One of the most popular types of music today is rap music. Most rap artists are well known, greatly paid people who make their music on famous record labels. What is interesting is that rap music comes from a history that is very humble, places that focus on inner cities and cities of poverty.
Before rap was introduced, there was disco, soul and Latin music. Most of these types of music were very popular in the 1970s and dancing clubs and night clubs were playing these records into the early hours of the morning. These DJs that worked all night long began to find ways to have more fun with their musical instruments.
DJs began to make combinations of their own music and some dub and reggae music in the 70s which is when rap officially began. Rap took a sign from Jamaican music in which the musicians would yell phrases and catchy slogans while the music was playing. Rap took this on only enhancing that by having the musicians speak more so to the rhythm of the band. Since rap began it has branched out into several different types such as East Coast rap, gangster rap, dirty rap, and even religious rap. They all differ in some sense such as tempos and beats they use. The West Coast rap is one that has many more synthesizers and influences the funk group. The gangster rap is one that talks to the crime and life on the streets and inner city life. Of course, religious rap is very spiritual and has themes that relate to God and Christianity.
What is now called rap music is the second wave of some hip hop that was started in the mid 80s with recordings from LL Cool J and Run-DMC. This really began in New York and was easily distinguished by drum machines and rock music, but was noticed more by its taunts and rapping boasts, the commentary and the way the message was delivered in an aggressive manner. The image if rap was the tough boy on the street image, the bad boy. The artists of rap began to make short songs so they could get more playing time on the radio.
Rap seems to have grown quite a bit and has a strong traction in the United States as well as abroad. Rap music has been influential to the content of music in all diverse genres. Several singers and artists have taken advantage of using rap and rap artists to do appearances for their songs. Even the hip hop genre has a liking now to rap and involves it in that type of music today.
As time goes on rap will continue to change as it has been. Recently some rap artists have begun to include live bands versus the pre recorded bands into their music. Rap has been very popular among teenagers and continues to grow in the music industry. Direct TV Utah recently added 12 new rap music channels to their line-up. Seems the times are-a-changing.
