Jonah Patel
Hip-hop is a global phenomenon that has been a source of innovation and influence for over 40 years. Emerging from the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s, hip-hop reflected the post-industrial decline, economic shifts, and the voices of urban youth. This art movement, heavily influenced by both male and female artists, is characterised by rapping, DJing, turntablism, and breakdancing, with other elements like graffiti, beatboxing, and fashion. With its unique sound, experimental nature, and ability to transcend artistic boundaries, hip-hop has become a way of life, constantly evolving and innovating while retaining its core elements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The Bronx, New York City |
| Origin year | Early 1970s |
| Originators | DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell |
| Art forms | Music, dance, fashion, arts, language, poetry, drama, graffiti |
| Technology | Turntables, synthesizers, boomboxes, drum machines, samplers |
| Marketing | Product placement deals, merchandise, soft drink commercials, TV appearances |
| Sampling | Taking an existing record, manipulating it, and using bits in a new record as melodies or beats |
| Rhyming patterns | Evolved from basic A-A-B-B patterns to more complex multi-syllable rhymes |
| Beatboxing | Creating musical sounds using the mouth |
| Scratching | Back-cueing a recorded sound before playing it to the crowd |
| Cyphers | Gatherings of beatboxers, rappers, and break dancers making music together |
| Trap movement | Distributed music independently online, sometimes for free |
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What You'll Learn
Sampling and copyright
Sampling is the act of taking an existing record, manipulating it, and using bits and pieces as melodies or beats in a new record. In the early days of hip-hop, copyright laws did not protect music from being sampled, so artists had a wide array of music to sample from, including jazz, rock, and even sound clips from films. Sampling was popularized during the beginnings of hip-hop music, and now, a wide variety of genres use samples or techniques created by sample-based music.
Hip-hop producers have relied on the innovative use of existing recordings to create new works. Methods such as cuttin' and scratchin', digital sampling, looping, and mashing are all integral parts of the hip-hop music aesthetic. However, sampling raises questions about intellectual property rights and copyright infringement. In most cases, the use of samples must be approved by the original artist, and the process of obtaining legal permission from the copyright holder can be lengthy and complex. This process is known as clearance, and sampling without permission can breach the copyright of the original sound recording, composition, lyrics, and performances.
The per se infringement rule applied to cases involving unauthorized sampling of sound recordings and the traditional assumptions in copyright law of independent creation have negatively impacted hip-hop music creation. The fragmented application of copyright law has proven troublesome for the music industry, with inconsistent application of federal law threatening to diminish the quality and quantity of second-generation cumulative musical works. For example, in 1991, the songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan sued the rapper Biz Markie after Markie sampled O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)" without permission. As a result, Markie's label, Warner Bros, had to recall the album until the song was removed.
To address these issues, music copyright reform has been suggested, with some arguing for a fix that samples patent to remix copyright. Additionally, the US Library of Congress created an open-source web application in 2020 that allows users to sample its library of copyright-free audio. Instead of sampling, artists may also recreate a recording through interpolation, which requires permission from only the owners of the musical content rather than the recording owners.
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DJing and turntablism
Turntablism is a vital and ever-evolving component of hip-hop culture, representing the artistic skill and creativity of DJs who manipulate sounds and create music using turntables, a mixer, and vinyl records. Turntablism as a modern art form and musical practice has its roots in African-American inner-city hip-hop of the late 1970s. Kool Herc, a Jamaican DJ who immigrated to New York City, is widely regarded as the "father of hip-hop" for his innovative use of breakbeats and mixing techniques, which laid the foundation for turntablism and hip-hop culture as a whole.
Grandmaster Flash introduced groundbreaking techniques such as quick-mix theory, beat juggling, and the backspin, which became essential components of turntablism. Afrika Bambaataa, a founding member of the Universal Zulu Nation, helped promote and develop hip-hop culture, and his mastery of turntablism techniques inspired countless DJs to push the boundaries of the art form. Other pioneers of turntablism include DJ Qbert, known for his innovative scratching techniques, and DJ Babu, who coined the term "turntablism" in the early 1990s to distinguish the creative manipulation of sounds and music from the traditional role of a DJ.
Turntablism involves manipulating records on a turntable by moving the record with the hand to cue the stylus to exact points, touching or moving the platter to control the speed and direction, and using a mixer's controls to adjust the sound. Turntablists use a range of techniques such as beat-matching, scratching, beat juggling, and phrasing to create new music, sound effects, mixes, and beats. The introduction of digital DJing equipment, such as CDJ players, digital vinyl systems (DVS), and MIDI controllers, has expanded the possibilities for turntablists, allowing for new techniques and approaches to sound manipulation.
Turntablism has had a profound impact on hip-hop music, shaping its sound and structure since its inception. Many classic hip-hop tracks feature turntablism techniques, particularly scratching, which has become a hallmark of the genre's unique sound. Turntablism represents the innovative and experimental nature of hip-hop, with DJs constantly exploring new ways to manipulate sounds and create unique musical experiences for their audiences.
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Rap and lyricism
In its early days, hip-hop and rap were heavily influenced by Jamaican immigrant DJ Kool Herc, who pioneered record spinning and looping techniques using turntables. This "merry-go-round" technique allowed DJs to prolong the "break" in popular R&B songs, creating a new style that gained mass popularity in parties. The focus was on rhythm and rhyme, with rapid-fire lyrics delivered over pre-recorded instrumental tracks. Early rappers like Afrika Bambaataa created themes of unity, peace, and respect, while also addressing the realities of urban life, such as poverty, crime, and racial issues.
As hip-hop evolved, it diversified and spread beyond its local roots. By the 1980s, it had become a significant music genre, with the release of songs like "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang in 1979, which topped the charts and introduced a new genre of pop music. The emergence of "gangster rap" brought political and social consciousness to the forefront, with groups like N.W.A., and solo artists like Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., addressing issues of oppression, police brutality, and the struggles of inner-city life.
In the 2000s, hip-hop and rap continued to innovate, with artists like Kanye West and Eminem gaining prominence and pushing the boundaries of lyricism. Eminem, in particular, broke past the obstacle of white inauthenticity laid down by Vanilla Ice, becoming a revered lyricist for both artists and fans. The focus of hip-hop shifted away from the East and West coasts to the South, with new epicenters like Miami, New Orleans, Houston, and Atlanta developing their own influential styles.
However, some observers have lamented a perceived decline in lyricism in favour of simplistic styles that cater to popular culture. The rise of "mumble rap" and the emphasis on catchy beats and hooks have shifted the focus away from complex lyricism. Nonetheless, hip-hop and rap remain dynamic art forms that continue to evolve and innovate, reflecting the diverse experiences and perspectives of their artists and fans.
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Beatboxing and production
The art of beatboxing emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a vital part of the burgeoning US hip-hop scene. Beatboxing, or creating musical sounds using one's mouth, served as a support for MCs when no other music was available. It is a prime example of how hip-hop has innovated by turning constraints into opportunities for creative expression. Beatboxing evolved from simple beats into complex sounds, with practitioners pushing the art form to new heights and developing a range of techniques, from click rolls to tooth chirps and drag whistles.
The fundamental aim of beatboxing was to emulate the drum machines that were prevalent in hip-hop music at the time, such as the Roland Rhythm Series TR-33 and TR-55, and later the iconic TR-808. The movement even tipped its hat to the hardware, as a 'beat box' became slang for a drum machine. The early beatboxers used their voices to mimic the effects of these machines, often out of financial necessity.
Beatboxing has played a significant role in the evolution of hip-hop, with pioneers like Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie pushing the boundaries of the art form. Markie, for instance, is known for fusing beatboxing with singing and developing techniques like the inward hand clap and harmonic tap.
In terms of production, hip-hop has also seen significant innovation. The genre is known for its sampling, or the act of taking existing records and manipulating or extracting bits to create new melodies or beats. While sampling faced legal challenges due to copyright issues, it forced producers to experiment and create new styles, further contributing to the innovative nature of hip-hop.
Additionally, the collaborative style of DJing developed by pioneers like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash became the blueprint for hip-hop production. They experimented with techniques like playing the same record on twin turntables, switching between them to isolate and extend percussion breaks, creating an electric effect that drew dancers to the floor. This collaborative style of DJing and the use of turntables became central to the production process in hip-hop.
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Dance and breaking
The term "breakdancing" is said to have originated from the practice of dancers saving their best moves for the instrumental break in a dance record. Some dancers would even wait until the break to dance. In early hip-hop, disc jockeys would mix back and forth between two copies of the same record to prolong the break, creating what became known as the breakbeat. The term "breaking" is said to be 1970s slang for 'getting excited', 'acting energetically', or 'causing a disturbance'.
Breakdancing or breaking is a style of street dance that originated among African Americans and Puerto Ricans in the Bronx. It consists of four types of movement: toprock, footwork, power moves, and freezes, typically performed to songs with drum breaks, especially in funk, soul, and hip-hop. Its modern dance elements originated among the poor youth of New York in the early 1980s, providing an artistic outlet and a means to stay away from gang violence.
Breaking is considered a living, breathing art form, unique to each dancer's style and interpretation. Crews like the Rock Steady Crew, the Mighty Zulu Kings, and the Lockers have continuously renewed and refreshed the style with original spins, fresh freezes, and new twists on power moves, often laced with body-bending humour. Competition and innovation in breaking are essential to the culture of hip-hop, inspiring dancers worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
The key elements of hip-hop include rapping, DJing, turntablism, and breakdancing. Other elements include graffiti, beatboxing, street entrepreneurship, hip-hop language, and hip-hop fashion.
Hip-hop culture has had a significant impact on the music industry, with its emphasis on experimentation, collaboration, and competition. DJs and producers in the hip-hop genre are constantly exploring new ways to manipulate sounds, create unique beats, and distinguish their mixes, driving innovation in music production.
Sampling, which involves taking portions of existing records to create new melodies or beats, was a pivotal aspect of early hip-hop. It allowed artists to experiment with a wide range of musical genres, from jazz to rock, and even film sound clips. However, as copyright laws evolved, sampling became more complex and costly, forcing producers to innovate and develop new styles.
Technology has been a driving force in hip-hop music since its inception. The adaptation of the turntable and the use of synthesizers in the 1970s and 1980s revolutionized how DJs created and shared music. Additionally, the popularity of boomboxes allowed hip-hop enthusiasts to share their ideas and express their identities through music. More recently, the internet has lowered barriers to entry into the music industry, enabling independent artists to distribute their music globally.
