Rap emerged in the 1970s when DJ Kool Herc asked his friend Coke La Rock to accompany him while playing music at a party. Coke La Rock spit the first rap verse, helping establish rap as a new genre of music. Early influential rap artists included Run-D.M.C., Whodini, Grandmaster Flash, and Kurtis Blow. Stereotypes that rap artists are often subjected to include being seen as rich, dangerous gang members who only care about money, sex, drugs, and rap. However, some stereotypes emerged from real issues like racial prejudice and unfair policing faced by black rappers in the US. Rivalries between rappers also contributed to perceptions of violence as rap

1. Jakub Gajosz
RAP AND THE RAP GENRE

2. HISTORY
Old-School Rap Artists:
• Run-D.M.C.
• Whodini.
• Grandmaster Flash.
• Kurtis Blow.
• The Sugarhill Gang.
• Kool DJ Herc.
• The Fat Boys.
• Marley Marl.
• N.W.A

3. ROOTS
Rap emerged slowly as DJ Kool Herc asked a friend to
accompany him whilst playing at a party – Herc looped a
track over and over, and his friend Coke La Rock spit his
very first bar, ” There’s not a man that can’t be thrown, not
a horse that can’t be rode, a bull that can’t be stopped,
there’s not a disco that I Coke La Rock can’t rock”. This
one bar made Coke La Rock the very first rapper in Hip-
Hop and a new genre of music called Rap emerged.

5. STEREOTYPES
• Often seen as rich, obnoxious and dangerous
• Always looking for a fight
• All think they are the best at rapping
• Only care for money, sex and rapping
• All gang members
• All take drugs
• Black
• Living a lavish lifestyle
• All have hydraulic systems in their cars
• Gang wars
• Always surrounded by crews
• All smoke marijuana

6. ARTISTS
Many rappers are often seen as violent. This stereotype is applied as many rappers emerged
in the 1990’s to 2000’s have been included in a fight to the top. Whoever has more money,
most fame wins. However this unfortunately this had led to rivalry. Problems with prejudice,
racist and unfair police in the USA have also made many black rappers exposed to unlawful
treatment by the police. Riots as well as tracks have been a cause of this, and it also shaped
modern rap. Many rappers also arose from events known as rap battles. These rap battles
were made from two individuals standing in front of a crowd and “dissing” each other. This
naturally lead to fights and territorial rivalries, giving rappers the stereotype of being violent.

7. LIFESTYLE
Many artists have made money from selling records, millions of dollars – some could not
stand all the cash flow and they have become addicted to drugs, the 80’s and 90’s have also
been times were drugs were easier to find than ever before. Since then many rappers become
addicted and exposed to drugs.

8. LABELS
Many different record labels such as aftermath or DefJam have been founded by early
rappers, many by Gangsta Rappers. Gangsta rap is a subgenre, popularized by artists such
as 50 Cent, trafficking drugs and growing up on the street – then creating music about that
life, however these individuals belonged to different gangs whilst on the streets, now grudges
are held and “diss” tracks are often dropped to show who is better.