Can you… Identify the musical features of Hip Hop?

1. Can you… • Identify the musical features of Hip Hop? • Describe the timbre and techniques involved in composing a Hip Hop track? • Use music technology and rapping to produce a Hip Hop track?

2. ORIGINS of RAP Rapping is ‘speaking in rhythm’ usually over a beat or music. The tradition began in the Jamaican Dancehall scene, where big spontaneous parties would happen, the MC would speak over the records (called ‘toasting’), calling people to come and join in their party. 1960s-70s Jamaican Dancehall Toasting WHAT is an MC? A Master of Ceremonies (MC) is the host of a staged event or similar performance. An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving. Video was here Task Watch and listen to Uroy, and complete the worksheet.

3. Toasting Task • Try out your call and Responses with the crowd over the track, whoever can get the crowd most involved wins!

4. Hip Hop begins in the Bronx, NY In the poorest areas of New York (the Ghettos) such as Brooklyn, Bronx and Harlem and Queens people had ‘block parties’, setting up massive Sound Systems and Turntables outside their building blocks for parties. DJs played the records whilst MCs rapped over them. 1980s VIDEO was here DJs played disco and funk records of the 70s. DJ KoolHerc was born in Jamaica and combined the toasting/rapping with the ‘Breaks’ (instrumental sections of disco/funk records).

5. Texture & Melody Harmony & Tonality Rhythm & Metre Structure & Form Listen to ‘Let me clear my throat’ by DJ KoolHerc; Describe features of rapping Describe the accompaniment. Timbre & Dynamics

6. DJ It’s all about the Breaks! Scratching Sampling Looping Video was here

7. Video was here 2000s In the 2000s, technology plays a big part.

8. Task Compare the musical features in these 3 tracks. Artist:........................................................................ Title:.......................................................................... Describe the chorus: .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. Artist:........................................................................ Title:.......................................................................... Describe the chorus: .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. Artist:........................................................................ Title:.......................................................................... Describe the chorus: .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. .................................................................................. ..................................................................................

9. Effects and Processors Delay Vocoder Auto tune EQ Filtering • Task • Arrange your sample in a sequencer • Record your vocals • Experiment with the in built effects Reverb

10. I’m lyrically toasting my rhymes are on fire, My Hip Hop chants are something to admire… I’m Hip and I’m Hoppin’ and I’m bustin’ a move, To get the party started, gettin’ into the groove. • Rapping Task • In pairs, write and rehearse your own 8 line verse of rap using: • Repetition • Rhyming couplets (make lines rhymes in pairs) • Slang language • Freestyling (if brave enough – improvise) (lyrical content of 80s Hip Hop was much more negative and expressed issues of social deprivation, esp artists such as NWA, swearing and offensive lyrics)

11. Hip Hop