Introduction
Genres, what are they?
We categorise our musical tastes and styles into genres, which helps us to analyse the musical elements of those musics. In this blog I will be writing about two styles- EMM and Rap. Both of these are modern genres originating from the 20th Century. EDM- EDM stands for the electronic dance music. EDM can be used for the dance music and disco. Electronic dance music is that Electronic dance music, also known as dance music, club music, or simply dance, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves and festivals. And Rap-Rapping is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates “rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular”, which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment.
What is the EDM?
EDM stands for Electronic Dance Music. The purpose of this music is unlike any other- It is for dancing, raving and clubbing. EDM (Electronic Dance Music) is an umbrella term that refers to a wide variety of similar (but not identical) music genres. So what makes this music suitable for the purpose?
For a fact, it is strange that EDM rarely uses lyrics- afterall, the point of this genre is not to tell a message or heartfelt emotions. But for the purpose of dance, I will be looking at the dance like features and musical techniques and technology.
Where did EDM come from?
The first ancestor of modern dance music was likely the music of disco artist Giorgio Moroder. Other examples of early EDM-style pieces include the electronic music. All of these artists were working in the late 1970s, when the popularity of disco music was about to see a sharp decline.
After the virtual death of disco, the early 1980 were used as a time of musical experimentation for those looking to make new dance music. Over time, more and more synthesizers and drum tracks came into play, eventually becoming the various genres of EDM we know today.
What are the genres of EDM?
As we mentioned, there are a number of music genres that fall under the EDM category but these are the main three sub-genres:As we mentioned, there are a number of music genres that fall under the EDM category but these are the main three sub-genres:
- House Music — This type of music typically includes mid-tempo percussion, lots of shuffling hi-hats, jazzy keyboards, and tropical sounds such as congas, timbales, and horns. House music gives off a warm sort of vibe and generally adds a positive feeling to the room.
- Techno Music — Some might describe techno as cold or mechanical—quite the opposite of the warm house music discussed above. It includes plenty of experimental sounds and strives to give off a futuristic feel much of the time.
- Trance Music — Trance music is, as the name suggests, a hypnotic genre of music. It is very focused on the build-up and break-down of the song, making the melody the focus.
How can I learn to make EDM?
The next step is to find a good digital audio workstation, also known as a DAW. Essentially, this is the software you’ll use to build your music and the most important tool for creating your art. A good DAW will likely cost a bit of money, but will include some synths and drum samples to get you started.
Equipped with the basics of music and a good DAW, you’re ready to begin experimentation. Watch YouTube videos, gather all the knowledge you can, listen to your favourite electronic dance music, and play with your workstation as much as possible. The more you immerse yourself and focus on your music, the better you’ll become. This is also true in Hip-Hop/Rap production.
Rap music is undeniably one of the most popular music genres to date but how well do you know the history of rap? Join me as I take a stroll down memory lane and revisit the origins of what we know today as Hip-Hop.
What does rapping mean?
Rap is actually a very old word. You can find the term popping up as early as the 15th and 16th century in Britain. Initially the word rap meant to strike or to hit. A few centuries later a slight variation of this definition appeared which meant to speak or talk. In America around the 1960’s it began to pop up in the black community and was used as a slang word to mean that someone was talking or having a conversation.Rap is actually a very old word. You can find the term popping up as early as the 15th and 16th century in Britain. Initially the word rap meant to strike or to hit. A few centuries later a slight variation of this definition appeared which meant to speak or talk. In America around the 1960’s it began to pop up in the black community and was used as a slang word to mean that someone was talking or having a conversation.
What is rap music?
Rapping is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates “rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular”, which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. also the rap music now as hip hop.Spreading from its origins in African American communities in 1970s New York City, today hip hop has arrived in virtually every corner of the globe.
Where did rap music came from?
Rapping can be traced back to its African roots. Centuries before hip-hop music existed, the griots of West Africa were delivering stories rhythmically, over drums and very little instrumentation.
The first mainstream rap song emerges
Origins – Hip hop music was born in the 1970s at a period when block parties were becoming popular in the South Bronx neighbourhoods of New York City, especially among African-American youths. The block parties were dominated by DJs whose playlists included funk and soul music. These DJs also began to play the occasional breaks of common music using the turntables to lengthen the break period. Rapping slowly developed with the artist speaking along the instrumental beats. Hip hop music diversified into more complex style with several artists developing interest in the genre. The term hip hop is attributed to Keith Cowboy who used it to tease a friend who had joined the US Army. He later adopted the hip hop stance as part of his stage performance.
Cultural and Artistic Significance – Early hip hop music is often credited with having reduced the numbers and influences of gangs which roamed the cities, as many gang members were seen abandoning physical fights and replacing them with hip hop battles. However, with the emergence of gangster hip hop music, artists have emphasized on use of drugs, weapons, and violence. Furthermore, women have often been marginalized with many of the songs produced by some Hip Hop artists by way of lyrics hyper-sexualizing and stereotyping women.
Why did rap music change?
Hip-hop has won the 21st century. No other cultural form has been as influential on pop music, fashion, youth culture. It has even penetrated politics. When Barack Obama was president, he regularly invited rapper and producer Jay-Z to the White House. Donald Trump has even got in on the act, hosting singer Kanye West at the (suitably bling) Trump Tower. Fortunes have been made and millions of records been sold. The music that dominates today’s streaming sites is the direct descendant of hip-hop—which is now equally popular among white and black listeners.
Despite its success, though, many people think of rap music—the most successful element of hip-hop culture—as misogynistic, materialistic and violent. A musical form driven by furious energy and creative vigour has been overshadowed by its content, which often seems to conform to the worst stereotypes of aggressive masculinity. Rap can come across as delinquent and aggressive, gangsta and quite bad-boy. One of the most popular albums of the 90s was Get Rich or Die Tryin’ by 50 Cent, was about his life as a crack dealer on the streets of New York. Eminem, the world’s most excelling white rapper adopted by hip-hop godfather Dr Dre. Eminem became the most popular rapper in 2000s. He often referred to himself as a violent maniac. “Kim” is more hate song than love song, in which the rapper imagines killing his ex-wife in the woods. So violence, drugs and wealth are common themes in rap.
But rap music hasn’t always been so violent. Long before songs about “bitches” and “bling” conquered the world, rappers were exploring politics and parties—the whole range of human experience. As unlikely as it might seem, until fairly recently rap was pretty wholesome. So what changed?
Hip Hop artists known as “A Tribe Called Quest”, released alternative Hip Hop tracks. They were the first New York group in the early 1990s wearing coloured shirts, comical hats and baggy trousers. They aimed to have a silly character and to be humorous in their rap. They were very unique in their use of sampling (taking pre-existing music and using it), layering, and structuring of jazz records. Although they did not intend to be associated with ‘Jazz-rap’, their sounds were a great combination of both. Their album ‘Beats, Rhymes and Life’ is the group’s fourth album, went on to be number 1 in the charts and went gold by the end of the year and then platinum by 1998. “1nce Again” also became one of their hits to be considered the best in Rap.
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