Comparison of Rock vs Rap History - Term Paper Example

Rock vs. Rap 2005 History Rock-and-Roll was first used in 1951 by Alan Freed, Cleveland disc jockey, taken from the song 'My Baby Rocks Me with a Steady Roll'.The use of rock, roll, rock and roll was traditional in blues, a form of popular music that evolved in the 1950's from rhythms and blues, though elements of rock and roll appeared in rhythm and blues records as far back as the 1920s. [ ] Rocking was a term first used by gospel singers in the American South to mean something akin to spiritual rapture. It started with slavery, from the identified 'black musical heritage from slave work songs through Ragtime, Blues, Jazz, Gospel, R&B'. [ Townsend, 2001] White America began to imitate and adapt black music. Thus the hybrid forms arrived; later rock 'n' roll incorporated Country and Western, Swing, Classical, Big Band, Folk, and even Tin Pan Alley musical elements. By the 1940s, the term was used as a double entendre, referring to dancing, but with the hidden subtextual meaning of sex (it's Roy Brown's 'Good Rocking Tonight'), that was usually related to 'race music' and was rarely heard by white audiences. [Townsend, 2001] Rock appeared at a time when racial tensions in the United States came to their surface, as a combination of elements of white and black music. On March 21, 1952 in Cleveland, Alan Freed (Moondog) organized the first rock and roll concert, titled 'The Moondog Coronation Ball'. By the end of the decade it had spread throughout the world. The 'Fabulous Fifties' were the Happy Days of rock. In the late 1970s new forms of music, particularly punk rock and rap and hip-hop (in the late 1980s) emerged to fill the shocking and offending role of music in society. The influence of rap started in the Jamaica, then New York City, eventually getting to the west coast. [Hagar, 1984] Rap music, rooted in the tradition of Afro-American storytelling, it the early 1980's was popular among black people, and less acceptable among whites. Rap and hip-hop is a culture, a way of life for a society of people who identify, love and cherish rap music, break dancing, DJing and graffiti. It started with Jamaican born DJ Kool Herc who moved to New York in the late 1960's and brought the Jamaican tradition of 'toasting' which involved improvised rhymes over instrumental sections of reggae records. This trend became popular at discos, where the presence of MC was obligatory. Grand Wizard Theodore was the first DJ to scratch. Gangsta rap as the most controversial style of the rap music genre, originated in New York in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s go go, emerged as a reaction against disco, mixed with hip hop, and it developed in a more complex form. In the 90s it became mainstream, beginning with the release of Dr.Dre's 'The Chronic' (1992). From 1997 with Bad Boy Records it began to be merged with teen pop, when Eminem, Jay-Z and Nelly became very popular. [Nelson, 2000] 2. Music Lyrics Rock as a from of music usually features vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and strong back beat. Other instruments, such as the saxophone, are very common in its some styles. Early rock and roll combined elements of blues, boogie woogie, jazz, rhythm and blues, and was influenced by traditional Appalachian folk music, gospel and country and western. Bill Haley and His Comets' 'Rock Around the Clock', released in 1954, became a smash, the best selling record of the entire year across America and then in England; Bo Diddley's album, released early 1955, 'perked up the ears of many young listeners'. The Platters' 'Only You', released mid-1955, was totally preferred by teenagers in the fifties; Chuck Berry's 'Maybellene', recorded May 1955, indicated how 'rapidly things were changing'; Little Richard's 'Tutti Frutti', recorded September 1955, 'still hold its own against the hardest hitting rock of any era'; Carl Perkins' 'Blue Suede Shoes' (Dec 1955), and Elvis Presley' s 'Heartbreak Hotel' created the real rock 'n' roll revolution. [Townsend, 2001] Sixties are know by Dylan's records ('The Times They Are A-Changin'', 'Highway 61 Revisited'), in the 1960s rock 'n' roll arrived in England, that was connected with the frustration of teenage life in a working class community. Rock was adapted in England with the help of Cliff Richard (and the Shadows) and Screaming Lord Sutch (and the Savages). The Beatles, of course, founded the movement and built the mold both within England and across the ocean. The Rolling Stones at that time became the most popular and prolific rock band of all, and are known by their initial masterpiece, 'Satisfaction' (1964) and stinging sarcasm of 'A Well Respected Man' (1965). Late 1970s are known for The Stranglers', The Psychedelic Furs', The Only Ones' reflection of their use of heroin in their lyrics. Though later bands such as Guns 'N Roses, Jane's Addiction, Primal Scream, Ministry and Grunge rock movement of the 1980s were associated 'with a resurgence in abuse of heroin and other hard drugs'. The Madchester bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s such as Happy Mondays also promoted drug use in their lyrics. [Townsend, 2001] Later, many rap and hip hop bands began to glamorize and promote drug use in songs. Gangsta rap - Ice T's 'Rhyme Pays' (1987) were full of 'tales of crime and violence to outright misogyny' together with N.W.A.'s underground album 'Straight Outta Compton' (1988). This music is distinctive for 'its rich descriptive storytelling laid over heavy funk samples from Parliament-Funkadelic, Sly Stone, James Brown, Rick James, Average White Band, Ohio Palyers, and George Clinton. It depicted 'the hustler lifestyle and low-budget blaxploitation movies of the 1970s, which glorified blacks as criminals, pimps, pushers, prostitutes, and gangsters'. Rap's defenders claim that 'reliance on crime, drugs, prostitution, violence, and sexual promiscuity' in their lyrics is only the features of their daily existence, and thus they have acquired public notoriety. Its lyrics were perceived as 'promoting violence, promiscuity, drug use and misogyny'. [Toop, 1991] 'Rappers Delight' by the Sugar Hill Gang on Sylvia and Joey Robinson's Sugar Hill label is known as one of the first rap recordings: utilizing beats from a wide variety of sources such as old gospel, jazz, James BrownMotown soul, funk, disco, drum machines, and remixing them became known as sampling - the musical core of rap. [Fernando, 1995] 'White Lines' is famous for its anti-drug theme, and 'The Message' - about ghetto life in the black neighborhood - achieved their favorable reaction. Rap style was innovated in soul and funk music, and generally catered to the MC, amplifying the importance of lyrical and delivering prowess. [ Samuels, 1991] 3. Performers There are many doubts as to what should be considered the first rock and roll record. Here belong such performers as Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats, and later more widely-known Chuck Berry's hits and Bo Diddley's and Bill Harley and His Comets' ones. Some historians also name such musicians as Fats Domino and Louis Jordan, Jack Guthrie, and Benny Carter. The Fabulous Fifties were the time of Peggy Sue and 'it was when Elvin was King'. In its 60's rock and roll was treated as 'oldie' music, whereas rock from the Beatles was present; Dylan, Stones, Beatles, Doors, Hendrix were heard from popular AOR radio stations. There existed many diversifications of American rock such as surf music (exemplified by Dick Dale, The Surfaris, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean), Australian rock (The Atlantics), British rock (Cliff Richard and the Shadows, having introduced a 'lead guitarist' and an electric bass; The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Yardbirds, The Who, and The Kinks), Garage Rock (The Sonics, the Mysterians, the Stanbells), Bob Dylan's folk-rock, Psychedelic rock (Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, Iron Butterfly, the Grateful Dead; a more esoteric form of British psychedelia was exemplified by the Soft Machine, where Pink Floyd found their roots), progressive rock (with the guitar-bass-drum format, experimenting with sections, string sections, and full orchestration: King Crimson, Genesis, Gentle Giant, The Nice, Yes, Gong, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Magma, Can, Pink Floyd, Faust), heavy metal music (Black Sabath, Deep Purple), arena rock (Queen, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Boston, Styx, Foreigner, Journey), classic rock (Queeen, Led Zeppelin, ACDC, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, Van Halen), Mexican rock (Ray Charles), punk rock (Sex Pistols, The Ramones), heavy metal (Metallica, Guns n' Roses), Chinese rock (Cui Jian), grunge bands (Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots), Indie rock (Superchunk, Ani DiFranco), alternative rock (Kurt Cobain, the Foo Fighters, Green Day, Radiohead, Alanis Morossette, Jewel, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and Liz Phair), and nu-metal bands such as Linkin Park, Slipknot, Static-X, Creed, Disturbed, and Limp Bizkit; musical underground of early 2000s was occupied by The White Stripes, The Strokes, Jet, The Vines, The Hives. Rock music today is represented by such pop rock artists like Pink, Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson, and Kelly Clarkson. [Townsend, 2001] There are several people who made their contribution to American rap - DJ Theodore, the inventor of a technique, called 'scratching', DJ George Saddler, Grandfather Flash, an expert at 'punch phasing', Bob Marley, as an 'ambassador and spokesman of the 'Hip Hop' culture'. [Hagar, 1982] Gangsta rap, as its most controversial style, was associated with the West Coast, particularly Los Angeles due to such rappers as Ice Cube, Ice T, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Doggy Dogg. [Cooks, 1983] In the late 1990s it was Schooly D's Smoke Some Kill (1987) and Boogie Down Production's Criminal Minded (1987). Grand Master Flash's anti-cocaine single 'White Lines (don't do it)' has become a classic rap anthem and an international hit in 1983. 1984 became known by RUN D.M.C exploded a new style of rap in their 'My Adidas'; KRS-1 was famous for solo releasing 'My Philosophy' as a retaliation to end the violence. In 1991 Salt-N-Pepa's 'Lets Talk About Sex' became the most commercially successful rap duo of all time; and DJ Jazzy and the Free Prince were awarded the first ever 'Best Rap Performance' Grammy for 'Parents Just Don't Understand'. Rap music of 1980s is famous with the names of Kurtis Blow, the crew Black Noise, and its widespread in France (Dee Nasty), in the Phillipines (Dyords Javier, Vincent Dafalong), in Puerto Rico (Vico C). The first female rapper was Philadelhia-based Lady B. in 1980; latin hip hop is connected with DJ Disco Wiz and Kid Frost; the most popular style of latin rap was reggaeton. [Thigpen, 1991] In late 1990s white rappers achieved their approval: the Beastie Boys, Vanilla Ice, 3rd Bass, Eminem. [Nelson, 2000] Snoop Doggy Dogg has become the first rapper to occupy the number one with his album 'Doggystyle' (1993). [Fernando, 1995] Rap music dominates the US chats with such present artists as 50 cent, Snoop Dogg, Puff Daddy, Nelly, Eminem, and Jay Z. 4. Social impact The influence of rock and roll is far-reaching, and has had significant impact worldwide on fashion, film styles, and attitudes towards sex and sexuality and use of drugs and alcohol. This impact is broad, so that 'rock and roll' is also considered to be a life style, not only a form of music. Rock's social impact on the world has been credited with ending wars, spreading peace and tolerance, as well as corrupting the innocent and spreading moral rot. As for rock music, black music found newer and stronger means 'to express the solidarity felt within the black community, how it differed from the white controlled world, and how African Americans were becoming proud of the difference'. [Townsend, 2001] Music itself was central to the community identity; and at that time 'most white Americans lacked any sense of group alienation', and white teenagers' liking black music was 'tantamount to wanting to join the group'. [Townsend, 2001] From its beginning rock and roll 'was associated with youth, rebellion, and anti-establishment'. 'The combination of black influences, suggestive lyrics, and wild response by the younger' shocked the older generation; in the early 1970s, rock songs and acts began to be used in a few television commercials, in film and television program soundtracks. The rock lifestyle was associated with sex and drugs: in the 1960s when psychedelic music arose, some musicians were under the influence of LSD or other hallucinogenic drugs (the Beatles, publicly using marijuana). Rock music was in close relationship with the hippie and counterculture movements, and some rock musicians and rock fans were experimenting with many types of drugs. [Townsend, 2001] Rock music have been also linked to fashion: thus, leather-clad image of early rockers such as the Rolling Stones influenced young people generation on both sides of the ocean. Being the early adopters of hippie fashion, rock musicians introduced such styles as the Nehru jacket. Rock musicians have sometimes attempted to address social issues as commentary or as calls to action. During the Vietnam War the first rock 'protest songs' were heard: Peter, Paul and Mary, Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young; John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The adopted causes of the environment issues: Marvin Gaye's 'Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)', the anti-aparthied movement: Peter Gabriel's 'Biko', and violence in Northern Ireland (U2's 'Sunday, Bloody Sunday') and worldwide economic policy (The Dead Kennedys' 'Kill the Poor'). Rock and roll took part as social activism in the Live Aid and Farm Aid concerts in England and the USA. Gangster rap had become mainstream America, where the kids were 'idolizing those that preached the narcotics, gang lifestyle'. Kids emulated rappers, talking and dressing like them. Gangsta rappers have become high-profile figures, they featured in Hollywood films ('Boyz 'n' the Hood' (1991), 'New Jack City' (1991), 'Menace II Society' (1993)), which showed ghetto life to the masses. Rap has become popular with those who have no direct experience with the lifestyle it depicts. For white middle-class male youth it fulfills the same role as the blaxploitation films. [Nelson, 2000] Rap music, associated with hip-hop culture, is as well associated with slang and fashion. Hip Hop fashion includes wearing of 'baggy jeans slung low around the waist, gold or platinum chains and boots or a fresh pair of kicks, and bandanas or doo rags tied around the head often worn with a baseball cap on top'. It has produced a significant social impact on modern youth: sometimes rebellious, egoistic and degenerate attitudes often portrayed in the lyrics have shown their negative effects on some of their idolizing fans. [Hagar, 1982] So, music, rap and rock one, being one of the most powerful means to influence people, have both originated from Afro-American traditions, and was primarily popularized by the black. Later, under the influence of historic and social circumstances, rock and rap were accepted by the whites, and became an essential part of American culture, forming the whole generations of its society, and reflecting the current global social events. References 1. Cooks, J. & Koepp, S. "Time": "Chilling Out on Rap Flash; New city music brings out the last word in wild style", March 21, 1983, U.S. Edition 2. Fernando, S. H., Jr. (1995) The New Beats: Exploring the Music Culture and Attitudes of Hip-Hop. Edinburgh, Payback Press 3. Hagar, S. (1984) "Hip Hop; The Illustrated History of Break Dancing, Rap Music, and Graffiti," New York: St. Martin's Press 4. Hagar, S. (1982) "Village Voice:" "Afrika Bambaataa's Hip Hop", September 21 5. Nelson, G. (2000) Hip Hop America. Penguin Book. ISBN 0140280227 6. Samuels, D. (1991) "The New Republic": "The Rap on Rap: the Black Music that Isn't Either", November 11 7. Thigpen, D. (1991) "Time": "Not for Men; Women Rappers are Breaking the Mold with a Message of their Own", May 27 8. Toop, D. (1984) "The Rap Attack; African Jive to New York Hip Hop;" Boston: South End Press 9. Toop, D. (1991) Rap Attack 2: African Rap to Global Hip Hop. London, Serpent's Tail 10. Townsend, D.N. (2001) Changing the World: Rock 'n' Roll Culture and Ideology. Read More