5- Genre Research task for A2 Media Blog

1. Genre Research
By Damian Zlotorzynski

3. History
Hip Hop is a genre of music which has become popular among African/ Latino American communities
during the 1970s, Hip firstly originated in Bronx, New York which at the time was one of the poorest cities in
North America . The genre quickly spread around the African communities and later influencing the spread
to Latin American communities. The hip-hop culture is mainly characterized by five different sectors: MCing,
DJing, b-boying , graffiti art and knowledge these five elements of Hip-Hop make the culture of what it is
today. Hip hop started off at block parties where it would be used to break down racial barriers, artists such
as The Ghetto Brothers were plugging in their amplifiers for the instruments and speakers into street lamp
posts and host parties out side streets. Once the genre started to emerge further than Bronx, New York one
of the first notable artists was Kool Herc which was creating rhythmical beats by looping small sections of
songs which was later on added on with Rap and MCing when artists started to add lyrics with in the
rhythmical beats. This generated a particular type of Hip-hop form of dance which formed a dress style that
the fans of the culture adapted.

4. 1980’s
During the 1980’s Hip-Hop was going through its ‘Gold age’ going through its most impactful decade yet to
be. A vast majority of highly talented artists such as run DMC, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy and Boogie
Down Productions where some of the main Hip-Hop Groups which spread the popularity of Hip-Hop
worldwide and helped to expand the genre during that century. The Genre kept evolving with new artists
constantly coming in and new styles and ideas being presented, every single released in the 1980’s had a
positive effect on the genre development . Towards the end of the 1980’s two songs were released which
brought a lot of attention to the genre ‘Self Destruction’ and ‘Me, myself which hit the top charts for 8-10
weeks world wide.
Due to fact of where the genre arose and was brought up from a lot of the artists were African American
Males which generated the stereotype of the genre being a ‘gangsta rap’ as a lot of the artists were from
poorer neighbourhoods with lower living standards. The reason the 1980’s where so special is because it
was an era of experimentation for the Hip-Hop genre, rappers at the time had no intention of copying and
repeating each other they had there own styles and they stuck to it. In the 1980’s era you would come
across a lot of more band based performances rather than duo or solo artists like in today's modern day.
Tony Green stated ‘ Rappers had an individual sound that was dictated by their region and their
communities’ when talking about the rap in the 1970s and that's exactly how it was

5. 1990’s
Hip-hop in the 1990’s was revolutionised by the ‘Gangsta Rap’, a lot of the content released was very
heavily related to gang culture and criminal activity, billboard editor Paul Grein said it was “The year that
rap exploded”. MC Hammer hit mainstream success when his multi platinum album (Don’t Hurt ‘Em)
reached #1 on the charts becoming the first hip-hop album to be certified diamond by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA). To this current date the album has sold over 18 millions copies
worldwide. In 1992 the genre become more commercially viable when Dr. Dre released his new album
‘The Chronic’ by that year nearly a third of all the songs on the billboard hot 100 were dominated by hip
hop songs. 1990’s was the decade which many Hip-Hop fans which they could of lived through for the fact
of how many Hip-Hop legends come to shine in them years, Legends such as Biggie, Jay Z, 2PAC and
Snoop Dogg where all associates of the 1990s golden era. By 1999 Hip-hop became the top selling music
genre with over 81 million worldwide CDs sales. Hip-hop’s main target audience where usually the lower
class ethics who could relate to their artists, the 1990’s helped to produce the generic conventions of Hip-
hop that we have to this day.

6. Significant Artist to the rise of the genre
There are a few key artists that have helped the development of the genre:
DJ Hollywood was one of the first DJ’s who played mixes with brief rhymes
to a mainstream crowd. The artist would mix his rhythms/beats with brief
rhymes.
DJ Kool Herc know as the ‘Godfather of Hip-Hop’ was one of the artists who
was originally credited for the upbringing of Hip-Hop. DJ Kool Herc was
known for his hard funk records and for isolating the instrumental part of the
record.
Schoolly D is known for being the original creator of ‘gangsta rap’, Schoolly
D’s lyrics revolved about urban realism, drugs violence and sexual activities.
This was the first noticeable artist of the gangsta rap subgenre.

7. N.W.A (Niggas Wit Attitude) was a American Hip-Hop group that
consisted of Eazy-E, Dr.Dre, MC Ren, Ice Cube and DJ Yella. At the prime
the group was one of the biggest figures of the Hip Hop sub genre ‘gangsta
rap’ which due to the success of the group to Lead the sub genre to
become mainstream.The group was highly successful from 1986 to 1991
being considered as one of the greatest and most influential groups within
the Hip Hop genre.
RUN-DMC consisted of Jason Mizell, Darryl Mcdaniels and Joseph
Simmons and they were active between the years of 1981 to 2002. The
group was first from the Hip-Hop genre to have a gold album and be
nominated for a Grammy Award. RUN-DMC was also the first from the
genre Hip-Hop genre to have their videos displayed on MTV.

8. The Sugarhill Gang was the first to release a Rap single (Rapper’s Delight)
which featured highly on the top 40 within the billboard hot 100. The group
consisted of three members; Michael Wright, Guy O’Brien and Henry Williams.
The group was active from 1979-1985 and then from 1994 to present. In 2016
the remaining members of the original crew went on their first world tour
performing at the Art of Rap festival tour and at the V festival in both Hylands
Park and Weston Park.
Kurtis Blow- Kurt Walker known as Kurtis Blow is an American rapper and record
producer and is known for being the first commercially successful rapper and the
first at the time to sign a major record label. Kurtis Blow has released 15 albums
and the first to release a first certified gold rap song. At the age of 20 Kurtis got his
first major label ‘Mercury’ which then lead on the artist to release two new tracks
“Christmas Rappin” and “The Breaks” which both sold over half a million copies.

9. Audience and fans of Hip-Hop
The audience of the genre can be very diverse, ranging from around 16-50 years of age. The genre is
listened by both Males and Females and mainly aimed at the working class, a lot of the Hip-Hop songs can
be related to the working class’ daily problems and struggle. There is still a vast amount of people who are
25+ who actively listen to Hip-Hop due to the fact of a lot of these people would have been listening to the
artists who were coming up with the upbringing of the Hip-Hop genre. The Genre is listened by all Ethnic
backgrounds and is popular in all regions.
Hip Hop originally grew in economically deprived areas such as Bronx, New York but since the massive rise
of the genre it has exploded all over the world making the gere world wide popular and one of the top
listened genres in the world.

10. Subgenres
There is a lot of Sub-Genres that have emerged since the upbringing of the Hip
Hop Genre. The Sub-genres that i have listed below are from the present and
past day that music artists have released music with in the sub genres.
- Country Rap - Hardcore Hip Hop
- G-Funk - Comedy Hip Hop
- Hip Hop Soul - Alternative Hip Hop
- Jazz Rap - Christian Hip Hop
- Political Hip Hop - Freestyle Rap
- Pop Rap - Trap Music

11. Record labels and key industry figures
Cash Money Records was founded in 1991 by two brothers Ronald Williams and Bryan WIlliams. Cash
Money Records is one of the last ‘black’ music records labels to be held relevant and successful in today's
Era. Cash Money records most remarkable artists are Lil Wayne, Drake, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Tyga, DJ
Khaled, Young Money and many more. These artists maintained the success of the the record label. The
record label has also managed to establish their YMCMB clothing line along with other branded
accessories.
Def Jam Records is one of the most well known music labels in today's Hip-Hop genre, the label was
originally founded by Rick Rubin in 1983, shortly after the forming of the record label Russell Simmons
joined the group. The institution has early financial programs but managed to maintain its reputation and
pick up a handful of successful artists who contributed vastly to the success and upbringing of the Def
Jam Records Label. Kanye West, Jay Z, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Rick Ross, Big Sean and a lot more
artists are part of the successful record label.

12. Music videos considered to be the ideals of a Hip
Hop genre music video
The generic Hip-Hop music video is generally evolved
around wealth and dominance, wealth is most
commonly displayed by expensive jewelry and
designer clothing. Rappers even go that far to have
stacks of money in music videos in paper form to
show off their wealth and rich life style. Dominance is
usually displayed as well, this commonly can be seen
in the sub genre ‘Grime’ where a lot of artists rap in
groups around street corners. This is usually shown
by the close up camera shots or the low angled
camera angles to show dominance. I have attached
two music videos that provide the generic conventions
implicated within the Hip Hop genre in today's century:
When looking at these Music videos they are both Performance based and that
seems to be the most popular type for the generic Hip-Hop music video,
therefore i believe my music video will have to be performance based as that is
most popular and seems to attract the most attention.
Lil Wayne- Mirror
(https://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=OZLUa8
JUR18)
Eminem - My Name Is
(https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=sNPnbI1arSE)