African American Music - Essay Example

In attendance were also young audiences from the general population. This implies that urban music, like hip hop performed by African American artists like Usher, has evolved. For sure, today they are gender and race-neutral. Moreover, it is their race and gender neutrality that has resulted in their popularity in urban areas.

Overall Analysis
Hip-hop music is rap music. Hip-hop consists of stylistic rhythm music. This is usually accompanied by a chanted rhyming and rhythmic speech, rapping. The hip-hop genre, like any of the music that developed as part of the hip-hop culture, has got four distinct stylistic elements. These include graffiti writing, scratching/DJing, break dancing, and rapping/MCing. In addition, its styles include beatboxing, synthesis, and instrumental tracks. Hip hop's stylistic origins include dancehall, talking blues, performance poetry, dub, disco, rhythm and blues, funk, spoken word, toasting, the dozens, reggae, and scat singing. Its styles also originated from the Bronx, New York (Hess, 78).

The typical instruments that are synonymous with hip hop include drum machine, beatboxing vocals, synthesizer, piano, guitar, turntable, DAW, rapping, sampler, bass guitar, and drums. The derivative forms like old school jungle, breakbeat hardcore, and trip-hop.
Hip-hop is a very engaging type of genre. Usher was able to directly engage his audience. Indeed, young audiences prefer solo artists like Usher. This is because as he soloes they feel involved and sing and dance with him through the song. In addition, the choice of his message was highly timed thus contributing to the direct participation. Moreover, Usher performances are usually race-neutral, and they are never controversial. Thus, the audiences often feel respected, and this drives them to join in the movements with the solo artist.

The performance took place on a well-lighted stage. This was consistent with the plain dressing style of Usher. With pair of blue jeans trousers, a white T-shirt, and a grey jacket, Usher delivered his message. In addition, he adopted a quiet movement coupled with a mellow style. This visual imagery, together with the soft movement style adopted by Usher, enabled him to effectively deliver his message. However, the noteworthy aspect of his performance was the harmony in his tone and the instruments. Usher skillfully connected his chants and the instrument keys and plays. This was engaging, and it is partly what propelled the audience to join the dance floor.

I also believe that the choice of instruments like piano, combined with guitar and drums results in unique instrument play that drives the crowd crazy as happened in DJ Hero. Moreover, the dance style that the artist chooses to use determines the level that the audience will feel engaged in the performance.