Michael Wright

Hello!

Hi Everyone, my name is Michael Wright. I am from New York City. I graduated from Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School in 1999. I moved to Honolulu in 1999 to attend Hawaii Pacific University. I dropped out and elected to work shortly after. After some challenges from life, I decided to attend Honolulu Community College to participate in the Mele Program. I graduated in 2023 and continued my education at the Great University of West Oahu. If I were an artistʻs tool, I would be the canvas or paper because I support creative expression.

Research Topic: The Evolution of Hip-Hop and The Influence of Music History and Theory

Research Question: In what ways have the rhythms, melodies, and chord movements from jazz, soul, and funk shaped the sound of modern hip-hop, especially through sampling, groove, and the technology producers use today?

Abstract:

This project examines the rich history of jazz, funk, soul, and sampling, and their contributions to hip-hop. It demonstrates how jazz, soul, and funk genres contributed to Hip-Hop through music theory and rhythm. The research comes from various sources, including peer-reviewed papers, YouTube videos of artists discussing their work, and other credible materials. This paper focuses on the influence of each genre on hip-hop through music theory and rhythm, and how icons such as James Brown, George Clinton, A Tribe Called Quest, J Dilla, and others have impacted the Hip-Hop genre. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of jazz, soul, funk, and hip-hop history and how this history influences the sound heard in contemporary hip-hop music. The average music enthusiast will gain a deeper understanding of the creation and how Hip-hop evolved from a cultural movement to a prominent force in the music industry.

Capstone Project: Original Music and video

Project Title: Born Again

Capstone Proposal:

CREATIVE PROCESS:

The concept of creativity has come a long way. The Old Greeks would call those creative forces muses, other religions referred to them as God. Today people still mostly treat creativity as an aha moment outside the area of influence. However, just by looking at the creative process one can tell, that creativity and creative work is more than just that one "Aha-Moment" (insight). It is clear that generating ideas demands planning and preparation, identifying something of interest like a problem, an opportunity or a challenge, doing research. This then leads to thinking of a solution, allowing time to incubate and iterations before arriving at something “complete.” Students learn that hard work is what makes their ideas come to life and sticktuiveness is what helps them get better.

DELIVERABLE:

Instagram promotion:

For his senior capstone, Mike produced a collection of original music inspired by his research on the deep musical lineage connecting jazz, funk, soul, and sampling to the foundations of hip-hop. Building on his study of genre pioneers such as James Brown, George Clinton, A Tribe Called Quest, and J Dilla, he explored how rhythm, harmony, and music theory from earlier eras continue to shape contemporary hip-hop sound. To help audiences better engage with the historical and technical influences behind his compositions, Mike also developed an accessible curricular component that breaks down the musical elements woven into his tracks. His project blends scholarship and creativity, offering listeners both an artistic experience and a deeper understanding of the cultural and theoretical roots that define hip-hop today.

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