Music can evoke many different emotions and moods, impacting our mental and spiritual health in profound ways. Music has the ability to both relax or energise us and assist with better concentration at school or work.
Run DMC revolutionized hip hop for mainstream audiences and the Beastie Boys pioneered sampling techniques. Meanwhile, other artists like LL Cool J and Public Enemy helped take rap into new areas.
Frequency
Rap music usually has a lower frequency range than other genres of music due to the type of instruments being used; bass frequencies often reaching into the 20’s or lower. Classical music typically boasts higher frequencies.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – According to researchers at Purdue University, the driving bass rhythms of rap music can effectively recharge an implantable medical sensor using a vibrating cantilever device that generates electricity and stores the charge.
Rhythm
Hip-hop music’s beat is at its core; it serves as the driving force that keeps songs moving forward, but there is much more than that to it than meets the eye. A good beat doesn’t need additional elements such as drum patterns or percussion – just select sounds such as claps, 808s and snares to achieve that unique rap sound! A well-crafted beat may stand alone without needing extra embellishments but what elements there are must be well executed.
Rappers employ a number of techniques to add rhythm to their songs and distinguish their work from that of other rappers. Rhyme complexes, or groups of lines which rhyme consistently, are one such approach often utilized by Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and AZ among other artists. Another option for rhythm building involves using syntactical units of text overriding metrical connections called enjambment.
Other rhyming techniques include adding extra syllables into words, accentuating specific syllables and the use of internal rhymes. Many rappers double-time their lines by packing twice as many stressed syllables into each line of the verse – an approach typically associated with faster tempo genres like Dubstep, EDM and upbeat pop music.
Rhyme techniques have contributed significantly to the evolution of rap music over time. Rap music from the 90s differed drastically from earlier generations due to MCs’ flow and delivery style; they were part of this transformation.
Rap music has grown exponentially throughout its existence and now represents an integral component of the industry. BuzzAngle reported in 2018 that one-quarter of tracks listened to in the US were rap songs; its rebellious spirit has catapulted it to new heights of global success and reached new audiences worldwide. Emcees with their larger than life personas and clever wordplay have helped create an artform which has left its mark on culture at large.
Lyrics
Rappers employ their voices as instruments of expression, conveying emotion, attitude and style through rhythmic chants to metaphorical lyrics which explore an array of subjects. Rap has its roots in West Africa and Jamaican sound systems where artists recited rhythmic poetry over drumbeats and reggae beats; its modern evolution was further refined in New York City where MCs and DJs dominated block parties and breakdancing during the 1970s.
Rap may often be criticised for its controversial, sexual and violent lyrics; however, over time rap has evolved into an international cultural movement that embraces diversity and creativity. Thanks to artists like Tupac and Biggie who made headlines with their powerful lyricism, rap became an accessible means of self-expression that challenged social norms around the globe.
Successful rap musicians take full advantage of our natural tendency towards pleasing sounds and rhythms to craft music that engages visually, tactilely and auditorily – using innovative techniques that appeal to our ear’s tendency towards repetitive patterns.
One of the most effective techniques in producing is sampling, where producers take existing sounds and use them in new contexts. This could range from using an existing hi-hat sound as an accent beat in one measure to looping samples to form an entirely new soundscape in another track – creating an eclectic musical palette for rappers to craft an atmosphere around their message.
Rap is known for its bold and politically charged lyrics. Grandmaster Flash and Public Enemy advocated for minority rights during Hip Hop’s Golden Age between 1988-1991; J Cole and Kendrick Lamar continue this advocacy today by drawing attention to socioeconomic problems impacting minority groups.