Monday, August 2, 2010
Week 1- Introduction to Hip-Hop in Popular Culture
This week, we discussed the beginning of Hip-hop and regional sounds of the music and culture in the United States. Please blog on the key words HIP-HOP REGIONAL SOUNDS within the context of your experiences and interest in Hip-hop. Give us some ideas of how particular sounds of Hip-hop have shaped your perspectives.
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After many years of listening to alot of hip hop music you can hear the different stylings of hip hop but the sounds and lyrics are the different in many different ways but the basis of rap is some what similar. Not only that you can also hear the stories as new rappers rise to fame and follow them through out there career through out the many songs these artists puts out there, they are our modern day story tellers with a killer beat. Alot of them start out rapping about the hardship growing up in the ghetto and thats were most rappers from the different region have in common. Most rappers never forget where their roots are from and have so much love and pride for that city that brought them up. Songs like Empire state of Mind by Jay-z and Lil Wayne's New Orleans. But as far as the sound goes the south are heavy on the bass, songs like What you know by TI or Outkast So fresh and so clean. Rappers like Kanye West and Common sounds of the Midwest from Chi-city have a much different sound the beat isn't as hard and the sound i would say has a big Jazz and Rnb influence which Chicago is legendary for. But rappers like tech 9ne and Eminem sounds are similar to the east coast and west coast as the musically styling's at the different ends meet the middle. The east coast styling of rap is more lyrical for example listening to Mos Def song Mathematics you can hear the lyrics and the background beat isn't over powering and West coast rap is more slow and a beat flows slow just like the lyrics the rappers aren't spitting out fast lyrics like rappers of the East Coast, but the West Coast has a more relaxed vibe to it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear the terms: Hip-Hop Regional Sounds, I begin to think of the different type of Hip-Hop music that is out there. One can feel the different lifestyles of the artists and where there music is coming from. For example, I can quickly notice the slower sounds of West Coast Hip-Hop (Game – “How We Do”) in relation to the faster, less beat oriented East Coast (MC Shan- “The Bridge”). I relate these to the lifestyles of the people who live in these regions; west coast is more relaxed, soothing, and slow as opposed to the quick speed and “get-to-the-point” East Coast. In between these two distinct regions lay the Midwest and Southern Regions. Although these regions have a distinct sound, they really encompass many of the different areas of sound. In the Midwest you can see some slower songs that are typical of the West Coast such as Bone Thugs and Harmony – “For the Love of Money.” Midwest also has faster songs such as Krizz Kalico’s Anxiety. The South has louder more distinct and slower beats. I feel their focus is on the quick lyrics overriding their background beat. In all of these regions the artist feel a deep tie to the region they grew up in and continue to represent for their region within their music.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop regional sounds are defined as distinct differences in hip-hop music that are shaped by location (Lecture). The four main locations for hip-hop are the East Coast, the West Coast, the Mid-West, and the South. Originally, before National radio stations, the four regions had distinct differences in their beats and use of vulgarity. I feel that since artists want national recognition, they try to appeal to the masses with their music. This striving to release chart topping songs creates monotony in most hip-hop songs. I personally can not distinguish one rapper from another. If I was asked to pick out a Kanye West song from a Jay-Z song, I would be right only fifty percent of the time.
ReplyDeleteI will omit that my opinion of hip-hop music is a bit skewed. I only really listen to the hip-hop music that is played on the radio. So, I only experience those songs that are chosen to be played on a national universal level. I feel like to get a good first hand take on true regional sounds; one must not listen to the songs over played on the radio but instead buy the artists less commercialized music. These songs should have more of the artist’s true visions and actual style. At that time, one should be able to distinguish regional sounds.
Within the lecture on 8/23, Regional Sounds were defined as specific music and or culture produced in a particular region that is shaped by the artist’s racial, ethnic, general and or class identifications. What that means is, you will have a beat from the East Coast that sounds absolutely nothing like a beat from the West Coast. Same goes for the South and the Mid-West. The south favors the deep bass sounds, while the East Coast rappers can flat out, spit lyrics. With the South, you might get some chopped and screwed, while the Mid-West pulls from both the East and West, and it’s a big mix.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that the one thing remains the same within every region, is that all artists will rap, or storytell about the city they represent. You see this example with the song Tech N9ne-O.G., where he raps about Gates BBQ, and mentions other parts of the area with KU, MIZ ZOU, and K-State. You also hear about where Jay-Z is from in the song “Empire State of Mind,” and in Tupac Shakur’s song “To Live and Die in L.A.” Pac describes what it is like to be in California. MC’s will write about their culture, because that is what shaped them, and that is who they are.
Hip Hop, like any genre, is shaped by particularities of time and space. American Hip Hop is understood as being formed in four regions. My personal interest in Hip Hop came from my friends in junior high school, primarily one particular friend in 10th grade. Our exploration of hip-hop sounds did not include discussions of regional sounds, and concentrated instead on time and sequence. At that point, we were directed more by which cassettes and records we could find than by recommendations or questions about regional differences. Because we were mainly dealing with cassettes and vinyl, many of the artists I am familiar with are from before 2000. I don’t identify with any particular regional sound, and I enjoy groups and hip-hop artists from each region. I love A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B and Rakim, Gang Starr, Public Enemy, and Nas from the East Coast. On the West Coast I like the Blue Scholars, Jurassic 5, N.W.A., and QBert (maybe he would be considered East Coast?). I enjoy Common and Atmosphere from the Midwest, and I listen to Outkast and Nappy Roots from the South.
ReplyDeleteI think Rap and Hip-Hop is very well summed up when Hebdige says, "It's there for everyone to use. And every time a new connection is made between different kinds of music; a new channel of communications opens up" (Hebdige). After being familiarized with the history of Hip-Hop, I have come to recognize how much history and culture there actually is to Hip-Hop music. To some, on the surface, Hip-Hop may just seem like hard beats with quick lyrical sequences. However, there is a significant amount of skill to the mixing, timing, and overall musicality to Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop music heavily started on the East Coast in the Bronx, but eventually spread nation-wide to cities on the West Coast, in the Mid-West, and even in the South (Lecture). One of my favorite Hip-Hop groups, N.W.A., was slandered for their bold statements in their raps. In their song “Gangsta Gangsta”, the artists portray to the listeners their lives in Los Angeles. In this particular song they discuss how life isn’t about the money but all about the “reality”. Hip-Hop may appear to be inappropriate lyrical lines produced by individuals that are “troubled”. The reality of the music is that the artists are using their music to explain their life experiences, whether they be hardships or not. Hip-Hop is a way for the artists to spread their lives to the word in a very creative way.
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ReplyDeleteNot being a huge fan of hiphop, but very open to it, I actually learned a lot and will share some of the impressions I got from the different styles and swaggers i noticed.
ReplyDeletethe themes I noticed in the West Coast rap, especially from LA, were more laid back and chill. I also noticed a lot of the rappers used more of a funky jazzy beat instead of banging hard bass or heavy synth. The gangster-obvious lyrics still let you know LA doesnt F*** around but seemed to do it in a more laid back and chill way.
I liked the poetry in the east coast rap and noticed many of the rappers were prophet-like in the depth of the content in their story telling.
The heavy bass in the southern rap definitely won my interest; If I "leaned", I would definitely be sippin it in my SLAB, slow rolling, bangin' screw.
Being an avid fan of metal and hardcore punk, the speed of articulation, intensity of speech and dark lyrics (Techn9ne,Eminem,Nelly) of the midwest rap almost gave me that "at home" feeling and definitely wins my favorite. My favorite aspect of the midwest rap is the amount of footage techn9ne and eminem can portray in one verse. Brutal imagery at its finest.
Hip-Hop Regional Sounds is a term which refers to many different regions of the United States that have their own particular sound due to the experiences that the artists have in the cities that they are from. As for my own experiences, hip-hop did not become a common topic of interest to me until I was around the age of 13 or 14 when I was in jr. high .When I entered jr. high, rap was a popular genre to listen to at school dances and this is where my friends and I first became interested in it. As I have gotten older, my interests in hip-hop have evolved. I think that it is hard in this day in age to not be exposed to popular hip-hop since it is so prevalent in all facets of our culture. I tend to be attracted to groups that carry somewhat of a positive message in their music such as the Black Eyed Peas. I also enjoy listening to The Roots as they incorporate other genres of music into their hip-hop. With the ever changing culture we live in, I have no doubt that the sounds of hip-hop will be forever changing.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop has been regionally associated for decades as the controversial form of music has encompassed social distresses, economic frustrations, and racial discriminations alike. Hip-hop regional sounds is defined as specific hip-hop music and/or culture produced in a particular region that is shaped by the artist’s race, ethnicity, gender and class (Lecture 8/23/2010). Often times, hip-hop regional sounds are directly shaped by the communities in which the artist resides (Lecture). Personally, I have always listened to hip-hop as the genre’s demand overwhelms popular radio stations today. I have merely overlooked the often sexually explicit and inappropriate lyrics only to sing-a-long as the toe-tapping beats and catchy lyrics begin to run through my head like a broken record. Many artists find ways to reproduce their hardships and lifestyles through their music, an aspect of the genre that gains much of my respect. Although I had never noted regional sounds in hip-hop, after listening to the audio references I can now hear general trends such as the often more lyrical vocals found in East Coast artist’s songs. Each of the four main regions have their own unique sound, which is easy to note when compared. Hip-hop regional sounds allow artists to relate back to their roots as fans and hip-hop followers can personally identify with hometown beats.
ReplyDeleteAs defined in class Monday, Hip-hop regional sounds are specific music and or culture produced in a particular region that is shaped by the artist’s racial, ethnic, general, and or class identifications. I take this to mean that artists and beats from the four different regions of the United States will have distinct differences. The songs that I am familiar with that are considered to be West Coast tend to be slower, whereas the songs that I listen to from the East Coast are much faster paced. The language and use of vulgarity also range across location. Mid-West and South are somewhat a mix of both the West and East Coasts. Although I recognize songs from all four regions I tend to favor songs from the South. One thing I noticed that all artists have in common no matter where they are from is the use of their personal stories in their lyrics. They give us an inside to the world around them. I have been listening to Hip-hop music probably since middle school but only what is on the radio or what my friends listen to. I have already learned so much about where Hip-hop music came from and what it is about.
ReplyDeleteI was first exposed to hip-hop aside from that played on the radio when I was in middle school and began hip-hop dancing. Most of the artists I listened to were from the West Coast and the South due to their quicker pace. As I discovered more hip-hop artists on my own, characteristics of each region’s artists began to present themselves. The artists of the West Coast hip-hop scene are heavily influenced by funk music and often sample other songs as beats. “To Live and Die in LA” by Tupac, for example, samples Prince’s song “Do Me, Baby”. East Coast hip-hop is original in its sound; mainly for the fact that one can tell it was the birthplace of hip-hop. Their simple verses and repetitive beats have created a base for the other regions to expand upon. The Mid-West on the other hand, lacks a particular sound and acts more as a melting pot of all the regions. Particular cities in the Mid-West however, do have some trademark qualities. Detroit is known for their freestyle battles and Ohio for “fast rapping” artists. Southern hip-hop was created as a reaction to the East and West Coasts’ styles and is more club-oriented and known for a style referred to as “chopped and screwed”. Regardless of region, artists from each represent their homes through their song titles and landmarks of their cities.
ReplyDeleteThe four main regions (East Coast, West Coast, Midwest and South) have not only been shaped and differentiated by the sounds each upholds in hip-hop, but also often times, what the MC or group is portraying. We have all heard the shout outs to their respected regions, showing their roots and appreciation. Many of the lyrics are strictly based on their hometown and why they will forever be loyal. We see in the titles of Tupac’s “To Live and Die in LA,” Three 6 Mafia’s “Memphis,” and Beastie Boys “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” (to name a few), that, without even listening to the music and the message it pertains, their region is known. In almost any song by TechN9ne we hear the town of Kansas City and the state of Missouri mentioned. This shows the ‘till death’ attitude that many MC’s had for their cities. All this is seen without even listening to a beat. This is one of the most obvious aspects of Hip-hop that I have recognized. When we get a deeper look into the lyrics and song we can point out subtle differences in beat (Often times South has strong bass, Midwest has a harmonic mixture, East is lyrical and West is gangster rap). Yet, these geological differences bring out the battles (Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.) and competition between regions which often times shapes the lyrics they perform. Yet, in the end as Dick Hebdige states “...we shouldn’t be concerned where the sound comes from. It’s there for everyone to use” (230).
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ReplyDeleteI never thought of different styles of hip-hop in connection with regions. Regional sounds occur because of experiences artists had in that region (Lecture 8/23/10). All artists have pride for their roots, but communicate it differently. Artists from the South are producing pieces that promote the beat just as much as the words. Songs such as “I’m Back” by T.I. have so much going on with the different beats and sounds that you catch yourself listening to the background more than the lyrics. The West Coast is more about using hard beats and intimidating tones. Songs like “Niggas with Attitude” by NWA give more of an old school feel. They are performing a real rap, which is talking over the beat (Lecture 8/23/10). They want the words to be heard more than anything. The East and Mid-West are in the middle. They get their message across in a tone that is upbeat (even if the words aren’t) and beats that are appealing, yet not more than the words. Beastie Boys’ “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” and Eminem’s “Not Afraid” mix beats that have you dancing, as well as listening to the lyrics. These regions balance beat and lyrics, while the West and South punctuate on one. I don’t think any of these regions are better or worse than the others. I listen to artists from all four regions, and I think it’s a matter of your mood at the time.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop’s sounds vary from region to region. Each area has a specific sound to its music. The music made is shaped by an artist’s experiences and identifications that will differ depending on the region they are from (Lecture). Hip-hop regional sounds refers to the specific music and culture produced in the regions of the United States that is shaped by artist’s racial, ethnic, gender and class identifications (Lecture). From listening to the different Audio references I decided the following: Hip-hop from the Midwestern region incorporates aspects from every region. It doesn’t have one typical sound all around; all the artists have an individual sound. East coast hip-hop is characterized by hard beats and complex rhymes, while west coast hip-hop concentrates on smoother beats and flowing lyrics. Both the east and west coast have been known for a continuous battle between each other. Southern Hip-hop has a stronger rap vibe than the other regions. Every region has a unique sound, and all the artists within a region have their own style. While they are all very different sounds they are all trying to share a story with many diverse groups of people to hopefully bring them together to form a connection.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop, like most other types of music, is influenced by the environment of its origin. Different hip-pop music producing regions of the country tend to produce different types of music. For example, East Coast hip-hop focuses more on lyrics than the beat. Lyrical metaphors are prevalent in east coast hip-hop. However, in the West, the beat is the core of the music. This can be seen in The Game’s, “How We Do.” The beat takes importance over the cleverness of the words. The greatest difference in sound between regions was during the inception of hip-hop. Ever since then, generalizations about regions have become less and less true. Artists were essentially appealing to a smaller audience so they were able to stick to a certain type of music. However, with the introduction of new technologies like the internet and YouTube, this is starting to change. Every artist is starting to make his or her distinct type of music with much less allegiance to the music of his/her region and with more of a national focus. Geographic location has become less important as it has become easier to communicate nationally through various forms of technology.
ReplyDeleteWith so many differences between regions in the United States, hip-hop was predetermined to change in style and sound between regions as it exploded throughout the U.S. These regional hip-hop sounds are defined as specific hip-hop music promoted in a particular region defined by the artist’s race, ethnicity, gender, or class (Lecture 8/23/2010). That’s why hip-hop is a great genre; it’s so versatile. There’s the quick, lyrical East Coast, as heard in “Juicy” by Biggie Smalls and then there’s the slow, rhythmic West Coast, like in “To Live and Die in L.A.” by Tupac Shakur. In the Midwest, accented lyrics with an ominous tone, heard in “Anxiety” by Krizz Kalik, are commonly heard; whereas in the South there’s a low beat that keeps the music flowing, like in “I’m back” by T.I. Personally, East Coast hip-hop has been a favorite of mine. With artists like Biggie Smalls and Run-DMC representing it, it’s hard not to appreciate that region’s style. Furthermore, the East Coast’s simple beat mixed with incredible rhyme and lyrics gives the music a raw feeling I can’t find in another region.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I listen to the beat of a hip-hop song or the hard lyrics of a rapper, I never stop and think about where those sounds were brought up and how being brought up in that specific place can influence those artists for the rest of their life. Every region in the United States comes with a unique sound. For example, when listening to “To Live and Die in LA” by Tupac, as well as “Niggas With Attitude” by NWA, I got a sense of slow funk in the music. This sound also reminded me of jazz in a sense and this is all because it comes from the West Coast. Whereas, the East Coast’s theme is more intense and hard sounding. Even though these two regions are very different in the aspect of sound, the South is somewhat a mix of both East and West Coast and the Midwest region was basically a region where everything is mixed together. When it came to the Midwest I heard a lot of rapping and rhyming but I also heard that jazz sound as well. I also competed in hip-hop dance all over the United States and looking back now, I can definitely see a change of sound when traveling from city to city, but also one thing that I felt they all had in common was the true love they had for their city. The locals that compete as well as dancers that come miles away are always throwing up signs and using music from their home city to show their appreciate as well as to brag on the place they were brought up in.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Hip Hop varies throughout our country from region to region. I also believe that this was far more apparent throughout the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. I say this because of the obvious East coast vs. West coast rapper feud that we all know about and have learned to love through the music that it has produced. The battles were constant and although they were very raw and uncut, they told a story of truth and a story of where they came from. What I see from all rappers and hip hop artists across the board is extreme loyalty, more times than not it has a direct connection to where the artist is from. Many of today’s artists have conformed to a more “radio attractive” style with only a handful of ideas including money, cars, drugs, and alcohol. I’m not saying artists are loosing their loyalty to where they are from, just that there are clearly other motives in the rap game today. There are also distinct sound differences when listening to rap music pertaining to a certain region. When it comes to the east, commonly referred to the birthplace of hip hop, you have your off the wall flows, and steady beats. As you move further toward the west you come across your more conscious rappers such as Lupe Fiasco, Atmosphere, Kanye West, and Eminem, which I have grown up listening to in the Midwest. The south is mainly known for their very slow chopped and screwed style that hits deep. I believe the regional sound of the south is the easiest to decipher.
ReplyDeleteHaving a roommate for the last two years who is a DJ and worked as hip hop director for KJ, listening to hip hop in our house was a given. A few years ago it was a type of music that rarely got any play time out of my speakers. I have since found a fondness for all the different sounds of hip hop coming from east, south, west, etc… My greatest love however has come from the traditional beats being mixed into the deep bass drops of DubStep. Having not being very familiar with the different characteristics of regional sounds throughout the US I’m not the person to come to with the questions of which sound goes where. Though I do understand that location plays a large role in the lives of different artist, what they have grown up listening to, and what kind of music and sounds they feel most comfortable producing. I think this can be said for any other genera of music. The different cultures and backgrounds of one community can produce a sound that is completely different then the idea of what another area might see at their type of music that sounds best to them. I wonder that with all the new forms of media that have popped up since the creation of hip hop, will the future of different sounds stay the same or with they all start to borrow from one another until everything is mixed into one basic sound.
ReplyDeleteRegional sounds of the hip-hop culture come from far and wide with different twists on the matter, yet all have the basic foreground in common. “Hip-hop culture involves dance, dress, language and wild style graffiti,” (That’s the Joint-Hebdige 223). Although there are four major areas where Hip-hop is produced and prominent, each region has a different tone and meaning behind the lyrics. For example, Tupac Shakur’s “To Live and Die in LA” shows how laid-back life is in the West Coast and how life to him revolves around growing up in California because those are his roots. On the other hand, in the Mid-West, Eminem’s “Not Afraid” talks about his lifelong struggles with addiction, relationships, and how he is scarred for life from his childhood. When you listen to these types of songs, you can almost feel the emotion that is troubling him inside and see the pain that has been imprinted in his heart. In the South, the sound touches on a more harsh tone and seems to focus more on the actual rapper, especially in B.o.B.’s video “Airplanes” (Airplanes Youtube video). The sounds of the East Coast have more of a faster beat, old-school tone, and lyrics that rhyme. Hip-hop is popular all over because certain sounds cater to certain regions and they relate back to their culture.
ReplyDeleteAs we talked about in class on Monday, hip-hop's birthplace came from the New York area. The east coast rap style tends to focus on the flow of lyrics over a smooth beat. Biggie Smalls' "Juicy" is a prime example. As hip-hop grew in popularity in New York it found its way to different regions in the United States that would put their own unique styles on the hip-hop game. The South region focuses on heavy bass and the lyrics are about local hobbies such as codeine syrup and chopped and screwed music. Both of which were made popular by DJ Screw, who was a very popular figure in Texas. Lil Wayne's song "New Orleans" and Paul Wall's "They Don't Know" are perfect examples of what the life style in the south is and how that life style is put into the southern style of hip-hop. In the Midwest region artists like Kanye West and Eminem tend to talk more about their life stories and struggles they have gone through in their lives. "Not Afraid" by Eminem is another good example of that. Finally when I hear songs from the west coast such as, The Game’s “How We Do” I hear a slower beat that tends to be more “chill.” All of the regions have a unique sound and I have learned to appreciate all of them.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has given birth to a range of distinctive hip hop sounds, often reliant upon the location of the artist and his or her upbringing. These would be more commonly known as East Coast, West Coast, Midwest and Southern rap.
ReplyDeleteThe East Coast is the birthplace of hip hop, and the music made here is often the benchmark for all other artists elsewhere around the USA. In recent years musicians such as Biggie Smalls and Jay-Z have epitomised East Coast rap, in some cases even monopolising it, bringing cities like New York and Philadelphia to the forefront as hip hop central. The music here is often of an urban nature, with themes of city struggle and oppression.
West Coast rap can be arguably identified by its often-affluent music videos bathed in California sunshine. Artists like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg epitomise this West Coast lifestyle, often gang-affiliated and arguably more commercial.
Midwest rap sees again an urban style, with artists like Eminem and Kanye West making use of samples in songs that are often a testament to the struggle for identity in the industrial jungle.
Finally, Southern rap can be identified by its distinctive, Southern drawl, often finding itself labelled the ‘dirty South.’ Music here is often epitomised by Atlanta-based rappers such as T.I. and Lil Jon, feeding off heavy basslines and local slang.
Monday’s lecture defines hip hop regional sounds by hip hop and/or culture that are shaped by the artist’s racial, ethnic, gender, and/or class identifications. Prior to lecture I was a little familiar with the different sounds and styles of hip hop from different regions, but never considered that different regions may rap about different things or have different sounds because of their culture or class identification and so forth, it was very interesting to learn that. I grew up listening to the radio so I listened to whatever rap came on. I heard Luda in 8th grade. His “Southern Hospitality” really drew me into hip hop, Southern style specifically. To me, the South’s style doesn’t sugar coat things, there’s a lot of lewd and vulgar sayings, but they say it how it is, and that’s why I like it. Southern hip hop also incorporates the big lifestyles they live into their songs. For example, Rolling Like a Big Shot by Dorrough is all about how “pimped out” his car is, along with some hidden meanings of course!
ReplyDeleteIn 8th grade I also began taking hip hop dance classes. I fell in love from day one. The hip hop dance style is one of the few styles that you have the freedom of really making it your own. This is why I also love pretty much any and every hip hop song that has a dance to it. For example, my favorite right now is Teach Me How to Dougie by Cali Swag District. And yes, I’m a regular “Youtuber” so I can learn all the dances.
Regional Hip-hop sounds are composed of four areas: the East Coast, West Coast, Mid-West, and the South (Lecture). Each region produces a unique sound that is specific to that area (Lecture). The beats are shaped by artists backgrounds which in turn reflect the community where they are from (Lecture). East Coast rap, like the region, is very busy and fast paced. The lyrics and beat are thrown at the listener with tons of energy like in Beastie Boys - “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”. The South contains an upbeat sound as well but it is a little more harsh and has a stronger bass. When listening to songs like “I’m Back” by T.I. the beat overpowers the lyrics and is what I notice most. On the West Coast it is the exact opposite. I feel that the powerful and menacing lyrics are what takes over the laid back sounds of the West. In Tupac’s song “To Live and Die in LA” the sound is calm and smooth making the lyrics stand out. The Mid-West seems to represent a bit of all the other regions in its sound. For me, it is the hardest to classify because the sounds aren’t as distinct as the other regions. When I listen to a song for the first time it’s the lyrics that stick out in my mind and with Hip-hop it is the lyrics that connect the genre together. Although artists may have different sounds that distinguish themselves depending on where they are from, their lyrics tell of similar stories and experiences which keeps the Hip-hop nation linked.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up during the 90’s and 00’s being exposed to hip hop was not something that took a lot of effort. It was an enormous industry that reached out to all types of people. I myself became interested at a young age for reasons I can not explain. Maybe it was the heavy bass that first lured me, or the variety of tempos that each hip hop song could possess. On the other hand, I could also argue plain and simple it was something that “I grew up on”, like every other decade and their staple of music. Regardless Hip Hop has become apart of my life because most importantly I enjoy it. Regional sounds that attract me I believe to be those mostly from the mid-west. If you know me, of course you’ll say I’m biased being from St. Louis, which I will agree with on the spot. There is something about that Mid-West sound, that country grammar, which has always driven, and attracted me more so than the coastal or southern style of Hip Hop.
ReplyDeleteThe East, West, South and Midwest regions has shaped, and built the hip-hop industry as we know it today. When I think of hip-hop regional sounds, I begin to think about the different types of criteria within the hip-hop culture. These regional criteria can be defined by different race, gender, ethnicity, and social class (Lecture, 8-23-2010.) I personally believe that hip-hop changes from region to region. For example, rappers who grew up on the East coast are going to use different lyrics then someone who grew up on the West coast. As well as music from the South region is going to have different style beats then music from the Midwest. One thing I find similar in all hip-hop music is that all rappers are promoting a message or rapping about an experience within their music. It took me a while to really understand the meaning and flow of rap. Although I had been listening to hip-hop since I can remember, it took me a few years before I actually started understanding the regions in which rappers label themselves with. In today’s era in music, hip-hop musicians are starting to use auto tone, voiceovers, and other media outlets to enhance their voices or make there music more appealing. As an avid hip-hop fan, I am excited for a new branch, and possibly a new regional sound that might come about within the hip-hop industry.
ReplyDeleteTo me early east coast rap captured the creativity of modern poets. Aside from the pioneered art form, mixing beat breaks on turntables, created by DJ Kool Herc, artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and Run D.M.C addressed the monotony of everyday life in refined non-exploitative fashion. Amazingly, most early albums found under the genre “rap” were not adorned with our parents worst nightmare, “explicit content” labels. On the contrary, early east coast rap was compelled by what seemed to be the artist’s stream of consciousness. The repetitive neglect they experienced from the state, and the respect/acknowledgement their community was denied despite the flourishing culture. This type of lyrical word play quickly took a back seat to a budding subculture of rap that spread in a blaze of gang warfare from the East to the West. As I have interpreted it, west coast rap is more overtly violent and blatantly speaks against government authority, thriving on the unincorporated community created my urban culture and gang affiliation or pride. As for mid-west and southern rap, I’m not as familiar with their motifs and messages; I have only been exposed to more recent production of these subcultures and cannot yet distinguish them from other mainstream alliances.
ReplyDeleteWhen defining the differences between regional sounds in Hip Hop, I begin to first think of the difference between Rap, and Hip Hop. Hip Hop defines more of a lifestyle, including Rapping, Breaking, Dj’in, and Graffiti. KRS-One says that “Rap is something you do, Hip Hop is something you live.” With that being said, there are 4 main regions that contribute to Rap: West Coast, East Coast, South (Dirty), and Midwest.
ReplyDeleteBeginning with the East Coast, or “Mecca” of Rap, the sounds that originate from this region are created by many samples and looped beats, as seen in Notorious BIG’s “Notorious.” He samples Duran Duran to create his beat and hook. Many of rap’s greats have come from the East. The West Coast is defined by an older sounding, slower “gangsta rap” feel. An example of this is seen in Dr. Dre and Tupac’s “California Love.” The South, or “dirty south” is a style that bases a lot of their rap off of lifestyle and their southern state of mind. Rappers such as Lil’ Wayne, T.I. and Outkast represent the south in just about every track, such as Outkast’s “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.” Wrapping up in the Midwest, I’ll say that Midwest rap is defined by faster beats and “darker lyrics” (Prozak). There is a distinct sound that represents the Midwest, as seen in songs by Tech N9ne, Twista, Bone Thugz, and Eminem.
The first session of class made me realize that I know very little about the roots and origin of Hip-hop both as a culture and musical genre. The only experience I have with Hip Hop comes from popularized songs played on the radio and a “hip-hop” dance class I participated in about twelve years ago; both of which I now consider to be inaccurate representations of the underlying meanings and intentions of the Hip-hop movement. I was not aware that Hip-hop consisted of various “regional sounds” until attending the first day of class and examining the assigned readings/ youtube videos. From its early origins in small neighborhoods in New York like the Bronx, Hip-hop music has been a creative expression of life experiences and daily struggles of the individual artist. While each musician, graffiti artist, and breaker exhibits styles unique to their personal experience with Hip-hop, there are obvious regional variations. For example, as heard in Tupac Shakur’s “To Live and Die in LA”, the lyrics are smooth and more song-like than those in Run DMC’s “It’s like that”. The East coast style tends to showcase techniques such as record scratching and punch phasing that originated in the same geographic locations as the rapping style itself. Since its beginning Hip-hop has transformed into a cultural phenomena that has become ingrained in music, television and cinematic media and is widely known today.
ReplyDeleteRegional sounds of hip-hop allow people to experience the diverse cultures that our nation harbors. I always knew about the geographical inceptions of hip-hop artist and groups, but I never knew the reasons for why each region sounds distinctively different. The regional sounds are experiences that are shaped by local color of the community that the artist/group comes from (lecture). When plugging an iPod in, and selecting an OutKast album, I can theoretically learn about southern culture. Not only do I get to learn, but because I am enjoying what I am listening to, I will listen to a specific album countless times, thus continually immersing myself a diverse range of cultures.
ReplyDeleteA Timeline of Hip Hop History was interesting because from the genesis of hip-hop in the east, we have seen this genre pop up throughout the world with continual success. Since the day the Herc thought to make his equipment portable, hip-hop has never been the same (Persley 1). From the Herc hip-hop saw a transformation across not only the United States but also the world and a diverse range of people started to participate. The inception of hip-hop is something that can be found to be truly motivating.
-Sammy Greenberg
Listening to the music divided up into the east coast, west coast, mid-west, and south regions helped me to hone in on the concept that there even were differences in hip-hop region sounds. The biggest difference that I heard was between the east and west coast sounds. The west coast had a smoother, more relaxed feel to it, while the east was more up beat and sometimes even whimsical. In the reading from Foreman and Neal it mentions how hip-hop was developed in the Bronx. This gave the east coast the chance to experiment with beats and perhaps is the reason why, in my opinion, their beats are more unique. The beats have a more layers effect that comes with experience. The west coast wasn’t quit as experienced, so they may have just stuck to one clear beat, leading to the smoothness. Even though these two regions have differences in the beats, I found their lyrics to be somewhat similar. As discussed in lecture hip- hop was a way for the underprivileged to make art out of whatever was available to them. Therefore, those making it came from the same socioeconomic background, which explain why the lyrics are similar.
ReplyDeleteI first started listening to hiphop at the age of 7 without even realizing it. I loved Space Jam and the Space Jam soundtrack, and my favorite track was “Hit em High (The Monstars’ Theme) performed by B Real of Cypress Hill, Method Man, LL Cool J, Coolio, and Busta Rhymes, I was hooked. On the topic of the difference in Regional sounds, each region is respected for a certain quality and characteristics of their music. The East Coast is more focused on the lyrics and the message in a song. New York, the birthplace of hip hop, is home of many legendary lyricists; including but not limited to: Rakim, Mos Def, Nas, and Jay-Z just to name a few. On the West Coast they are very funk-heavy with George Clinton & the Parliament being an obvious inspiration. There is a smooth, laid-back style that is West Coast that shines through in songs such as Snoop Dogg’s “Gin N’ Juice”, Dr. Dre’s “Let Me Ride”, and many others The South is more focused on heavy beats and bass, 8Ball & MJG out of Memphis has some of the hardest hitting bass in “Don’t Make Me” and “You Don’t Want Drama” I’ve ever heard. The Midwest region is my favorite with the more alternative sounds coming from Kid Cudi and BTNH out of Cleveland and Lupe and Kanye out of Chicago.
ReplyDeleteHip-hop is categorized into different regions of the United States. There are four primary regions: West Coast, East Coast, South, and Midwest (Lecture). Each region has its own rhythm and beat style, artistic touch, and social issues it depicts which differentiates its style from one another. First, the South has a more ‘chopped and screwed’ (lecture) style unlike the East Coast, which is known for their lyrical skill. This only makes sense that Hip Hop is different in these regions because people are dealing with different social issues, regions, culture, etc. Then, after the release of “The Chronic” by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, Hip Hop in the West “took a new direction, influenced strongly by P funk artists, melding sleazy funk beats with slowly drawled lyrics” (Rolling Stone 3/18/1993). Finally, to me, Midwest Style is almost a combination of all three. I couldn’t depict the main style or artistic aspect that sets the Midwest apart from the other regions. Hip Hop artists such as Eminem, Nelly, Kanye West, and Bone Thugs are all from the Midwest and bring their own style. All in all, the main idea behind this blog is that Hip Hop can take many shapes and styles. Each being unique in its own way, it all relates to one another in some underlying way.
ReplyDeleteHip Hop's Bronx and Queens neighborhoods of New York City are the specific areas in which Hip Hop culture evolved to eventually include the East Coast, West Coast, the South, Mid-west and the world. Each of these areas have specific sounds which recur throughout their musics as memes. For example, in the South, bass is a prominent idea just as in the West there is gangster rap is prevalent. The music has evolved this way for a variety of complicated reasons including who controls the record labels and trends in communities and the speech that these individuals choose to use. The progression is generally considered to have started out East and then moved to the West, down South and to the Mid-west and the world. Another reason for this diversity is that "Hip Hop music, and the culture it produces, is a sonic, embodied, visual, artistic and cultural response to social issues (lecture 8/23/10)." So the culture is a response to the situation in which the artists who create the music are accustomed to living with.
ReplyDelete“Hip-hop as a culture involves forms of dance, dress, language and wild style graffiti. At its core it also involves an attitude” (Hebdige, 233). That statement is so broad now than when the word of hip-hop first came out. When one tries to define hip-hop now you have endless definitions that sometimes you have to cut it down. You have an international hip-hop and when you cut it to U.S. hip-hop, group it now with regions; East coast, West coast, Mid-west, and South and you can even cut it down more. My favorite region of hip-hop music has to be the west coast. The style that Dr. Dre of sampling or just using a simple beat in a cycle has been my favorite along with the lyrical flow of west coast rappers like Tupac, Snoop, X-Zibit, The Game and others. The whole style of the west coast has always caught my attention and also growing up around it has always been my kind of music and I also enjoy listening to the other regions of hip-hop.
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