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So some of you (notable one famous forumer) have often distressed at your complete lack of fascination with hip-hop and rap, but want a way to get into it and find new favorites. Do not despair, for I have a simple three step system for appreciating hip-hop. In my course, you will first understand the stylistic origins of hip-hop (i.e. the source of much hip-hop sampling), secondly, you will receive historical context on how hip-hop has affected all styles of music, and third will be your essentials guide to help you get in to hip hop:
Here we go.
**PART ONE: Understanding the origins of hip-hop**
Hip-hop can be traced to three genres (for the most part). Funk, Soul, and R&B (although jazz and reggae both played instrumental roles, admittedly). You will first need to listen to some essential records in these genres.
Curtis by Curtis Mayfield
Let's Get It On by Marvin Gae
Spirit of the Boogie by Kool & The Gang
Live At The Apollo by James Brown
Superfly by Curtis Mayfield
There's a Riot Goin' On by Sly & the Family Stone
Hot Buttered Soul by Isaac Hayes
Stand! by Sly & The Family Stone
People...Hold On by Eddie Kendricks
Let's Stay Together by Al Green
The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
What's Going On by Marvin Gae
Going to A Go-Go by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Dionne by Dionne Warwick
Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
PROTIP: If you have a record player, hit up a local Half-Price books and buy any 45s by the labels "Motown" or "Tamla". These are almost certainly applicable.
PROTIP: I probably forgot someone's favorite Soul/Funk/R&B record, so if you check the replies, someone will post their own. These people are your friends
**PART TWO: Understanding why Hip-Hop became a thing**
Hip-hop is arguably one of the foundation genres, along with rock and jazz, in that it will establish how music sounds for the rest of time. Here's an excerpt from an article from NPR (which incorrectly refers to the genre as a whole as "rap". "Rap" is simple an element of the genre):
"Rap as a genre began at block parties in New York City in the early 1970s, when DJs began isolating the percussion breaks of funk, soul, and disco songs and extending them. MCs tasked with introducing the DJs and keeping the crowd energized would talk between songs, joking and generally interacting with the audience. Over time, it became common for the MCs (or rappers, as they soon became known) to talk and rhyme over and in sync with the music. Initially dismissed as a fad, rap music proved its commercial viability in 1979 with the release of The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," and then again in 1980 with Kurtis Blow's "The Breaks," a Top 5 hit that eventually went gold. As rapping as an art form and a technique continued to develop, so too did the DJing. DJ Grand Wizard Theodore is said to have accidentally invented the method of "scratching," wherein the DJ pushes the record back and forth as it's played to produce a scratching noise as it brushes against the needle. The scratching technique proved to be enormously influential, as it was quickly picked up by legends like Grandmaster Flash. Theodore is also responsible for pioneering the use of the needle drop, where instead of silently cueing up the next record to be played, the DJ drops the needle onto the exact beginning of the song."
This is pretty much the gist of it. It omits the black power aspect of it, but some of the albums I'm about to link you to will help you with that.
**PART THREE: A Starter Pack**
First thing's first. You have to appreciate a hip-hop beat. So before you start on the actual "rapping portion", I highly encourage you to listen to the following two albums:
DJ Shadow's "Endtroducing..." and J Dilla's "Donuts". Then you can begin the starter pack.
I have, below, included a list of albums I believe are essential in your understanding of hip-hop. Commenters will provide their own, I'm sure. Anyway, here's your starter pack organized from least to most intense:
Low Intensity. This rap is a bit lighter in tone, and even occasionally a bit quirky and humorous ("WE WANT PRENUP, WE WANT PRENUP"):
Three Feet High & Rising by De La Soul
The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys
Late Registration by Kanye West
Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim
Deltron 3030 by Deltron 3030
Mid Intensity: Starting to get a long there in your progression. Sometimes confrontational, but never angry.
Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest
Liquid Swords by GZA
Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx by Raekwon
Madvillainy by Madvillain
Enter the Wu-Tang by Wu-Tang Clan
High Intensity: Everything here is either hard-hitting, angry, or political
Illmatic by Nas
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy
Black on Both Sides by Mos Def
Straight Outta Compton by NWA
All Eyez on Me by 2pac
Ready to Die by Biggie Smalls (Don't call him "The Notorious B.I.G. in real life unless you want people to laugh at you).
Please note that I am not an expert on hip-hop. I just consider myself "into" the genre to some extent, and wanted to help get other people "into" the genre. |
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drakehJoin Date: 2008-09-08
Post Count: 7726 |
thanks for this i'm gonna listen to the low/mid intensity stuff soon
lets all have another orange julius |
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Good instruction op, I've always liked rap, but this is definitely for people who can't get into it |
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" If you have a record player, hit up a local Half-Price books and buy any 45s by the labels "Motown" or "Tamla". These are almost certainly applicable."
i have some of these
nowhere to run, you can't hurry love, come see about me, baby love, stop in the name of love, and i think maybe the tracks of my tears
unfortunately the store i got them from closed recently
but i have a cd box set of motown singles so its all good i guess?
also not much for political music |
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"but i have a cd box set of motown singles so its all good i guess?"
good enough. a youtube playlist will suffice as well.
"also not much for political music"
s'all cool. stay out of high-intensity and you'll be good |
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Hey dude do you mind if I create some youtube playlists using the songs you listed here? |
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"Hey dude do you mind if I create some youtube playlists using the songs you listed here?"
these are actually albums, but if you want to make some playlists go ahead |
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I was going to use some selections from them. |
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what is the best motown song and why is it heat wave |
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johnbJoin Date: 2007-11-21
Post Count: 24998 |
how to be a backpacker 101 |
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tfw nios didnt answer my question |
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"what is the best motown song"
I JUST CALLED
TO SAY
I LOOOOOOOOVE YOOOOOOU
"and why is it heat wave"
... |
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"..."
nios confirmed pleb |
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"nios confirmed pleb"
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
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jk nowhere to run is the best motown song |
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tbh
hip hop has a lot of origins in types of performance poetry and jamaican deejay music |
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I really like this guy
he has good taste in hip hop |
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"hip hop has a lot of origins in types of performance poetry and jamaican deejay music"
op here
this is very true, but it's harder to find these albums for most people, so i included the more "mainstream" hits if you will |
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shonyshonJoin Date: 2008-02-23
Post Count: 8192 |
i wanted to post something comical but this is actually a quality thread. |
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shonyshonJoin Date: 2008-02-23
Post Count: 8192 |
part one listening to those is kind of unnecessary
that's like eating a stalk of wheat to really understand a turkey sandwich |
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i giggled like a 9 year old little girl at shonys post |
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evtouJoin Date: 2008-07-12
Post Count: 48 |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLuwU5oaR7U |
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"part one listening to those is kind of unnecessary"
i don't think it's "unnecessary" per se, but it's certainly an optional feature
bump for sang |
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