC battles are competitive activities staged between two or more rappers in front of an audience. The winner is typically decided subjectively by judges or a crowd. A winning battle rap against a skilled opponent will almost always be one that specifically addresses the weaknesses of the opposing MC to win the crowd[48].
Most battles involve the use of freestyles (and are therefore usually referred to as "freestyle battles"). Popular at general hip-hop events, there are many competitive freestyle battles, often with prizes. Television shows such as BET's 106 and Park and MTV's DFX host weekly freestyle battles live on the air.
The amount of freestyling that occurs in a rap battles can vary depending on the rules and each rapper's approach to his or her opponent. While the rules may require freestyling, it is often difficult to prove whether or not a line is genuinely freestyled. In a typical battle, freestyles are mixed in with canned lyrics with the focus being the defeat of one's opponent. In this respect then, the battle becomes a place for the rapper to showcase the lyrics he or she has been continually developing and working on beforehand, and loses that special spontaneity and difficulty which is much respected by fans of true freestyling.
Rapping - Traditional forms
In many traditional cultures there are lyrical forms that could loosely be described as rapping. Examples of these include:
- Mor lam in Laos
- Chastushka in Russia
- Tsiattista in Cyprus
- Enka Slamta in Ethiopia
- Tassou in Senegal
- Rhapsody in Ancient Greece
- Gstanzl in Bavaria and similar traditions in Austria and Switzerland.
- Urdu Rap from Pakistan
- Kuai ban in China
See also
- Hip hop music
- Hip hop culture
- Battle rap
- Freestyle rap
- List of rappers
- List of hip hop musicians
- Poetry
Other related archives106 and Park, 1920s, 1928, 1947, 1969, 1970, 1980, 1987, 1998, 2005, 20th century, 30s, 50 Cent, 50s, Aerosmith, African American Vernacular English, American music, Ancient Greece, Assonance, Atlanta, Austria, BET, Bambaataa, Battle rap, Bavaria, Bay Area, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Blondie, Blues, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Boogie Down Productions, Breath control, Cadence, Chastushka, China, Clark Kent, Coke La Rock, Consonance, Cyprus, DJ, DJ Hollywood, DJ Kool Herc, Deejays, E-40, Egyptian Lover, Enunciation, Eric B. and Rakim, Ethiopia, Fatback Band, Freestyle rap, Furious Five, Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Guinness World Record, Half rhyme, Heavy D, Herculoids, Hip hop culture, Hip hop music, Internal rhyme, Jam Master Jay, James Brown, Jazz, Juice Crew, Just a Friend, KRS-ONE, Kentucky, King Tim III, Kool Moe Dee, Kuai ban, Kurtis Blow, Laos, List of hip hop musicians, List of rappers, Louis Jordan, MC, MC Shan, MC battles, MTV, Melle Mel, Memphis Jug Band, Mor lam, Mystikal, Nappy Roots, New York City, Notorious B.I.G., Outkast, Pakistan, Poetry, Prosody, Public Enemy, R&B, Raising Hell, Rakim, Rapper, Rapper sword, Rapper's Delight, Rappers Delight, Rapture, Rhapsody, Run-DMC, Russia, Schooly D, Senegal, Snoop Dogg, South Park Mexican, Sugarhill Gang, Switzerland, Television shows, The Message, The Wu-Tang Clan, Treacherous Three, Twista, Urdu Rap, West Africa, acapella, alliteration, avant-garde, calypso, concept rap, dancehall, double entendres, dubbed, emancipation from slavery, enjambment, feet, folk dance, freestyle battles, freestyle rap, freestyling, funky, golden age, griots, hardcore, hardcore hip hop, hip-hop, hip-hop culture, hip-hop slang, human beatboxing, humor, hyperbole, iambic pentameter, jazz, melody, mento, metaphors, meter, music originated by African-Americans, old school, other musical forms, raprock, reggae, rhyme, rhymes, rhythmic, rock, scat singing, ska, slang, soul, syncopation, tempo/speed, the blues, toasting, topic, vocalese
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Rapping", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
