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The Musical Elements of Hip-Hop


This lesson earlier presented the socio-cultural components of hip-hop. Now, let's take an in-depth look at the music itself. In Black Noise (1994), her seminal work on hip-hop, Tricia Rose identifies the genre's "primary properties" as flow, layering, and rupture. Let's look at each property:

 

Flow:A lyrical delivery or rapping style; rhyming continuously and smoothly on the beat or instrumental. Within hip-hop contexts, flow refers to the observable aesthetic qualities of performance-most notably in emceeing. Indeed, within hip-hop music, the term has become synonymous with lyrical delivery or rapping style. Thus, people speak of a hip-hop lyricist as having a "good flow" or flowing in a particular song. Adam Bradley (2017, 6) addresses the polyrhythmic aspects of flow by explaining that these "distinct lyrical cadence[s]" rely on tempo, timing, and, at their best, are "moments of calculated rhythmic surprise" that are judged "in relation to the beat."

 

Layers:Stacking different media and performative modes, such as recorded vocal or instrumental, to create dissonant and clashing qualities. samples Layers "selectively and dramatically" bring "incompatible layers of sound . . . into conflict with each other," resulting in sensations of beauty, fear, hardness, and ultimately realness (Krims 2000, 54). Krims goes on to discuss how, in opposition to the unifying effect of flow, hip-hop music employs "dissonant harmonic combinations" and "clashing timbral qualities" (ibid, 73) to showcase its polyrhythmic aspect. This practice of layering different media and performative modes, such as recorded vocal or instrumental samples, is pervasive across a range of hip-hop expressive practices.

Hip hop producer and rapper RZA in a music studio with two collaborators

Hip hop producer and rapper RZA in a music studio with two collaborators

RuptureConsistent modifications (or breaks) in musical percussion that continuously undermine and reestablish rhythmic stability, creating an on-beat/off-beat effect. Consistent modifications (or breaks) in musical percussion continuously undermine and reestablish rhythmic stability (Katz 2012, 24), creating an on-beat/off-beat effect that affiliates recognize as decidedly hip-hop. In addition, ruptures produce sensations of spontaneity through their apparent randomness-if they were predictable, they would lose their disruptive effect.

Tupac "Only God Can Judge Me"

Only God can judge me, is that right?
(Only God can judge me now)
(Only God baby)
Nobody else, nobody else
All you other motherf---ers get out my business
(Only God can judge me now)

Kendrick Lamar "Mortal Man"

As I lead this army, make room for mistakes and depression.