RadicalAmericanPoetry2

Page set up November 2003 After a short discussion with a Rap fan. (C.B.)

Comments welcome

Many people totally dismiss RAP as a musical form, partly a result of the language. There os a whole lot more to it!

This is a new Page. Contributions are welcome.

As to who "started" RAP, now there's a question! Talk with music has a long history. Storytelling with music is an Icelandic tradition, with the saga histories from memory, though I'm not sure how much musical input there is. There is also the "sprechstimme" approach by Schoenberg and others. This is where the spoken word is intoned to a degree. RAP itself may originate with the reggae genre in the West Indes, with Bob Marley, whose lyrics often tell stories or make social comment. The UK poet John Betjeman did at least two albums to the music of Jim Parker , "Betjeman's Banana Blush" and "Late Flowering Love" both in 1974. Those are literally spoken poetry. "Gangsta" RAP developed a little later (1980's) as the vocabulary became more "colourful" as did the more extreme "Attitudes", particularly to violence and to women. The term "Hip Hop" also appeared, and that is not just the music! Naturally the "argot" (language type) developed a whole new vocabulary, with older words having new meanings. Confusing to older folks! For instance MC is not just Master of Ceremonies!

As a footnote:- Any of you browsing on educational networks are liable to find that the "argot" or language of both RAP and Hip Hop falls foul of censoring systems. That's a result of language use evolution as much as an actual choice of words in the lyrics. Teenagers have always invented new words! Text messaging is a major example now! "c u l8er" for instance! The practice of "parental advisory" stickers is a pathetic marketing ploy in my opinion. Is "cussin" meant to be cool?

This is NOT intended to be a rank order listing and will certainly not include everyone or please everyone. RAP has even been incorporated into "NUMetal" or "Rapmetal", no doubt to the chagrin of purists of both genres! Many RAP acts now also include a more traditional vocal line too, and not just as a minor part of the general "mix" . It may be worth comparing, say NWA with a more recent act. The same type of thing applies to the "Garage" genre too. This has been a much abused term. Both the RAP and Garage which chart in the UK are rarely representative! Or so purists argue!

Real Rap

Rap Music

The Rap Central (closed sorry)

British Hip Hop

Rap Dictionary

Kurtis Blow 1979

The Sugarhill Gang 1979

Run-D.M.C. 1980's

NWA 1980's

Source of text

http://www.colleges.org/~music/modules/pierrot/sprech.html

Sprechstimme. Anything in common with Rap?

In the Preface to the score Schoenberg provides the following instructions relative to Sprechstimme.

In Rap there is little melody, but some artists do change pitch

The melody given in the Sprechstimme by means for notes is not intended for singing (except for specially marked isolated exceptions). The task of the performer is to transform it into a speech-melody, taking into acount the given pitch. this is achieved by:

Rhythmic sense is a major part of Rap lyrics

I. Maintaining the rhythm as accurately as if one were singing, i.e. with no more freedom than would be allowed with singing melody;

Many Rap lyrics are delivered in a monotone, or a simple repeated tonal pattern.

II. Becoming acutely aware of the difference between singing tone and speaking tone: singing tone unalterably stays on the pitch, whereas speaking tone gives the pitch but immediately leaves it again by falling or rising. However, the performer must be very careful not to adopt a singsong speech pattern. That is not intended at all. Nor should one strive for realistic, natural speech. On the contrary, the difference between ordinary speaking and speaking that contributes to a musical form should become quite obvious. but it must never be reminiscent of singing.

By Aletha M. Day

Post-Tribune correspondent

Like it or not, rap has carved a place into music history. And it looks like it’s here to stay. From gangsta to Christian rap, the lyrics can range from X-rated to heavenly. But what’s all the fuss over rap music? Follow the journey to find out.

Anissia Kennedy of Merrillville.

Some think rap was adopted from the black culture.

“I truly believe it came from blacks, it served as a broken dialect and a vehicle where (rappers) expressed themselves and experiences,”

It was just a raw way of understanding life through the eyes of the artist. Good or bad, happy or sad, the lyrics tell a story, thereby giving listeners a peek into the environment of the rapper.

Cynthia Lee from CD Depot record store

Cynthia Lee from CD Depot record store agrees with this opinion, adding the depths of rap origin also is said to be traced back to the African griot.

The Griot is similar to the Icelandic Saga storytellers.

Griots were professional singers and poets who traveled throughout their kingdoms with news of wars, births, deaths and other events, according to K. Maurice Jones, author of “The Story of Rap Music.”

William Salam

Run-D.M.C 'Walk this way’

“It came straight from the ghettos of New York,” says William Salam, owner of The Spott clothing store in Gary. “They (Run-D.M.C.) took rap across color lines when they did 'Walk This Way’ with Aerosmith,” Salam says.

Kurtis Blow link

http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin.html

1979

The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight”

and Kurtis Blow

Just before Run-D.M.C. came The Sugarhill Gang and Kurtis Blow. These are not considered the first true rappers to some, but in 1979 they were among the first to bring rap to a wider audience. The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” was the first rap to hit the top 40 charts, while Blow was the first rapper to cut albums for a major label. The overall sound is lighter and less bass heavy than some current acts and the lyrics are "clean"

Sugarhill Gang links

http://www.bus.miami.edu/~ldouglas/house/shill/
http://www.bus.miami.edu/~ldouglas/house/shill/rd.html

’80s

Run-D.M.C.

Research shows the genre of rap quickly expanded in the ’80s with Run-D.M.C.

'90s

Dr. Dre "Chronic"

“Run-D.M.C. put rap on the map, but it blew up in the ’90s when Dr. Dre’s “Chronic” album came out,” says DJ Mike, from Top Notch DJ Service in Portage.

Page created November 9th. 2003. Edited Nov 10th.

Source of text		http://www.colleges.org/~music/modules/pierrot/sprech.html
Sprechstimme. Anything in common with Rap?		In the Preface to the score Schoenberg provides the following instructions relative to Sprechstimme.
In Rap there is little melody, but some artists do change pitch	The melody given in the Sprechstimme by means for notes is not intended for singing (except for specially marked isolated exceptions). The task of the performer is to transform it into a speech-melody, taking into acount the given pitch. this is achieved by:
Rhythmic sense is a major part of Rap lyrics	I. Maintaining the rhythm as accurately as if one were singing, i.e. with no more freedom than would be allowed with singing melody;
Many Rap lyrics are delivered in a monotone, or a simple repeated tonal pattern.	II. Becoming acutely aware of the difference between singing tone and speaking tone: singing tone unalterably stays on the pitch, whereas speaking tone gives the pitch but immediately leaves it again by falling or rising. However, the performer must be very careful not to adopt a singsong speech pattern. That is not intended at all. Nor should one strive for realistic, natural speech. On the contrary, the difference between ordinary speaking and speaking that contributes to a musical form should become quite obvious. but it must never be reminiscent of singing.

By Aletha M. Day Post-Tribune correspondent	Like it or not, rap has carved a place into music history. And it looks like it’s here to stay. From gangsta to Christian rap, the lyrics can range from X-rated to heavenly. But what’s all the fuss over rap music? Follow the journey to find out.
Anissia Kennedy of Merrillville.	Some think rap was adopted from the black culture. “I truly believe it came from blacks, it served as a broken dialect and a vehicle where (rappers) expressed themselves and experiences,” It was just a raw way of understanding life through the eyes of the artist. Good or bad, happy or sad, the lyrics tell a story, thereby giving listeners a peek into the environment of the rapper.
Cynthia Lee from CD Depot record store	Cynthia Lee from CD Depot record store agrees with this opinion, adding the depths of rap origin also is said to be traced back to the African griot.
The Griot is similar to the Icelandic Saga storytellers.	Griots were professional singers and poets who traveled throughout their kingdoms with news of wars, births, deaths and other events, according to K. Maurice Jones, author of “The Story of Rap Music.”

William Salam	Run-D.M.C 'Walk this way’	“It came straight from the ghettos of New York,” says William Salam, owner of The Spott clothing store in Gary. “They (Run-D.M.C.) took rap across color lines when they did 'Walk This Way’ with Aerosmith,” Salam says.
	Kurtis Blow link	http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin.html
1979	The Sugarhill Gang “Rapper’s Delight” and Kurtis Blow	Just before Run-D.M.C. came The Sugarhill Gang and Kurtis Blow. These are not considered the first true rappers to some, but in 1979 they were among the first to bring rap to a wider audience. The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” was the first rap to hit the top 40 charts, while Blow was the first rapper to cut albums for a major label. The overall sound is lighter and less bass heavy than some current acts and the lyrics are "clean"
	Sugarhill Gang links	http://www.bus.miami.edu/~ldouglas/house/shill/ http://www.bus.miami.edu/~ldouglas/house/shill/rd.html
’80s	Run-D.M.C.	Research shows the genre of rap quickly expanded in the ’80s with Run-D.M.C.
'90s	Dr. Dre "Chronic"	“Run-D.M.C. put rap on the map, but it blew up in the ’90s when Dr. Dre’s “Chronic” album came out,” says DJ Mike, from Top Notch DJ Service in Portage.