Rap rock

Not to be confused with Rape rock.

Rap rock is a music genre that fuses vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock's most popular subgenres include rap metal and rapcore, which include heavy metal and hardcore punk-oriented influences, respectively. One of the earliest examples would be "The Magnificent Seven" by The Clash, which fused new wave, hip hop, and funk.

Characteristics

AllMusic describes rap metal as having "big, lurching beats and heavy, heavy riffs" that "occasionally [...] [sound] as if the riffs were merely overdubbed over scratching and beat box beats",[1] and described rap rock as having a more organic sound,[1] characterizing many songs in the genre as rock songs in which the vocals were rapped rather than sung.[1] Allmusic also states that the rhythms of rap rock are rooted in that of hip hop, with more funk influences than normal hard rock.[1]

New York-based hip hop group Beastie Boys are considered highly influential within the rap rock genre.

Hed PE, which fuses punk rock with hip hop, sometimes incorporates reggae and heavy metal influences.[2] According to Rolling Stone writer Rob Kemp, Incubus' 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. "links funk metal to the rap metal".[3] Kottonmouth Kings perform a style which they refer to as "psychedelic hip-hop punk rock".[4] Kid Rock incorporates country and Southern rock influences,[5] and is backed by a 10 piece band, while Everlast fuses blues and rock with hip hop,[6] performing with a live band that includes a DJ.[7][8]

The lyrical themes of rap rock vary. According to Allmusic, "most rap-metal bands during the mid- to late '90s blended an ultra-aggressive, testosterone-heavy theatricality with either juvenile humor or an introspective angst learned through alternative metal".[9] However, as the genre began to become more established, several bands branched out into political or social commentary in their lyrics, most notably Rage Against the Machine and Senser which distinguished them from less politically concerned bands such as Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit.

Although many nu metal bands incorporate hip hop beats, rap rock bands are always fronted by rappers.[9] Rock bands generally not associated with rap rock have experimented with hip hop influences, including rapping. Such bands have included Blondie,[10] Rush,[11] Beck[12] and Cake.[13] Many rappers have been noted for a prominent use of samples derived from rock songs, including Eminem, Ice-T,[14] The Fat Boys,[14] LL Cool J,[14] Public Enemy,[14] Whodini,[14] Vanilla Ice[15] and Esham.[16][17]

History

Early development (1980s)

One of the earliest examples of rapping in rock music is "Year of the Guru" by Eric Burdon and the Animals, a psychedelic rock song in which Eric Burdon, according to AllMusic, "[took] the role of a modern rapper".[18] In 1983, KISS released the song "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" on the album Lick It Up with singer Paul Stanley rapping the verses. In 1986, Run–D.M.C. collaborated with Aerosmith on a remake of the latter's earlier song, "Walk This Way", first released in 1975. The success of the "Walk This Way" remake helped bring hip hop into popularity with a mainstream white audience,[19] following an earlier experimental track by rap artist LL Cool J, "Rock the Bells", where he had fused conventional rap lyrics over a hard rock arrangement. Beastie Boys, formerly a hardcore punk group, began working in the hip hop genre. Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, largely featured a rock-based sound.[20] The three aforementioned artists all collaborated with producer Rick Rubin, who is credited with creating the rap rock genre. In 1989, Tone-Lōc's[21] "Wild Thing"[22] off of his debut album, Lōc-ed After Dark[23] that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 was critically acclaimed and reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In 1991, thrash metal band Anthrax collaborated with political hip hop outfit Public Enemy on a version of the latter's "Bring the Noise", which saw rapped vocals shared between the Anthrax's Scott Ian and Public Enemy's Chuck D over a heavy electric guitar and electric bass riff. Public Enemy's track, "She Watch Channel Zero?!" features Chuck D rapping over a riff from the Slayer song Angel of Death.

Rap rock began to enter the mainstream arena in the 1990s. American rock bands such as 311, 24-7 Spyz, Faith No More and Rage Against the Machine fused rock and hip hop influences.[14][24] Simultaneously, British bands like Pop Will Eat Itself and Senser were similarly shaping the genre across Europe. The soundtrack for the 1993 film Judgment Night featured 11 collaborations between hip hop and rock musicians.[25] Urban Dance Squad mixed funk, heavy metal, hip hop and punk.[26] Biohazard, who collaborated with hardcore hip hop group Onyx on the track Judgement night from the soundtrack of the same name, is also considered to be a pioneering act in the genre.[27] Cypress Hill's Black Sunday featured a rock-based sound and artwork which, according to Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey, resembled that of heavy metal bands.[28]

Mainstream popularity (1990s and early 2000s)

Rap rock gained mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Rap rock bands and artists with mainstream success included 311,[29] Bloodhound Gang,[30] Kid Rock[31] and Limp Bizkit.[9]

Rapcore

Rapcore is a fusion genre of hip hop and punk rock or hardcore punk.[32][33][34][35][36] Beastie Boys, formerly a hardcore punk group, began working in the hip hop genre. Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, largely featured a rock-based sound.[37] Biohazard is considered to be a strong influence on the genre's development.[38] Huntington Beach-based punk band Hed PE performs a fusion of styles ranging from hip hop and reggae to punk rock, hardcore punk and heavy metal.[39] Although they are considered to be performers in the rapcore genre,[40] they refer to their musical style as "G-punk".[41][42] Kottonmouth Kings perform a style which they refer to as "psychedelic hip-hop punk rock".[4] Three of the earliest formative rapcore bands were 311, Rage Against the Machine, and Every Day Life.[43] Professional critic Mark Allan Powell considers the rap rock song "Jesus Freak" by DC Talk, which was marginalized by many critics due to its Christian lyrical content, the turning point of when the popularity of grunge gave way to rapcore.[43]

Among the first wave of bands to gain mainstream success were 311,[44] Bloodhound Gang[32] and Limp Bizkit.[45] Although the popularity of rapcore declined,[24] some believe that rapcore may regain popularity, with younger music fans discovering bands in the genre.[46] Drew Simollardes of the rapcore band Reveille states that "I feel like lately it’s more appropriate. People are sick of a lot of the stuff that’s out there right now."[46]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Genre: Rap-Rock". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  2. ↑ Sculley, Alan (August 28, 2008). "(Hed) p.e. wants (no) interference". Naperville, Illinois: The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  3. ↑ Kemp, Rob (2004). "Incubus". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian. The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon and Schuste. p. 403. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. 1 2 Ankeny, Jason. "Biography for Kottonmouth Kings". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  5. ↑ Hess, Mickey (2007). "White Rappers". Hip Hop Dead? The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most Wanted Music. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 122–123. ISBN 0-275-99461-9.
  6. ↑ "Everlast, Mike Ness, Willie Nelson Soothe Nerves with Early Sunday Sets". MTV News. July 26, 1999. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Jim (September 28, 1998). "Scrambling genres works for Everlast". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  8. ↑ Johnson, Brett (August 14, 1999). "Everlast succeeds with introspection". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 "Genre: Rap-Metal". Allmusic. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Review of Autoamerican". Retrieved 31 December 2008.Guarisco, Donald A. "Review of 'The Magnificent Seven'". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  11. ↑ Roberto, Leonard (2000). "Roll the Bones". A Simple Kind Mirror: The Lyrical Vision of Rush. iUniverse. p. 45. ISBN 0-595-21362-6.
  12. ↑ Black, Johnny (March 2003). "The Greatest Songs Ever! Loser". Blender. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  13. ↑ McCoy, Heath (August 16, 2001). "Comfort Eagle is modest slice of new Cake album". Calgary Herald (Postmedia Network).
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Henderson, Alex. "Genre essay: Rap-Metal". Allmusic. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  15. ↑ Hess, Mickey (2007). "Vanilla Ice: The Elvis of Rap". Is Hip Hop Dead?. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 118. ISBN 0-275-99461-9.
  16. ↑ Keyes, Cheryl Lynette (2002). "Blending and Shaping Styles: Rap and Other Musical Voices". Rap Music and Street Consciousness. University of Illinois Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780252072017.
  17. ↑ Ketchum III, William E. (October 15, 2008). "Mayor Esham? What?". Detroit, Michigan: Metro Times. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
  18. ↑ Bruce Eder. "Every One of Us - Eric Burdon & the Animals | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
  19. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (December 3, 2000). "Rappers Who Definitely Know How to Rock". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  20. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review of Licensed to Ill". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  21. ↑ Tone Lōc
  22. ↑ Wild Thing
  23. ↑ Lōc-ed After Dark
  24. 1 2 Grierson, Tim. "What Is Rap-Rock: A Brief History of Rap-Rock". About.com. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  25. ↑ Greene, Jr, James (April 4, 2008). "Review of Judgment Night: Music from the Motion Picture". PopMatters. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  26. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (July 14, 1990). "Urban Dance Squad". The Washington Post. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  27. ↑ "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. December 26, 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  28. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Review of Black Sunday". Allmusic. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  29. ↑ Nixon, Chris (August 16, 2007). "Anything goes". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  30. ↑ Potterf, Tina (October 1, 2003). "Turners blurs line between sports bar, dance club". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  31. ↑ "Long Live Rock n' Rap: Rock isn't dead, it's just moving to a hip-hop beat. So are its mostly white fans, who face questions about racial identity as old as Elvis". Newsweek. July 19, 1999. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  32. 1 2 Ambrose, Joe (2001). "Moshing - An Introduction". The Violent World of Moshpit Culture. Omnibus Press. p. 5. ISBN 0711987440.
  33. ↑ McIver, Joel (2002). "The Shock of the New". Nu-metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus Press. p. 10. ISBN 0711992096.
  34. ↑ Dent, Susie (2003). The Language Report. Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 0198608608.
  35. ↑ Signorelli, Luca (ed.). "Stuck Mojo". Metallus. Il libro dell'Heavy Metal (in Italian). Giunti Editore Firenze. p. 173. ISBN 8809022300.
  36. ↑ Bush, John (2002). "Limp Bizkit". All Music Guide to Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 656. ISBN 087930653X. One of the most energetic groups in the fusion of metal, punk and hip-hop sometimes known as rapcore
  37. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review of Licensed to Ill". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  38. ↑ "Biohazard stays on top of the hard-core underground". The News-Sentinel. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  39. ↑ Sculley, Alan (28 August 2008). "(Hed) p.e. wants (no) interference". Naperville, Illinois: The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  40. ↑ "(hed) PE-style". Idaho Statesman. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  41. ↑ Scire, Dawn (2003-03-14). "(hed) p.e.'s frontman touches down.". Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Florida). Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  42. ↑ Owen, Arrissia (25 November 1999). "Not So Hed, Not so (pe)". OC Weekly. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  43. 1 2 Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publisher. p. 241, 311. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  44. ↑ Armstrong, Sara (22 October 1999). "CD Review: 311's Soundsystem". University Wire. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  45. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Three Dollar Bill Y'All - Limp Bizkit". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 March 2012. Limp Bizkit quickly rose to the top of the alt-metal subgenre known as 'rapcore'.
  46. 1 2 Wedge, Dave (24 December 2008). "Reveille answers wake-up call". Boston Herald. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 30, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.