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Theorizing Hip Hop: by Nderitu Kiragu James

This document discusses the theorization of hip hop music. It defines key terms related to hip hop artists and styles, such as DJs, MCs, b-boys/b-girls and beatboxing. It also describes elements of the hip hop beat like sampling and scratching. Concepts in rap tradition such as boasting, dissing and punchlines are explained. The document also discusses rap techniques like flow and bars.

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James Nderitu Kiragu
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49 views11 pages

Theorizing Hip Hop: by Nderitu Kiragu James

This document discusses the theorization of hip hop music. It defines key terms related to hip hop artists and styles, such as DJs, MCs, b-boys/b-girls and beatboxing. It also describes elements of the hip hop beat like sampling and scratching. Concepts in rap tradition such as boasting, dissing and punchlines are explained. The document also discusses rap techniques like flow and bars.

Uploaded by

James Nderitu Kiragu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Theorizing Hip hop

by
Nderitu Kiragu James
Musickers of hip hop
• Audience - Hip hop heads
• DJs – Dee Jays – Disc Jockey
• MCs – Master of Ceremony
• FeMCees- Female rap artists. A woman who raps or freestyles.
• B-Boys- Break boys
• B- Girls- Break girls
Example: Jabbawockiz!
• Video Vixen – (A sexually attractive woman who makes cameos
[appearance in music videos]

• (B/boying and B/Girling) – Gendered dancers from head to heads.


Sound of Hip Hop

• The Beat:
Unlike classical music theory, the concept of the beat in rap music
refers to the instrumental track.

• The Groove
Hip hop can be loosely categorized as a groove based music genre.
Robert Walser (2004, p.167) defines it as ‘repetitive pattern of rhythm,
harmony and counterpoint.
The hip hop Beat!

• The core drum repeats every measure


• Other elements of the beat are brought in and out : Scratches,
sampled sounds, synths
• If there are changes to the musical layers in the chorus, then the
verse and chorus form a larger repetitive cycle.
• Harmony made up of familiar patterns; tonality is defined and
centered, (usually non modulatory)

• Kyle Adams (2015)


Cambridge Companion to Hip hop
Hip hop specific

• Punch phrasing: Dj hits a particular break on on e deck while the


record on the other turntable is still playing.

• Performs a cadential function. Used to accentuate the beat and the


rhythm for the dancing crowd. Now heard when the producer
omits the main drum sections and leaves the pads and other
elements before bringing the beat back.
Hip hop specific

• Beat box
A machine that generated drum loop samples incorporated by Flash
(a father of Hop hop music)

Beat boxing
Making beats with your mouth.

Schusterman (2004)
Hip hop specific!

• Scratching;-
A Scratch as a premonitor- backcueing that you hear in your ear
before you push it to the crowd. Important for scratch mixing.

Simple Scratching-
Rapid back and forth of the record to create an intense musical quality
and crazed beat. Used to enhance groove.

Adam (2015) and Schusterman (2004)


Rap!!
• Bars
In the systematic theory of hip hop music, the term bars describes a
rapper’s lyrics especially when ‘they are really good’ (conforming to
the acceptable aesthetic)
- Became popular in the 2000s.
- Spitting bars, dropping bars.
Rap!

Concepts in Rap tradition:


Boastin’- Praising one’s own qualiities

Dissin- weakening the rreputation of an opponent

MC’s win battles with opponents using punchlines


Eg. Latest battle: Between PushaT and Drake
(PushaT brought out Drakes’ child).
Rap!

Punchlines: Weapons of the MCs in a rap battle.

Flow: The rhythmic delivery of Mcing.


3 aspects
- The process of rhythm’s production, air flowing out of the lungs,
flowing out of the lungs, formed into a flow of sound.
- Musical result of the airflow synchronized to a musical
arrangement called beat.
- Feel of music while perceiving it (colloborates groove)

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