This technique first came from Jamaican dub music, but evolved much further at these New York block parties. By repeatedly spinning back to the same section then cutting back and forth between the records with the mixer, he could extend particular passages into endless loops. This raw percussion was ideal for dancing, so in order to extend these sections, DJ Kool Herc would have a duplicate record on hand which he cued up on a second turntable and dropped in just as the break on the first record came to an end. Popular songs at the time commonly featured a ‘break’ section, where the instrumentation dropped down to just the drums for a few bars before the rest of the band kicked back in. It was here that DJ Kool Herc pioneered a technique called ‘breaking’, which was to have a massive influence on the fledgling hip-hop scene and change the overall direction of music forever. Meanwhile, regular block parties were held where DJs played funk and soul records. ![]() Early rap hits such as “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang (1979) and “The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow (1980) were recorded with live studio bands, pre-dating the prevalence of electronic music in the mainstream. We have to imagine and appreciate the salad days before any conventions for how to make a hip-hop beat were established. ![]() In this way, hip-hop culture helped channel aggression into a healthy, creative outlet instead of violence and crime, which helped people cope with hardship, boosted self-esteem, and ultimately saved lives. Local conflicts could be resolved and grievances could be aired in the form of breakdance or rap battles rather than fighting. Although rap music has come to dominate hip-hop culture, as it was the easiest to scale up for a more mainstream audience, initially each of these components was regarded as equal and interconnected. But the culture was not limited to music DJs played instrumental hip-hop beats as an accompaniment for rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti art – known collectively as the ‘pillars of hip-hop’. The music is often used as a vehicle to express socially conscious and political themes, shining a light on racism, inequality, and police brutality. Facing neglect from the state and a lack of opportunity in disadvantaged, often impoverished neighborhoods, hip-hop provided inner-city youths with a platform, a sound of their own with which to voice their own interests and issues, plus the chance for financial gain and upward social mobility.īuilt on these foundations, hip-hop established and has retained a progressive, independent culture with a somewhat anti-establishment agenda. The genre originally emerged out of housing projects in the Bronx that were home to predominantly working class, African American communities. ![]() ![]() To properly understand the context and give due credit to the importance of hip-hop music and culture, we have to go back to the roots in 1970s New York City. That said, instrumental hip-hop takes the formula of the functional hip-hop beat from the background and puts it right in center stage, giving artists the freedom to push into more experimental sounds, with greater flexibility to showcase more complex musical twists and turns. Some of the heaviest tracks require a light touch not cluttering the mix and leaving ample space for the vocal part to cut through takes a degree of subtlety and control, a keen ear for detail that comes with experience. Rapping is generally the main focus of hip-hop music, positioned in the forefront of the mix and the listener’s attention, and producers tend to think of this specifically when making a hip-hop beat.
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