Hip-hop and trip hop share an ancestor: the breakbeat. These broken beats gave birth to numerous musical styles from lo-fi hip hop and trip hop all the way through glitch space bass.
Hip hop music relies heavily on vocalists delivering verses of braggadocio and social commentary; trip hop, on the other hand, often uses voice as part of an intricate soundscape by treating it like an ethereal instrument.
Origins
Although trip hop gained mainstream recognition during the early 90s, its roots go much deeper. While some elements from hip hop such as sampling and drum-based breakdowns can be found within trip hop, other genres such as dub, ambient techno, jazz and film soundtrack music also influence its soundscape; creating melancholic, atmospheric tracks often with profound themes and messages.
Trip hop music can be described as a combination of classic funk, ambient music and hip hop vocals, creating an eclectic sound. This particular combination distinguishes it from its sibling genre: hip hop. While hip hop beats are driven by vocal samples of an MC delivering his lyrics as the beat, in trip hop human voices serve more as another element within its sonic tapestry rather than taking center stage.
Hip hop, on the other hand, tends to be much mellower and experimental. Trip hop relies on spoken word samples along with strings, flutes, saxophones and Rhodes pianos as its sound sources; although its rhythms and beats may resemble hip hop’s more lively beats and rhythms, its overall feel tends to be much less strident.
Portishead, Tricky and Massive Attack were pioneers in trip hop in the early 1990s. Through albums like Blue Lines, Unfinished Sympathy and Protection they put Bristol music on the world map musically while drawing upon their backgrounds in punk rock, reggae and hip hop to craft something uniquely original and exciting – especially Blue Lines which shows just how different genres can blend to produce something remarkable and captivating.
DJ Shadow first coined the term “trip hop” in 1994, though its music had existed prior to then. His inspiration for using that name came from In/Flux by producer Axis of Sound which featured dreamlike quality through sampled voices, string arrangements, horns and bass as well as slow beats that created an immersive instrumental atmosphere reminiscent of travel.
Trip hop has become more prominent over time due to popular music group Gorillaz and their song Melancholy Hill as an exemplary representation of this hybrid genre. Combinations of hip hop drums, ambient melodies and ethereal wrapped vocals highlight how trip hop melds all its components seamlessly together.
Influences
Trip Hop music originated in Bristol, UK as an amalgamation of musical styles that emerged out of its multi-cultural melting pot, as well as its sociopolitical implications. Bristol had many Jamaican and Caribbean migrants who brought with them Sound System culture based upon custom built speaker stacks where communities would gather to socialise and dance to the beat of custom built speakers; this Sound System Culture drew upon both Punk music’s DIY spirit as well as elements from Reggae, Jazz and Dub.
Massive Attack was a pioneer of hip hop music with wide-ranging influences; their 1993 album Blue Lines stands as an early example of Trip Hop. Their music includes hip hop beats, bass from dub, jazz guitar from Adrian Utley and Beth Gibbon’s exquisite vocals which ebb and flow seamlessly.
Portishead were among the early pioneers of Trip Hop music when they released their debut album Dummy in 1994. Influenced by multi-cultural and sociopolitical movements within Bristol’s scene, their use of sampling and production techniques alongside melancholy melodies with deep personal lyrics are characteristic features of Trip Hop music.
Ninja Tune was also instrumental in shaping Trip Hop during this era, with artists like Howie B and Earthling contributing significantly. Additionally, this period saw an upsurge of alternative hip hop artists like King Giddra who were heavily influenced by Public Enemy’s politically charged content and hard-edged rhythms.
Influences from these groups continue to have an effect on today’s artists such as Alison Goldfrapp, FKA twigs and Lana Del Rey; inspiring a whole new generation. Influence from such artists has spread further into future music styles like Trap, Halftime Drum and Bass, IDM Dubstep Acid Jazz Ambient genres that inspire deeper connections with listeners while transporting them away into their own worlds.
Styles
Trip hop music combines elements from various musical styles. It draws its inspiration from hip-hop, dubstep, ambient music and acid jazz among others, and incorporates synthesizers and strings for production purposes. The resultant sound can range from slow and laid back to fast rhythmic elements such as bass lines pulsing forward with slow drum beats or melodic instrumentation with delay processing in use – something commonly utilized by artists creating this form of music.
Hip-hop’s roots give it its distinctive style, as it borrows techniques like sampling and looping from that genre. Furthermore, its blend of genres sets it apart from vocal-centric hip-hop genre. Furthermore, its cultural impact can be felt across fashion, language and politics – something jazz is not typically known for doing.
trip-hop differs significantly from hip-hop in that its beats and vocal MC rapping tend to take on more of a melancholic or existentialist tone, often creating feelings of melancholy or existentialist reflection. Reverb and delay effects add an ambient quality that make this music truly engaging.
Collaboration is at the core of trip hop music, and many artists create this style by working with other musicians – Portishead, Massive Attack and Little Dragon are some of the most renowned examples. Thanks to its combination of genres and artists collaborating together, trip hop has left its mark on music industry by inspiring genres such as trap music, halftime drum and bass music, IDM music and acid jazz among many others.
The Bristol sound was born from the melting pot of cultures found within the city, leading to an eclectic blend of music that served as a form of social activism. This unification between different cultures stands out amongst other genres and its fast tempos are signature characteristics of Bristol sound music. Furthermore, Bristol was also a place for change and experimentation as seen through bands like The Wild Bunch who blended white rock with reggae, jazz, and dub music genres.
Musicians
In the early ’90s, Bristol became home to an exciting new genre of music called trip hop. Like smoke rising through a chimney, its sensuous groove met our timeless desire for bass-heavy sound to reach into our subconscious minds and bring our dreamworld onto dance floors. Massive Attack, Smith & Mighty and Tricky’s experimental Bristol trio was among its prime movers; trip hop was born!
While its downtempo, jazzy, free jazzy music shares many elements with ambient and classical genres, its signature hip hop beats, innovative sampling technique and psychedelic soundscapes set it apart from both. Furthermore, dub and reggae musical influences can also be heard through its use of reverb and delay processing effects.
The genre reached its apex during the ’90s with artists like DJ Shadow, Portishead, and UNKLE (who founded Mo’ Wax Records at this time), who released groundbreaking albums such as Blue Lines, Protection, and Mezzanine.
Morcheeba, Air and DJ Cam (also known as James Blake) were other key artists in this genre. Their music combined trip hop with soul, funk and jazz influences – check out songs such as Cherries and Chocolate, Come Back to Me and Mad Blunted Jazz to experience it first hand!
Recent trip hop artists include French producer Amon Tobin with his dark and haunting music. A master of sound design, Amon creates melancholic electronica that blends elements from various genres into his signature melancholic electronica style – such as Impossible Oddities or Nocturnal Animals from his repertoire of songs.
Lassi Kotamaki, an independent Finnish producer who creates soothing instrumental hip hop. His style draws influence from Phantogram, Massive Attack and Depeche Mode; check out Lament for his song which weaves vocal samples in and out of melody seamlessly. In 2009 he joined The Book of Life band which formed music of this style.