A form of
Popular Music emphasizing rhyming voices over musical instruments, as well as sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. The first rap records did not contain any sampling, probably due to the fact that at the time (1979-1985) the equipment was not available. Rapping began as a variation on the toasting found in
reggae and [dub music]
?, mixed with influences from radio DJs and playing the dozens. Also of influence were the works of [The Last Poets]
? and [Gil Scott Heron]
?. The original rappers, or MCs (from "Master of Ceremonies") would improvise rhymes over the beats created by the DJs. Early raps were frequently merely a sequence of boasts, or attempts to upstage the other MCs. In the eighties, however, rap became increasingly politicised, through the works of
Public Enemy and others, and tended to chronicle the black urban experience.
Gangsta rap may be seen in this context of subversion.
The first rap record was "King Tim III" by the Fatback Band (featuring the rapper King Tim III).
The
Sugarhill Gang followed the same year with "Rappers Delight", that became a major hit and is based on Chic's disco track Good Times. - Rapping can be seen as one of the four elements of hip hop: MCing (rapping), DJing (mixing, cutting and scratching),
graffiti, and
breakdancing. However, in the course of rap's history, new musical styles developed that use rapping but cannot be called rap music or
hip hop - especially
rapcore, also known as rap/rock or rap/metal. Some alternative rap has musically very little to do with hip hop and rap music.
subcategories:
- /Old School
- /New School
- [/Second Wave]?
- /Gangsta rap
- [/South Side]?
- /Bass
some artists:
Old School
- Sugarhill Gang
- Kurtis Blow
- Afrika Bambaataa
New School
- Schoolly D
- Run DMC
- Beastie Boys
- Public Enemy
Latin Rap
- Kid Frost
- Cypress Hill
Gangster Rap
- Ice T
- NWA
- Dr. Dre
- [Ice Cube]?
Bass
- [Uncle Luke]?
- [The 2 Live Crew]?
- [Kilo Ali]?
- [Clay D]?
- [69 Boys]?
- [MC ADE]?
- [Gigolo Tony]?
Dirty South
- Outkast?
- [Parental Advisory]?
- [Master P]?
- Mystikal?
- [Trick Daddy]?
- [Triple 6 Mafia]?
Soul Assassins
- Cypress Hill
- House of Pain
Other
- Wu-Tang Clan
- Eminem?
- [Missy Misdemeanour Elliott]?
Producers
- Marley Marl
- [The Bomb Squad]?
- Prince Paul
- [DJ Muggs]?
- Timbaland?
Worldwide Rap
French Rap
Italian Rap
Spanish Rap
German Rap
Swiss Rap
Latin rap
African Rap
Greek Rap
Turkish Rap
Mexican Rap