INTRODUCTION
Rap/hip hop is a music genre that consists of a stylised rhythmic music that usually accompanies rapping. Since its explosion onto the music scene, rap music took the industry by storm and became the integral part of hip hop culture. It has developed over the decades as a part of a hip hop culture, which originated as a cultural movement that began amongst urban youth in New York. With its original listeners primarily African America, it has since spread around the world and hip hop has since come to be a synonym for rap music to mainstream audiences. This music genre has risen over the past few decades and has become a popular within popular culture. It continues to be one of the most popular genres of music, crossing over to different cultures and influencing different generations through its lyrical content and beats.
Influences
Rap music's influence is everywhere: fashion, dance, art, television and especially other forms of music. Since the 1980s, hip hop music has increased in popularity, making its mark on every aspect of pop culture. One of the areas where hip hop has had a heavy influence is the world of fashion. Fashion was once ruled by an untouchable elite, where designers and high end brands were seen as larger than life. While some designers still hold that mystique, they are now approachable and are influenced by those outside of their primary demographic, including hip hop artists and fans. By the mid 1990s, hip hop became a facet of pop culture just like rock or pop music. The hip hop vibe was known worldwide, and the look was emulated by kids in the inner cities of America, as well as on the streets of Paris and Tokyo. Like all trends, fashion starts in the streets. Designers took note of this and began adding a dose of hip hop to high end collections, such as the 1991 Chanel collection, where Karl Lagerfeld showed piles of gold jewelry on models. While hip hop grew larger, so did the artists' bank accounts. Hip hop artists moved on from Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger to high end designers such as Chanel and Burberry. This look became known as "ghetto fabulous," and is often used to describe over-the-top glamor. While the brands used to create this look may not be attainable by all, the style certainly is.
Rock or metal artists often collaborate with a rap artist and develop a new sound. This allows listeners, who might not have listened to rap or rock before, to get exposure to another genre. Since 1978, rap music has led to significant breakthroughs in music. Sampling has redefined the way we perceive chords and measures, even the way we perceive ordinary sounds. Some fusions of rap and traditional pop have pushed the modern pop song to entirely new levels, such as "Hey Ya" and "99 Problems."
Rap music's influence is everywhere: fashion, dance, art, television and especially other forms of music. Since the 1980s, hip hop music has increased in popularity, making its mark on every aspect of pop culture. One of the areas where hip hop has had a heavy influence is the world of fashion. Fashion was once ruled by an untouchable elite, where designers and high end brands were seen as larger than life. While some designers still hold that mystique, they are now approachable and are influenced by those outside of their primary demographic, including hip hop artists and fans. By the mid 1990s, hip hop became a facet of pop culture just like rock or pop music. The hip hop vibe was known worldwide, and the look was emulated by kids in the inner cities of America, as well as on the streets of Paris and Tokyo. Like all trends, fashion starts in the streets. Designers took note of this and began adding a dose of hip hop to high end collections, such as the 1991 Chanel collection, where Karl Lagerfeld showed piles of gold jewelry on models. While hip hop grew larger, so did the artists' bank accounts. Hip hop artists moved on from Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger to high end designers such as Chanel and Burberry. This look became known as "ghetto fabulous," and is often used to describe over-the-top glamor. While the brands used to create this look may not be attainable by all, the style certainly is.
Rock or metal artists often collaborate with a rap artist and develop a new sound. This allows listeners, who might not have listened to rap or rock before, to get exposure to another genre. Since 1978, rap music has led to significant breakthroughs in music. Sampling has redefined the way we perceive chords and measures, even the way we perceive ordinary sounds. Some fusions of rap and traditional pop have pushed the modern pop song to entirely new levels, such as "Hey Ya" and "99 Problems."