Rap Music
Rap music is basically talked-out poetry (or rather speech poetry) mixed in with small pieces of music that are usually played over and over repetitively. This sample of music can either be original or can be from another piece that is older. Usually, the sample tends to be either from disco or funk music.
Rap music was started in the mid-1970s in New York by African American disk jockeys who played samples of music and remixed and added other sounds to it (such as the scratch of a phonograph), and then talked out the poetry to go along with the music. The poetry would be about anything that was going on throughout the streets, such as stories of life on the streets. Usually, along with the music and the speech poetry, there would be a breakdancer who would perform such moves as headspins.
It was during the 1980's that rap music became more popular. Rap groups, mostly African Americans, such as NWA(Ni__az With Attitude), Public Enemy, RunDMC, and KRS-One, were forming. It was beginning to become popular too with Caucasians. The main things that were the cause of the popularity of the music were the lyrics and the dancing. Unfortunately, many people were beginning to become worried with some of the rap artists over some of the content of the music, which mentioned killing and drug-dealing. This did not hinder progress of rap music, though.
Today, the popularity of the music remains strong. There are a great number of rap groups and soloists performing and recording. Just walk into a local modern music store, and there is sure to be many advertisements for rap, and chances are that a rap song will be playing when you enter.
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