Rapping
- This article is on the art and practice of rapping. For information on "rap music", see Hip hop music. For the English folk dance, see Rapper sword.
Rapping, the rhythmic delivery of rhymes, is one of the central elements of hip-hop culture, and the distinguishing feature of most hip-hop music. Rap can be delivered over a pre-recorded beat, live with a DJ, or over a human beatbox. Rap can also be delivered acapella, meaning without any beat.
Origins
Within hip-hop culture, rapping began as a variation on the toasting (rhyming and chanting) found in Jamaican dub music, mixed with a variety of other American influences. The first rapper in hip-hop was Coke La Rock.[1]
Descendents and influence
While rapping is one of the four main elements of hip hop culture, it has been incorporated into other musical genres that contain the 4/4 beat of hip-hop. For example, rapping was incorporated into rock music, in the Run DMC/Aerosmith collaboration "Walk This Way". This merger of hip-hop and rock eventually resulted in the formation of rapcore, also known as rap-rock or rap-metal.
Music outside of the United States has taken rapping and used it in original ways. Japanese dance music, for example, often uses rapping to complement or break up the singing parts, with lyrics containing upbeat themes set to energetic rhythms and clean, warm synthesizers. Building on the popularity of dub and reggae toasting, hip-hop became popular in the United Kingdom, and MC's also became a fixture in the genres ofjungle and UK garage. A recent offshoot of garage, dubbed grime, has focused on rapping, making stars of rappers such as Dizzee Rascal and Wiley.
"Rapper" vs. "MC"
Being a rapper is different from being an MC, but an MC is always a rapper[2]. A rapper is anyone who raps hip-hop lyrics. An MC is a rapper who performs for crowds, or is otherwise involved in hip-hop culture. It is possible to be a rapper without a live performance. Rapping is to MC'ing, as producing is to DJ'ing.
Both terms are often used interchangably without respect to their established meanings within the hip-hop culture. In the mainstream press, "rapper" is almost always used in favor of "MC" in reference to those who rap.
The importance of rhyme
Undoubtedly, the most important element of rap lyrics is rhyme. In other forms of poetry, rhymes that span many syllables are often considered whimsical but in hip-hop, the ability to construct raps with large sets of rhyming syllables is often considered skillful and praiseworthy. Rappers use single rhyming words (intellectual/ineffectual) as well as multiple words wherein constituent syllables rhyme (octoroon/Doctor Doom). Of course, the more intricate the rhymes are, the more abstract the song becomes. This is because the more focus given to impressive rhyming, the harder it becomes to write coherently. However, in rare cases a lyricist is able to display impressive rhyming alongside topic coherence. Rappers that can accomplish this are often celebrated by fans of rap.
Different types of rhymes
Consonance, assonance, half rhymes, and internal rhyme schemes are often used in rap lyrics. Pulling off assonance naturally is considered skillful in the hip-hop community. Many in the hip-hop community consider Rakim and Eminem to be excellent at crafting rhymes.
Rap writing and delivery
Vocal Presence
Vocal presence refers to the ability to distinguish a rapper on a record. Mystikal is widely recognized in the hip-hop community as having an unmistakable vocal presence[3].
Vocabulary
Many hip-hop listeners believe that a rapper's lyrics are enhanced by his or her vocabulary. Certain sub-genres of hip-hop music, like Crunk, do not often have very complex vocabulary in their lyrics.
Slang
There is a lot of slang in rap, from international hip-hop slang to local/regional slang. Some artists, like The Wu-Tang Clan, have a slang all of their own. African American Vernacular English has always had a large effect on hip-hop vernacular, because it is a predominantly black culture.
Cadence
Cadence is the overall balance of a rhyme in relation to the beat, as far as emphasis and speed (and in some example of a rapper with varying -- but always strong -- cadence in his raps. Snoop Dogg is considered do have a versatile cadence.[4] He is seen this way because of his ability to ride slow, fast, melodic, or hardcore beats equally well.
Unlike many other forms of poetry, rappers typically don't think about meter and feet very heavily. Instead, the goal is to unconsciously develop a flow. A good flow is a meter that doesn't drag along, but rather, draws the listener into the words. Rakim (see right) is regarded by many in the hip-hop community as being the inventor of flow in rapping[5]. Rappers sometimes use popular poetic forms such as iambic pentameter.
Enunciation
Speaking clearly is important in rapping. Enunciation in rap is sometimes exaggerated to a cartoonish level, which is often considered a sign of skill within the hip-hop community.
Style, flavor, voice, tone, attitude, and soul
These terms are essentially the emotions and personality expressed by a rapper in his or her lyrics and delivery.
Speed
This is the tempo/speed that a person raps at. An example of a fast rapper is Twista, who at one time held the Guinness World Record for the world's fastest rapper.
Breath control
Breath control refers to the ability of a rapper to control his or her inhaling and exhaling while they rap so as to make their breathing not interfere with his or her flow of lyrics. Breath control can be observed by a rapper's ability to rap out fast and/or difficult verses without making noticeable pauses. Breath control is intertwined with a rapper's flow, speed, and delivery.
Wordplay
Wordplay includes double entendres, alliteration, and all forms of playing around with your words. Wordplay is subjective -- whether it's done well or poorly is up to the listener.
Melody
Rap sometimes contains melody in its delivery. Rappers such as South Park Mexican and 50 Cent often add a slight melody to their lyrics. Groups like The Pharcyde make such use of melody to the point where they are half singing in many of their songs. The goal of melody in a rap is usually to mimic the melody looped in the beat, or create a harmony with it.
Other techniques
There are several other techniques used in rapping, such as: enjambment and hyperbole.
Substance
Delivery can show skill, but the message of a rap is considered more important by many. A rapper who talks about nothing with excellent wordplay doesn't show as much skill as one who has a message or story, because his or her creativity lacks substance. The message can be about one's life, about politics, about philosophy, about bragging, and anything with meaning. It can tell a story or show imagery that occurs in the rapper's everyday life.
"The Message", a concept rap written by Melle Mel pioneered the inclusion of political content in hip-hop rhymes, and rapping ceased to be solely focused on personal issues.
One element that has always existed in rapped rhymes, dating back to hip-hop's inception, is 'the struggle'. This struggle was originally centered on making money, or getting girls. With "The Message", the idea of "the struggle" was put in another context: the hardships of the ghetto. As time has gone by and hip-hop has changed and grown, acts have emerged that focus on politics and social issues, such as Public Enemy.
Freestyling and battle rapping
Freestyle rapping
A freestyle rap is a rapped verse (or verses) which consists solely of lyrics made up as the rapper goes along. It is sometimes difficult to tell if a rapper is purely freestyling, or if he or she is mixing their freestyle with old material. Some rappers will inadvertently reuse old lines, or will consciously prepare canned "freestyle" verses. Therefore, freestyles that prove their spontaneity are valued above all others; rappers will often reference relevant persons, places, or objects in their immediate setting to prove their authenticity and originality.
Battle rapping
MC battles are competitive activities staged between two or more rappers in front of an audience. The winner is typically decided subjectively by judges or a crowd. A winning battle rap against a skilled opponent will almost always be one that specifically addresses the weaknesses of the opposing MC to win the crowd[6].
Most battles involve the use of freestyles (and are therefore usually referred to as "freestyle battles"). Popular at general hip-hop events, there are many competitive freestyle battles, often with cash prizes. Television shows such as BET's 106 and Park and MTV's DFX host weekly freestyle battles live on the air.
The amount of freestyling that occurs in a rap battles can vary depending on the rules and each rapper's approach to his or her opponent. While the rules may require freestyling, it is often difficult to prove whether or not a generic line was made up on the spot. In a typical battle, freestyles are mixed in with canned lyrics, with the focus being the defeat of one's opponent.
Traditional forms
In many traditional cultures there are lyrical forms that could loosely be described as rapping. Examples of these include:
- Mor lam in Laos
- Chastushka in Russia
- Tsiattista in Cyprus
- Enka Slamta in Ethiopia
- Tassou in Senegal
- Rhapsody in Ancient Greece
- Gstanzl in Bavaria and similar traditions in Austria and Switzerland.
- Urdu Rap from Pakistan
- Kuai ban in China
See also
- Hip hop music
- Hip hop culture
- Battle rap
- Freestyle rap
- List of rappers
- List of hip hop musicians
- Poetry
External links
- HipHop-Battles.com A website devoted to online rap battles.
References
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