I'm a teacher, c'mere, lemme teach ya.
Nov. 28th, 2001 12:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
raybear(For future reference, don't quote Memphis Bleek if you're looking to be taken seriously.)
Hip Hop is an art form that includes deejaying [cuttin' & scartchin'] emceeing/rappin'.
breakdancing (bboying) and grafitti art.
Read more at Davey D's site.
Of course, nowdays most folks don't deal in graf and bombing, or in breaking or bboying. Which is a shame, but just being real. So when someone says "hip hop" they probably mean equal focus on the DJing/producing as well as the rapping/MCing. Versus a straight-up rapper who's talent is words and lyrics and delivery and if their beats sound decent, it's a nice after-thought but not the main focus. Personally, I'm more of a hip-hopper.
Now, let's list some examples of folks who might be categorized as "hip hop" incorrectly.
Mary J. Blige aka the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
Bless Mary -- I love her. But she's not hip-hop. She's an R&B singer. Some of her singing is done over hip-hop beats, which is why she was fresh and different and innovative.
Pink
NOT hip-hop. A singer. Last album was basically R&B, with some hip hop influence.
Destiny's Child
same as above. While on the subject, using samples does NOT automatically make something hip-hop. Having a rap verse on your song does NOT make you hip hop. That's just plain ole genre-blending.
Craig David
Love him. Not hip hop. R&B, with some great remixes done by hip-hop and 2-step producers.
If the person is just straight-up singing the whole time, they are NOT hip hop.
Limp Bizkit
NOT hip hop. Not even rap.
Many things labelled "rap-rock" are actually people yelling over rock music, versus singing over rock music. Beware of imitators. Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers could possibly be described as rap-rock, though I would perhaps just call them genre-blending rock bands.
(Side note: NSync's song 'Pop' is also not hip-hop or hip-hop related. It's 2-step garage.)
Now, let's give some examples (these are all statements that people have said to me, except I've made them musically (and culturally) correct):
"Timbaland is currently a hot hip-hop producer who's also bringing that influence to R&B singers such as Aaliyah."
"Method Man is my favorite MC (rapper) in Wu-Tang Clan."
"Britney Spears new pop single is a lame attempt to use hip hop beats and capitalize on the genre-blending phenomenon. Everything since 'Say My Name' and 'There You Go' seems watered down."
"Nikka Costa is a great R&B/soul singer with some funky instrumentations." (Notice the lack of mentioning 'hip hop' or 'sounding black', a phrase which should generally never be used).
Perhaps I shall print this off as a pamphlet and hand it out to inquiring minds. I have conversations related to this subject at least once a month. And in the weirdest of places -- elevators, bookstores, record stores, staff meetings, parties.....
I can also add an insert defining such words and phrases as "bling-bling", "rocking ice", "breaks", "crunk", "playa haters", etc. etc. since I get asked those questions a lot too. Not that I totally mind. I'd rather have white folks coming to me and asking questions -- it's my job, after all. For the most part, as long as people genuinely want to know something, and aren't just asking a question as some way of demanding validation, I have no problem breaking things down. I sort of am still recovering from dating someone who genuinely wanted to know things, but her tone was always uber-defensive seemed to indicate that I had to justify my answer. I think I'm better now.
Hip Hop is an art form that includes deejaying [cuttin' & scartchin'] emceeing/rappin'.
breakdancing (bboying) and grafitti art.
Read more at Davey D's site.
Of course, nowdays most folks don't deal in graf and bombing, or in breaking or bboying. Which is a shame, but just being real. So when someone says "hip hop" they probably mean equal focus on the DJing/producing as well as the rapping/MCing. Versus a straight-up rapper who's talent is words and lyrics and delivery and if their beats sound decent, it's a nice after-thought but not the main focus. Personally, I'm more of a hip-hopper.
Now, let's list some examples of folks who might be categorized as "hip hop" incorrectly.
Mary J. Blige aka the Queen of Hip Hop Soul.
Bless Mary -- I love her. But she's not hip-hop. She's an R&B singer. Some of her singing is done over hip-hop beats, which is why she was fresh and different and innovative.
Pink
NOT hip-hop. A singer. Last album was basically R&B, with some hip hop influence.
Destiny's Child
same as above. While on the subject, using samples does NOT automatically make something hip-hop. Having a rap verse on your song does NOT make you hip hop. That's just plain ole genre-blending.
Craig David
Love him. Not hip hop. R&B, with some great remixes done by hip-hop and 2-step producers.
If the person is just straight-up singing the whole time, they are NOT hip hop.
Limp Bizkit
NOT hip hop. Not even rap.
Many things labelled "rap-rock" are actually people yelling over rock music, versus singing over rock music. Beware of imitators. Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers could possibly be described as rap-rock, though I would perhaps just call them genre-blending rock bands.
(Side note: NSync's song 'Pop' is also not hip-hop or hip-hop related. It's 2-step garage.)
Now, let's give some examples (these are all statements that people have said to me, except I've made them musically (and culturally) correct):
"Timbaland is currently a hot hip-hop producer who's also bringing that influence to R&B singers such as Aaliyah."
"Method Man is my favorite MC (rapper) in Wu-Tang Clan."
"Britney Spears new pop single is a lame attempt to use hip hop beats and capitalize on the genre-blending phenomenon. Everything since 'Say My Name' and 'There You Go' seems watered down."
"Nikka Costa is a great R&B/soul singer with some funky instrumentations." (Notice the lack of mentioning 'hip hop' or 'sounding black', a phrase which should generally never be used).
Perhaps I shall print this off as a pamphlet and hand it out to inquiring minds. I have conversations related to this subject at least once a month. And in the weirdest of places -- elevators, bookstores, record stores, staff meetings, parties.....
I can also add an insert defining such words and phrases as "bling-bling", "rocking ice", "breaks", "crunk", "playa haters", etc. etc. since I get asked those questions a lot too. Not that I totally mind. I'd rather have white folks coming to me and asking questions -- it's my job, after all. For the most part, as long as people genuinely want to know something, and aren't just asking a question as some way of demanding validation, I have no problem breaking things down. I sort of am still recovering from dating someone who genuinely wanted to know things, but her tone was always uber-defensive seemed to indicate that I had to justify my answer. I think I'm better now.
