How to Rap

To the untrained ear, all rap can sound the same. This is because a rap song usually has an artist rhyming over a bass beat. However, rap/hip-hop has different sub categories and styles which are seen throughout different time periods. Hip-hop was born in the south Bronx in the early 80’s then spread to the west coast by the late 80’s. This hip-hop sweep quickly began the feud between the upbeat rhythm of East-Coast rappers and the “g-funk” beats of West-Coast rappers. Once the era of East…

talking about female influence in Hip-Hop it all begins with Salt N’ Pepa. Salt N’ Pepa, one of the first female rap groups, changed the face of Hip-hop. They paved the way for women in this male dominant industry. Salt N’ Pepa has also influenced Hip-hop culture greatly from the 80’s until now by being more pop orientated, having a powerful message, and a unique fashion sense. They were rap legends as well as female and fashion icons. Taking it back to the mid 1980s Salt N’ Pepa was formed.…

In Nathan McCall’s article “My Rap Against Rap” published by Reader's Digest he expresses how rap music is influencing young black people in today's society. Comparing his experiences to the film The Godfather and the effects they had upon him. Noting its violent gangsters and gunfights have created a fascination among young black Americans, it was the ruthless code of principles that govern the gangster’s lives that he ties to the rap lyrics. McCall took things into his own hands and shot the…

expresses her deep concern of the negative influence lyrics in rap music have on women and people of the African American community, as stated in her essay, "From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos". Morgan shares her views on the root causes of the prevalence of misogyny in rap music lyrics. Morgan illuminates the hidden causes of the harsh sexism in rap music lyrics and argues that one needs to look deeper to understand why the misogyny exists and how women in her culture need to not only respond…

Many people may think that male rap artists will agree that “A Bitch Iz a Bitch”(Schneider 36) especially because of how male dominant the genre is and some soundtracks signifies this statement. Hip-hop does contain lyrics and images that are misogynistic and violent, however to generalize the whole genre unacceptable with aspects that many other genres share as well is not targeting the obscenity, but is targeting the genre as a way to silence an inferior culture. Censorship, the act of…

Hip-hop culture developed during the seventies. Throughout its formation, the various elements were at some time or another, deemed unacceptable. Graffiti artists faced jail sentences, break dancing became illegal in some areas, and rap music has been severely criticized for various reasons. These elements were never analyzed in an oppositional manner until recently, however. Hip-hop culture represented the claiming of urban communities by the residents. Writers decorated the empty walls of…

vulgarity and misogyny, most people agree that rap music can be extremely and unnecessarily offensive; however this agreement usually dissolves when considering the art and interpretation of this genre of music. Supporters of the free expression of hip hop music argue that controversial lyrics can often bring attention to greater issues in society and that rap is simply a poetic expression of the African-American culture and history. According to rapper Jay-Z, rap has done more than any leader…

emergence of Gangster Rap or as some call it “Gangsta Rap” led to a new emergence of culture & challenges to the values and understandings of this genre of music in more ways than one. As someone who was born in the 90’s I saw the change within the culture of rap but more importantly in gangster rap; something which challenged the message behind the song’s lyrics and really changed the movement because of the usage of words which were deemed to be inappropriate in past ages. Gangster rap made it…

Is Eminem Indeed a “Rap God”? Since being thrown into the spotlight Eminem has thrived producing countless top tracks and albums becoming a household name. In his Grammy award winning album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, Slim Shady enhances his old persona in the song “Rap God”. Starting his career off as a battle rapper shows in this song as it is bursting with quick witted rhymes but in they way he wove them together shows how he has evolved as a lyricist. Marshall will no doubt go down in…

this essay because of the nightmare you had, in which your daughter came home with a rapper telling you that they were going to get married. In your essay you state that the first time you heard rap it was the most ridiculous thing you had ever heard, but you also state that after 26 years of ignoring rap you had finally embraced it. You said you love the good of it and hate the bad of it. You wrote this essay to tell the world that hip hop is everywhere and some of us need to embrace it just as…