Zhav Three (Editor)

CHARACTERISTICS OF HIP HOP MUSIC

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Hip-hop is a genre of music with a style of rhythmic or rhyming speech, characterized by a strong beat and a rapping vocal track.  It’s a cultural movement sweeping up music, poetry, dance, art, fashion, and political philosophy. This music genre developed in the United States by inner-city African Americans in the 1970's. Its development reflected the negative effects of post-industrial decline, political discourse, and a rapidly changing economy. The original four main pillars of hip hop include DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking, and visual/graffiti art. 

The term hip hop music is sometimes used synonymously with the term rap music, though rapping is not a required component of hip hop music. Rap represents a rhythmic style of vocal recitation that’s popular in most of hip hop’s top songs.  But it’s just one component of the broader hip hop cultural movement. Both rap and hip-hop are similar than they are distinct from each other. This is because they exist in the same sphere or genre of music. 

3 CHARACTERISTICS OF HIP-HOP
Hip-hop music is a varied musical genre, but most hip-hop songs incorporate several common elements. It has unique characteristics that differentiate it from pop, R&B, and rock music. 

1. STRONG, RHYTHMIC BEAT - A rhythmic beat is the strongest unifying factor of hip-hop music. It can be fast and aggressive or slow and relaxed, but it carries the song steadily forward and serves as a backdrop for vocal performance. Beat-making is a complex and varied art form that results in other songs and sounds. Many hip hop musicians didn't have the money to afford a drum machine or a Dj setup. Musicians learned how to mimic the sounds of the most popular drum machines using their mouths. 

2. VOCALS - Usually rhymed type of chant that interplays with the beat. The majority of hip-hop songs incorporate rapping as their main vocal style. Other vocal styles include singing, spoken word, autotune, and ad-libs.

3. BREAKS - It is a term for long percussive periods in a hip hop song. Modern hip-hop songs often include breaks to hearken back to the genre’s roots or encourage dancing. DJ Kool Herc is credited with developing the concept of a break and encouraging dancing called breakdancing or breaking. Break-dancers would form dancer circles and save their best dance moves for the break.

It wasn’t just the music propelling hip hop culture. Hip hop fashion also hit the mainstream. Various clothes, shoes, accessories, and hairstyles became a form of expression. This cultural movement has seen 토토사이트 considerable change and evolution since its inception in the seventies. What began as a local movement intended to provide a haven for African-American and Puerto Rican youth in New York City, has become a global phenomenon. To this day, hip hop continues to be a dominant force influencing totopickpro the culture around the world.