Music has various styles, each with its own unique characteristics and subgenres. Musical styles are influenced by the culture, characteristics of the people in society, and even geographic features. One of the most popular music styles is hip-hop. If you want to know what hip-hop style is, follow this article from Saad News.
Hip Hop, sometimes referred to as rap music in some sources, is a modern musical genre with American roots, much like many other major musical styles. It was primarily created by African-American and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York—one of the northernmost neighborhoods of the city (north of Manhattan)—in the 1970s. The style is characterized by rhythmic, rhyming speech performances, accompanied by rap.
Like other musical styles, hip hop is an art form filled with emotions, focus, excitement, and movement. It is performed in harmony with body movements and rhythmic music.
As mentioned earlier, hip hop is more of a cultural movement than just a genre, encompassing music, poetry, dance, art, fashion, philosophy, and politics. In fact, many people confuse "rap" and "hip hop" as synonymous, but technically, rap is a specific musical technique that falls under the broader umbrella of hip hop.
According to DJ, lyricist, producer, and hip hop pioneer Africa Bambaataa, hip hop has four main pillars:
Rapping (MCing)
Rapping is a vocal technique that uses rhythm and poetry, but usually lacks melody. Because of this lack of melody, it resembles speaking or reciting poetry rather than traditional singing. The term "rap" itself originated in the 1970s, derived from the slang word "talking."
Turntablism
Known today as DJing, turntablism is a method of making music with turntables. A creative DJ mixes, blends, and manipulates songs, often by adjusting the speed or altering the playback, to create something new. Modern digital tools have made it possible for DJs to replicate these sounds electronically.
Breakdancing
Breakdancing (or B-boying/B-girling) is a distinctive and popular form of dance, known for its complex moves. Breakdancing has been a fundamental part of hip hop since its inception, although it hasn't achieved the same level of widespread success as other aspects of the movement.
Street Art
Street art, often involving spray paint, is another visual art form associated with hip hop. While not all graffiti is tied to hip hop, this movement created a unique style that became iconic.
Some believe hip hop lacks a definitive origin, while others suggest it started as a form of performance art in circuses to excite and entertain audiences. Another theory claims that it began in U.S. political prisons, where inmates expressed their thoughts and emotions nonverbally through rhythmic body movements. Many argue that hip hop emerged in the late 1960s from the streets of New York, particularly among African-American and Latino youth.
By the 1970s, hip hop took shape in Harlem's block parties, contributing to its legacy as a central movement for freedom of expression. By the 2000s, hip hop became internationally recognized, and in 2006, it was the second most popular genre in the United States, just behind classical music.
In hip hop, there should be a strong interaction between the rapper and the beat. Beats are often created with electronic instruments or samples from older songs. Unlike traditional instruments, few hip hop artists perform live music during their sets. Creativity in hip hop involves finding interesting ways to merge beats and melodies to create fresh sounds.
Hip hop beats can range from smooth and mellow to harsh and aggressive. The unifying element is a steady rhythm and generally simple musical structure, ensuring that the focus remains on the lyrics and the rapper’s performance.
Both hip hop and rap share the same musical beat structure. Rap is essentially a combination of poetry and prose, often associated with social messages. In Bronx block parties, DJs would use beats to convey specific thoughts or socially relevant messages.
While hip hop is a blend of rhythm reflecting positivity and flexibility, rap is often an outlet for expressing harsh, rebellious, or offensive views, though this is not always the case. Rap can also merge with other styles like rock or blues.
Music comes in various styles, each with unique characteristics and subgenres, influenced by culture, geography, and social traits. Hip hop (often confused with rap music) is a subgenre that has developed alongside the culture of hip hop itself.
