The Evolution of Rap
Johnny Konon
Johnny Konon
Introduction
The sound of music has always been around people for many years. Some researchers even estimate that music has been around for over 35,000 years. Through thousands of years, music has evolved into just more than sound; it has turned into an industry that has employed thousands of people wholly devoted to their work. One genre in question that has changed the music industry forever is the rap industry. Rap didn’t start getting popular until the mid-1970s. At the beginning of it all, rap started as a street art form mainly listened to by African-American teens. Rap was very underground in the 1970s until one day, a group by the name of; The Sugarhill Gang released a song titled “Rapper’s Delight.” This song immediately got on the radar of music labels as it became a stepping stone for the beginning of rap music. From starting in the underground scene, rap has evolved into one of the most listened-to music genres in the world. Rap has significantly influenced people who listen to the genre and has started a sort of “cult” following for many artists in the rap scene. It’s hard to believe how this genre has come so far over the past decades.
The 1970s
Before discussing the beginning of rap music, it’s essential to discuss what rap music actually is. According to HOLR Magazine, rap music can be best described as the involvement of “speaking or chanting of rhyming lyrics, often set to a beat.” (HOLR 2). Rap is considered a form of poetry in such a way that “addresses provoking subjects such as sex, violence, and socio-political issues.” (HOLR 2). With the discussion out of the way, it’s time to discuss the beginnings of rap music. As mentioned before, rap didn’t start getting popular until the mid-1970s when the group called “The Sugarhill Gang” released a song titled “Rapper’s Delight.” This was truly the beginning of a new genre of music as many groups started forming and becoming recognizable in the music industry world. The groups that began to form and get recognized were Run-DMC, N.W.A, and even non-African American groups such as the Beastie Boys. This decade of rap music included “2 turntables and a mixer desk with slow and simple beats.” (HOLR 3). Audiences of this genre during this time were mainly focused on the artist's lyrical ability in the songs. A good beat complimented the lyrics well, but the audience would shift the focus off of the lyrics later down the road.
The 1980s
The genre of rap started getting traction in the 1980s with the rivalry between the East and West coast. This is where you also begin to see the subgenres of rap start to form. One subgenre coming into focus this decade is the creation of “Gangsta Rap.” According to HOLR, gangster rap was “focused extensively on violence that shaped the lifestyle and environment these rappers grew up in.” (HOLR 4). This subgenre sticks out the most as it’s still very prevalent in today’s age of rap music. Through the ’80s, the beef between the East and West coast continued as two very well-known rappers became superstars. Those two rappers are Tupac Shakur (who represented the West coast) and Biggie Smalls, A.K.A The Notorious B.I.G (who represented the East coast). Both Biggie and Tupac “elevated the concept of gangsta rap to mainstream American audiences.” (HOLR 5). Rap became more than a poetry art form as gangs and gangsters started to take over the rap music scene making it mainly “Gangsta Rap.”
The 1990s
Talking about shooting people and other heinous crimes became a normal thing to listen to, transitioning into a new decade of rap music. Gangsta Rap would continue to persevere into the 90s without Tupac or Biggie as they would both be murdered from gun violence between Gangs. “Rap music started to move away from the story-based lyrics about social/economic problems and began to focus more on lyrics based around being gangster and shooting people.” (HOLR 6). HOLR would also go on to state that violence in gangster rap in the 90s was a “major theme for the lyrics of this type of rap.” (HOLR 6). During the early 1990s, out on the West coast, west coast rappers started to experiment and create a new subgenre of rap music known as “G- Funk.” According to HOLR, G-Funk consists of “melodic synthesizers, slow hypnotic grooves, deep bass, and a high-pitch synthesizer lead.” (HOLR 7). G-Funk was becoming a big thing out West, and one specific person had a more considerable influence than anyone else when it came to G-Funk. That person was no one else but Snoop Dogg. Snoop would release an infamous song titled “Nuthin but a G Thang,” which would immediately get him recognized in the rap industry. Rap groups, such as N.W.A., consisted of well-known rappers like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Easy-E out of Compton, California. N.W.A had so much controversy around them for their “no-nonsense attitude and magnification of crime” during the time of their come up. (HOLR 8). But that’s what gangster rap stood for, a no-nonsense attitude. As time went on, N.W.A split because of bad record deals. Dr. Dre would release one of the most influential Hip-Hop albums of all time titled “The Chronic.” A rapper by the name of Nas and a rap group called The Wu-Tang Clan would eventually take over the late 90s with their ability to make music. The 1990s was by far the most important decade regarding the evolution of rap music.
The 2000s
The 2000s were sheerly dominated by three prominent rappers who are all considered the greatest ever to do it. Those three men include Eminem, Jay-Z, and 50 Cent. Jay-Z was the voice of old rap. Back when rap was focused on the lyrics of the artist. However, Eminem and 50 Cent would keep gangster rap prevalent during this time. Eminem created a mean and treacherous alter-ego known as “Slim Shady.” According to HOLR, “The sadistic and violent character allowed him to express his anger with lyrics about drugs, rape, and murder.” (HOLR 13). Of Course, there were other rappers out there during the 2000s making their music, but no one during this time was going to top these three guys. I want to jump forward to today’s hip-hop and rap environment as these rappers mentioned before paved the way for these new artists. Rappers today, such as Drake, J.Cole, Lil Uzi Vert, Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, and many more, have all impacted their audiences with their influence. The lyrical geniuses mixed with a good beat have a lasting impact on the people who listen to their music for the rest of their lives.
Conclusion
Gangster rap is still very prevalent in today’s rap world. However, many new subgenres of rap, such as emo rap and drill rap, have also become very popular around the world. In the emo rap genre, you have amazing artists such as XXXTentacion, Juice WRLD, Lil Peep, Trippie Redd, and many more paving the way for the younger generation. Sadly, X, Juice, and Peep have all died either from gun violence or drug abuse. From drill rap, you have amazing artists such as Pop Smoke, who sadly passed away from gun violence in early 2020. Rap music will keep on evolving into something new. In today’s decade, people have been introduced to a new sound of rap known as “Trap rap.” Artists such as Playboi Carti, Yeat, Ken Carson, UnoTheActivist, and SoFaygo have all flourished in this category. The evolution of Rap has come a very long way. Starting with just lyrics and a beat resembling poetry to many different subgenres representing many other things. It’s exhilarating to see just how far rap will go in the future.