Hip Hop Genre & Characteristics

Hip hop music originated in the 1970’s, block parties in New York City. Block parties usually where a neighbourhood community would get together in a house and entertain themselves with dancing and singing. The culture of hip hop consists of rapping, beatboxing, scratching, graffiti and break dancing, to feel the rhythm of the music created and to carry on promoting it so forth. The large parties, originally outdoors, were thrown by owners of expressing and expensive stereo equipment, which they would share within their community to compete amongst themselves, sharing lyrics and dance moves to each other. Mc’s began speaking over beats that were created as an artist. 'Rappers Delight' by the SugarHill Gang is the first song that was recorded & released by a rap crew, and therefore is considered the first true hip hop release –Wikipedia.

In the lyrics that the Mc’s used to use, were usually a mixture of slang and bad English, this meaning using shortened words and also self created. The culture of hip hop has productively spread across the word, introducing new music and expression to the genre. Early hip hop has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing physical violence with dance and artwork battles to convey youngster’s emotions and feelings towards life. This brought out the positive aspects to their life, to see it a refreshing way by using the sound of Hip Hop. The fans of hip hop started to wear heavy gold jewellery and baggy pants, originated in the 2000. Alternative hip hop really borders itself from a mixture with other genres, it cuts deep through the real meaning of hip hop (this of which I have discussed). It uses lyrics to display their unique concepts. Verbal hip hop is to battle against each other using generally insulting lyrics to self glorify themselves to the audience, this being their evidence for success, and prophecy. Conscious rap is usually to promote knowledge and person discovery within the Mc’s life. Crunk was invented in the 1990s as a sub-genre of southern rap. This consists of high energy and oriented beats usually portrayed by the artist Lil Jon. Southern rap relies on straightforward lyrics usually consisting of slang, to capture their lifestyles of car culture, fashion nightlife and uniqueness.

Grime Genre: Characteristics

(This image has been searched as 'JME' on www.google.co.uk and has been founded on page 1). Name: Jamie Adenuga
Origin: Meridian Walk ; London, Uk
Genre: Grime
Associated Acts: Boy Better Know
Website: www.myspace.com/jmeserious

JME is a grime artist from Tottenham, North London. He used to be part of the grime crew Meridian alongside his brother Skepta, another grime artist however now is focuses more on his solo ambitions also with his new group BBK (Boy Better Know), he is known as the founder of this label which includes big artists such as Wiley and Frisco as well as DJ Maximum. ‘Boy Better Know’ is a catchphrase made by another artist in the grime genre named Big H. JME has come into sight on many grime DVD’s including Practice Hours where Bossman, Big H and JME did a freestyle over the beat to his hit single 'Serious'.
This DVD was supported by
http://www.ukrecordshop.com/item/practice-hours-a-media-gang-production.html.
On this link you will be able to see the trailer to the DVD, giving you an insight to what it is about; this conveying the conventions of a typical grime genre publishing.

'Serious' was JME’s first song to be published on MTV Base and Channel U. Both of these are well known television stations, this therefore helped the song to become a success in sales and hearings. JME himself first displayed on his MySpace his music that he was making, gaining views from his friends and fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIp3WzvR0U&feature=player_embedded

The clothes that a grime artist would wear is what is usually seen as the representative of a young boy in mainly London (as this is the area of which Grime was originated from) or even Birmingham that has the latest brand wear, this usually embracing the image of having ‘swagger’, this meaning to have an appealing look to others including all the updated clothes wear and having the likeable personality.

England 10 - She Likes To


If you look at this video, it contains all the well known grime artists into one song. This definitely was a big hit for from the entire fan base. All of the artists are males, this of which attracts the female audience as they may admire what they see. However, this is not said that the video is aimed at only females. The male audience of which may desire to be more like the male artists in this video, will be attracted to this video as they would want to view the characteristics that they could then act upon in their daily lives as they have been influenced by what they do. The age audience may be 15+ as this contains different aspects to the video such as sexual preferences however not into a major way. Also, the lyrics suggest to be aimed at this age as they can understand what they are addressing to the audience. The setting is set in a club, this of which most young and old teenagers choose to do to be entertained in their free time. Therefore, they can relate to this and recommend the video within its grime genre.

Grime Genre

Grime is typified by complex 2-step break beats, generally around 140 beats per minute and constructed from "different" sounds. Stylistically, grime takes from many genres including UK Garage, dancehall and hip hop. The lyrics and music combine futuristic electronic elements and dark, guttural bass lines -Wikepedia
Grime is seen as the movement from UK Garage, set into more deeper and darker themes and sounds, this including the convention of a mix between drum'n'bass, a splash of punk and also hip hop. Grime was invented in the inner cities of London, mostly in East London. MajorFm.come was a major promotive institution online station there to support grime music & gave grime its first appreciation to the international market. This genre has been exposed by a number of television stations, these including Channel U, (which is now known as AKA), Logan Sama's show on London station Kiss FM, and also the BBC’s youth oriented radio station 1xtra; these of which most young teenagers enjoy watching as they display maybe similar things that they want to do as a career or sometime in their future.

Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, both members of Roll Deep (Roll Deep are a MOBO Award-nominated London based grime music group). They were established in 2002, by a group of MC’s including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal (who have both since left). Both artists are closely associated with the modernised group, Boy Better Know. Boy Better know is a British grime label within the grime genre. It was created by Jme and Skepta - http://www.boybetterknow.co.uk/
http://www.grimepedia.co.uk is a website of which gives an insight to what grime is as well as information about the different artists, DJs and producers.

Stylistic Origins:
- British Hip Hop
- Uk Garage
- Dancehall
- Drum And Bass
- Dub Step

Cultural Origins:
- Late 1990's-2000
East London in the Uk

Instruments:
- Rapping
- Toasting
- Musical sequencer
- Computer technology

Mainstream Popularity:
Underground with some chart success in the UK/Britain

Fusion Genres:
- Rhythm and Grime
- Electro Grime

RnB Genre: Artist

Artist Name: Trey Songz
Real Name: Tremaine Aldon Neverson
Born: November 28, 1984
Genres: R&B, Hip Hop
Occupation: Singer–Songwriter, Record Producer, Actor
Instruments: Vocals, Keyboards, SamplerVoice types: Tenor ‘of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register’ –Wikipedia

Trey’s vocal abilities were recognised at the age of 14. He began performing with friends and family when record producer Troy Taylor discovered him during a talent show which then led him a contract with Atlantic Records. He was to move to New Jersey to start his music career.
Trey Songz is a major influence to young males out there who choose to sing, and somehow gain their confidence from listening to his songs. It’s not likely that males will decide to sing as it is thought to be a woman’s role in the music industry. He has been compared to other RnB artists such as Chris Brown, Usher and Ginuwine, 3 extremely known artists who is mostly admired by women from their good looks, voice & personality. In this picture, he is sitting on a beach from the video ‘I need a Girl’; as you can see he does have a girl sitting behind him. It is likely in an RnB video to have women interacting with men and a narrative is based from there. This could also be seen as the male celebrity’s possession, it gives a chance for them to portray themselves as ‘a lady’s man’. The smile that is witnessed in this picture shows a positive aspect to him, as he might be seen as a respectable artist towards his fans therefore he is to pose in an affirmative way. His sunglasses and watch may be of a certain type of branded name, this shows his wealth as many stars love to show off their ‘swag’ this known as effortless portrayment in a quality being. Tattoos are usually seen on RnB males as it is the type of ‘follow fashion’, this meaning that the exposures of most celebrities are all to have a symbolising tattoo to reflect on their persona.

RnB Genre

Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B, R'n'B or RnB) is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When urban, rock and jazz based music with heavy insistent beats were become more popular at them times, this is when RnB was introduced to modernise each genre to become a mix of all. The term had a wide variety of meanings. One of being ‘Rock & Roll’, this stated in the 1960’s, it was used mostly by white groups as it was also referred to having a music style of incorporated electric blues as well as gospel/soul music. Nowadays it is perceived as a contemporary view of soul/funk influenced pop music. Thus one of the reasons why my group and I are using both a Pop and RnB genre for our music video as they have similarities. Some of which I shall discuss within this blog. In the US, it was recognised as "race music", which originally came from within the black community, but was believed offensive in the post-war world. Instruments used frequently within the RnB genre were consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, and sax, this reflecting the rhythm and blues viewpoint. In music videos, singers are emotionally engaged with the lyrics, often strongly so, they remain cool, relaxed, and in control, feeling their lyrics in order to make their audience to understand what they would want to lime out. Lyrics seem accepting and the music feels somehow to be expected, to evaluate what I just wrote this connotating the typical RnB flow of music which is portrayed as a combination with elements of soul, funk, dance, and labelled hip hop. The vocal arrangement of RnB usually consists of smooth, lush and calm manner of lyrical content mostly based on love, relationships with a member of the opposite sex, and deep emotions. Uses of hip hop beats are also used within this genre; Hip Hop is another genre within the music industry representing artists who may Mc, Rap or DJ. In addition to this, the culture is to express the reality of human association within each other and to free them from oppression that artists/bands may have had inside the past. Lyrics within the RnB genre seem laid back and the music feels somehow expected to have a certain concept such as talking about love hate relationships.
Nowadays males in the RnB music industry are being perceived as the most listened to gender as they have made a high comeback with their music. Both sexes tend to listen to these as they may relate to one’s relationship status or may give another pleasure.

Pop Genre: Artist

Name: Britney Jean Spears
Born: December 2, 1981
Genres: Pop, Dance Occupations: Singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, author, pianist, director.
Instruments: Vocals, piano.
Voice types: Alto (High).

A deliberate choice of artist to use when analysing the Pop genre. Britney is a highly known pop artist from when her first single ‘Baby One More Time’ was released. She became an international pop culture icon immediately after launching her recording career. Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "One of the most controversial and successful female vocalists of the 21st century”. Spears is a major influence to other pop artists of our day today like Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Taylor Swift & Pixie Lott all of which may follow her roles to the music society. Also, she has a major impact on her fans as her achievements throughout her music career have affected them to follow her traits and want to become more like her. In this picture it is seen as though she interest her audience by her style of clothes, the time of when this image was taken may have made fans to want to duplicate her individuality of dress sense. The hat of which is still in style for summery occasions, in most pop music videos the release time is in the summer as the videos mirror the season, this makes them to be a positive look and the happy theme relates to this also. Britney Spears is smiling in this picture; most people in this particular industry will do so aswell as this details the aspect of being a pop artist (to show pop sensation and portray their living). Her hair style approach would maybe reflect on what young females would want their hair to be like, therefore they would consider to have the same hairstyle as their desired artist/group to make them ‘look alike’.
Britney Spears has always been compared with Christina Aguilera, another identified artist withing the pop genre.

Pop Genre

Pop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer option to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, this meaning it is suitable for a wide, popular market often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple mostly happy but sometimes sad love songs. Furthermore, the pop genre has followed on from Rock however using softer, smoother and calmer techniques in a modernised way. The term ‘pop’ is originally seen as ‘having popular appeal’. I believe that Pop genre emphasises more on its appeal as much music videos introduce attractiveness such as dances, love narratives and other content themes. Its song lyrics usually deal with emotions and talk about love, loss, emotion or dancing. Unlike other popular music genres pop songs are usually written by professional writers and popularized by singers.
It also shows existing trends that such audience may follow in the outer world. I say outer world as being in the music industry can be seen as an individual world of success and purity of living, this of which not everyone gains, most audiences decide to go behind their favourite artist and their traits, as every music video does, Pop videos exaggerate on what is alluring to be/have nowadays and so this effects its audience hugely as it makes them believe they have also achieved that bit of accomplishment that the artists/bands have. Following onto this, Pop artists/bands interest their audience with their vision appeal.