History of Rap
The New Movement
What is Rap?


Spoken words with an underlying
rhythm consisting of bass, drums and
keyboard sounds.
Accents in the speaking parts are very
important.
In the Beginning….


“Rap” is not a new idea that sprung up
in the music industry in the 80’s and
90’s. In fact, it has been evolving for
decades.
Rap’s roots can be traced to the
following influences….
Cab Calloway



Known for his signature “Hi-dehi-de-hi-de-ho” chant from
Minnie the Moocher.
Used call and response with his
audience.
Call and response was a major
part in Jazz and is one of the
foundations of rap.
Charlie Daniels


Utilized a “monologue-style” in their
music.
Monologue means to speak as group
or by oneself prior to a song
beginning. Example is Saturday Night
Live or Jay Leno.
African Rhythms


These complex rhythms have long
been a form of communication.
The very root a rap and hip hop is the
rhythm- in words and in the music that
accompanies it.
The Birth of the Disc
Jockey

Back in the 60’s young DJ’s like Kool
DJ Herc, DJ Lovebug Starski would
push huge speakers down blocks,
mixing records at block parties and
playing with turntables. Lovebug was
credited with being the first to move
the record with his hands to make
weird sounds with the needle.
70’s



The same DJs went from the block
corner into the Clubs.
Joseph Saddler had 2 copies of the
same records and 2 turn tables. He
would switch from one to another
repeating the selected grooves.
Afrika Bambaata coins the term Hip
Hop for his parties.
A Major Hill



The first rap recordings were in 1979. The
Fatback Band recorded “King Tim III” and
the Sugar Hill Gang recorded “Rapper’s
Delight.”
Rapper’s Delight would go onto be a huge
popular success and lead the way for all
future raps.
Mr. Magic’s “Rap Attack” would become the
first hip-hop radio show.
Paving the way



Funky 4 + 1 more is the first rap
group that contained a female MC
First rap group to perform on SNL
song- “That’s the Joint.”
Released one of the longest rap
singles ever at over 15 minutes in full
length.
A Shade of Blonde


Blondie was enjoying success as a pop
musician. Her single “Rapture” which
came out in the early 80’s.
First female to release a rap song.
Politics Take Center Stage


“The Message” is the first political rap
performed by Grand Master Flash.
Launched the era of using rap to
communicate strong, and at times,
controversial beliefs.
Run, Baby, Run


Run-DMC was the first group to
become commercially successful over
a period of time.
Created the Adidas shoe fad in which
they were worn without shoelaces.
That’s Def


Def Jam records is formed by Russell
Simons and Rick Ruben.
Sign LL Cool J releases “I Need Beat”
– LL’s first song was recorded in his college
dorm room.
Movies & Dancing


Break dancing is a new style of dance
and takes the country by storm.
Movies are released showing the hip
hop lifestyle.
– Beat Street
– Breakin’
– Wild Style
Sweetened Tea



Ice-T leads the way with Gangsta Rap
with the song “Cop Killers”
NWA follows up with “F tha Police” this
is the first song to receive a letter by
the FBI resenting the song.
Majority of gangsta rap were about
what was going on their communities;
drugs, money, women and cop issues.
Sample This


1986 sampling is born.
A Sampler is an electronic device
which can precisely replicate an
existing sound or track of music
Problems Occur


People are stealing and not giving
credit to the original person.
Musicians were being replaced with
electronic devices.
Listen to guitar riff
Listen to guitar riff
Listen to Bass Riff
Listen to Bass Riff
Legal issues

Due to the legal implications which
began to emerge due to this practice,
this became the “not so cool” thing to
do. Although samples can still be
found during this time, rap/hip hop
musicians began to do more with
adding their own nuances and even
adding harmonies and additional
instrumentation.
Law suite

The first major law suite occurred
when Queen would sue Vanilla Ice for
stealing their music.
Don’t Change

Another practice became to utilize a
pre-recorded song, either partially or
entirely, to re-record a rap/hip hop
song.
Arrested Development
Stevie Wonder
Coolio
Mixing It Up



Rap legends Run DMC collaborate
with Rock legends Aerosmith.
“Walk This Way” was a huge rock hit
in the 70s and became a huge hip
hop.
Helped throw rap into the
mainstream.
Yo Yo Yo


1988 “Yo! MTV Raps” debuts on MTV.
Up until this point, rap music did not
have a white audience. MTV made rap
accessible and desirable to all youth,
black and white.
Ladies take the stage



MC Lyte
Yo Yo
Queen Latefiah drops her mega hit
“Ladies First” and paves the way for all
future female rappers
Too Legit


1989 MTV recognizes rap as a
legitimate award category.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh
Prince “Parents Just Don’t
Understand” is the first award
recipient.
Boys will be Boys


Hard Rock and rap now mix together
in one group.
Beastie Boys burst onto the scene with
their smash hit “Fight For Your Right”
We All Have Enemies


Public Enemy became the most
influential political rap groups of all
time.
“Bring the Noise” calls for the African
American people to stand up for their
rights and bring a stop to their
suffering.
West-ward Bound



West Coast rap saw a rise in 1991.
Dr. Dre (formely of NWA) introduces
the world to Snoop Dog.
They would call it G Funk or Gangsta
Funk.
Will Smith


Fresh Prince of Bel Air gives a hip hop
artists his own tv show.
Will Smith would later go onto become
one of the most prolific actors/artists
of our time.
East Side


East Coast Rap
takes shape in the
early-mid 90s.
It is less violent,
more dance-able
and more up beat.
2 Stars Die



West Coast and East Coast rappers spend
many years dissing each other in their
songs.
Unsolved drive-by shootings to two of raps
biggest stars would shake the world of
music.
Tu Pac is shot on the Las Vegas Strip in
1996. B.I.G. is shot outside an Automotive
Museum Party in 1997.
M.E.


Missy Elliot Releases her debut album
Supa Dupa Fly and redefine hip
hop/R&B.
She would later go on to become the
best selling female rapper of all time.
zzzzzzzzz


1998 Jay-Z samples the Broadway
musical “Annie” and sells 5 million
records with the song Hard Knock Life.
This song single handedly throws
Jay-Z into a pop icon.
The Real Slim


Eminem is discovered by Dr. Dre in
1999.
Eminem zooms past racial hurdles and
sells 4 million copies of his LP The Real
Slim Shady.
Where We Are Today



Outkast brought a new sound to the
game.
Ludacris rises up the “Dirty South”
with his style of rap.
Nelly emerges with the St. Louis style
of rap.

Rap music will always contain a
message. Some will be about social
issues, political issues, economic
issues. Some will be positive, some
negative. No matter the message, the
beat, the singer, rap is a solidified,
legitimate form of musical expression
and it is here to stay.