History of Rap

1. History of Rap The New Movement

2. What is Rap? • Spoken words with an underlying rhythm consisting of bass, drums and keyboard sounds. • Accents in the speaking parts are very important.

3. In the Beginning…. • “Rap” is not a new idea that sprung up in the music industry in the 80’s and 90’s. In fact, it has been evolving for decades. • Rap’s roots can be traced to the following influences….

4. Cab Calloway • Known for his signature “Hi-de-hi-de-hi-de-ho” chant from Minnie the Moocher. • Used call and response with his audience. • Call and response was a major part in Jazz and is one of the foundations of rap.

5. Charlie Daniels • Utilized a “monologue-style” in their music. • Monologue means to speak as group or by oneself prior to a song beginning. Example is Saturday Night Live or Jay Leno.

6. African Rhythms • These complex rhythms have long been a form of communication. • The very root a rap and hip hop is the rhythm- in words and in the music that accompanies it.

7. The Birth of the Disc Jockey • Back in the 60’s young DJ’s like Kool DJ Herc, DJ Lovebug Starski would push huge speakers down blocks, mixing records at block parties and playing with turntables. Lovebug was credited with being the first to move the record with his hands to make weird sounds with the needle.

8. 70’s • The same DJs went from the block corner into the Clubs. • Joseph Saddler had 2 copies of the same records and 2 turn tables. He would switch from one to another repeating the selected grooves. • Afrika Bambaata coins the term Hip Hop for his parties.

9. A Major Hill • The first rap recordings were in 1979. The Fatback Band recorded “King Tim III” and the Sugar Hill Gang recorded “Rapper’s Delight.” • Rapper’s Delight would go onto be a huge popular success and lead the way for all future raps. • Mr. Magic’s “Rap Attack” would become the first hip-hop radio show.

10. Paving the way • Funky 4 + 1 more is the first rap group that contained a female MC • First rap group to perform on SNL song- “That’s the Joint.” • Released one of the longest rap singles ever at over 15 minutes in full length.

11. A Shade of Blonde • Blondie was enjoying success as a pop musician. Her single “Rapture” which came out in the early 80’s. • First female to release a rap song.

12. Politics Take Center Stage • “The Message” is the first political rap performed by Grand Master Flash. • Launched the era of using rap to communicate strong, and at times, controversial beliefs.

13. Run, Baby, Run • Run-DMC was the first group to become commercially successful over a period of time. • Created the Adidas shoe fad in which they were worn without shoelaces.

14. That’s Def • Def Jam records is formed by Russell Simons and Rick Ruben. • Sign LL Cool J releases “I Need Beat” • LL’s first song was recorded in his college dorm room.

15. Movies & Dancing • Break dancing is a new style of dance and takes the country by storm. • Movies are released showing the hip hop lifestyle. • Beat Street • Breakin’ • Wild Style

16. Sweetened Tea • Ice-T leads the way with Gangsta Rap with the song “Cop Killers” • NWA follows up with “F tha Police” this is the first song to receive a letter by the FBI resenting the song. • Majority of gangsta rap were about what was going on their communities; drugs, money, women and cop issues.

17. Sample This • 1986 sampling is born. • A Sampler is an electronic device which can precisely replicate an existing sound or track of music

18. Problems Occur • People are stealing and not giving credit to the original person. • Musicians were being replaced with electronic devices.

19. Listen to guitar riff

20. Listen to guitar riff

21. Listen to Bass Riff

22. Listen to Bass Riff

23. Legal issues • Due to the legal implications which began to emerge due to this practice, this became the “not so cool” thing to do. Although samples can still be found during this time, rap/hip hop musicians began to do more with adding their own nuances and even adding harmonies and additional instrumentation.

24. Law suite • The first major law suite occurred when Queen would sue Vanilla Ice for stealing their music.

25. Don’t Change • Another practice became to utilize a pre-recorded song, either partially or entirely, to re-record a rap/hip hop song.

26. Arrested Development

27. Stevie Wonder

28. Coolio

29. Mixing It Up • Rap legends Run DMC collaborate with Rock legends Aerosmith. • “Walk This Way” was a huge rock hit in the 70s and became a huge hip hop. • Helped throw rap into the mainstream.

30. Yo Yo Yo • 1988 “Yo! MTV Raps” debuts on MTV. • Up until this point, rap music did not have a white audience. MTV made rap accessible and desirable to all youth, black and white.

31. Ladies take the stage • MC Lyte • Yo Yo • Queen Latefiah drops her mega hit “Ladies First” and paves the way for all future female rappers

32. Too Legit • 1989 MTV recognizes rap as a legitimate award category. • DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince “Parents Just Don’t Understand” is the first award recipient.

33. Boys will be Boys • Hard Rock and rap now mix together in one group. • Beastie Boys burst onto the scene with their smash hit “Fight For Your Right”

34. We All Have Enemies • Public Enemy became the most influential political rap groups of all time. • “Bring the Noise” calls for the African American people to stand up for their rights and bring a stop to their suffering.

35. West-ward Bound • West Coast rap saw a rise in 1991. • Dr. Dre (formely of NWA) introduces the world to Snoop Dog. • They would call it G Funk or Gangsta Funk.

36. Will Smith • Fresh Prince of Bel Air gives a hip hop artists his own tv show. • Will Smith would later go onto become one of the most prolific actors/artists of our time.

37. East Side • East Coast Rap takes shape in the early-mid 90s. • It is less violent, more dance-able and more up beat.

38. 2 Stars Die • West Coast and East Coast rappers spend many years dissing each other in their songs. • Unsolved drive-by shootings to two of raps biggest stars would shake the world of music. • Tu Pac is shot on the Las Vegas Strip in 1996. B.I.G. is shot outside an Automotive Museum Party in 1997.

39. M.E. • Missy Elliot Releases her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and redefine hip hop/R&B. • She would later go on to become the best selling female rapper of all time.

40. zzzzzzzzz • 1998 Jay-Z samples the Broadway musical “Annie” and sells 5 million records with the song Hard Knock Life. • This song single handedly throws Jay-Z into a pop icon.

41. The Real Slim • Eminem is discovered by Dr. Dre in 1999. • Eminem zooms past racial hurdles and sells 4 million copies of his LP The Real Slim Shady.

42. Where We Are Today • Outkast brought a new sound to the game. • Ludacris rises up the “Dirty South” with his style of rap. • Nelly emerges with the St. Louis style of rap.

43. Rap music will always contain a message. Some will be about social issues, political issues, economic issues. Some will be positive, some negative. No matter the message, the beat, the singer, rap is a solidified, legitimate form of musical expression and it is here to stay.