1. Rap/Hip Hop

2. Origins of Rap
Way before Rap music was popular in America, people of West Africa were telling stories rhythmically.
Meanwhile, folk artists from the Caribbean Islands were telling stories in rhyme.
This laid the foundation for modern American Rap Music.

3. What is Rap?
Rapping essentially involves the speaking or chanting rhyming lyrics, often set to a beat.
The rhyming created by some modern rappers is considered by some to be the most sophisticated form of poetry.

4. Beginning of Rap
Rap first became popular in America during the 1970’s as a type of street art.
It was mostly popular amongst African-American teenagers.
But it wasn’t until 1979 when the Sugarhill Gang released their hit Rapper’s Delight, that record labels began to recognize the style of music.
It was not just African-American men becoming rap stars. By the 1980’s, White rap bands such as the Beastie Boys and female rap bands like Salt-n- Pepa were reaching the top of the charts.

5. 1990’s
Rap began to mature from an old-school style, which was based on a relatively simple lyric, to a new-school style, which was louder and had more complex lyrics.
Rappers such as The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Jay-Z ruled the charts, including Eminem, one of the most famous white rappers of all time.

6. Styles of Rap In the 80’s Rap was lighthearted and humorous.
In the 90’s, the style began to get darker and turned into what is called “Gangsta Rap”.
Now, Rap is divided regionally: West Coast and East Coast
East: tend to be more philosophical with a gritty beat.
West: Had more commercial success.

7. Rap Examples Fresh Prince of Bel Air: Will Smith
Men In Black: Will Smith
Tell The World: Lecrae
U Can’t Touch This: MC Hammer

8. Hip Hop Began in New York City in the 1970’s
Mostly in the African-American areas of the Bronx and Brooklyn.
DJ’s would use turntables to create music that was fused from 2 different records.
They would create a rhythm using these “beats” and create lyrical poetry over the spliced sounds that set the foundation for hip hop and rap music today.

9. Crunk Music Hip hop as expanded a lot since its beginning.
It created many different styles.
Crunk Music:
Developed in the Southern US.
Created for the Dancefloor.
As hip hop has changed, it will forever stand as both a lifestyle and a style of music which pays homage to its culture throughout history.