Post on 30-May-2018
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Liner Notes
Liner Notes
Before there was Hip-Hop . . .
This module examines themany predecessors to Hip-Hop. A true appreciationfor rap music requires adecent grounding in itsmusical roots.
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Liner Notes
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Introduction
This module is intended to be a primer on theevolution of Black music leading up to Hip-Hop.
Many people discount the influence of othergenres on early Hip-Hop. This module is
intended to shed light onto the long musicaltradition which Hip-Hop has joined.
Please spend time to listen to the variouslinks . . . Rap music has used sampling toreinvent the music of yesteryear.
There is a brief evaluation at the end (similarto the deejay module)
This section will be used to highlight interesting tidbits about themusic.
Various soundfiles will beplaced here. Click the imageto play sound.Double clickmovie files. Billie Holiday God Blessthe Child
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Introduction
This module isintended to be aprimer on theevolution of Blackmusic leading up toHip-Hop.
Many people discountthe influence of othergenres on early Hip-Hop. Thispresentation isintended to shedlight onto the longmusical tradition
which Hip-Hop hasjoined.
This section will be used to highlight interesting tidbits about themusic.
Various soundfiles will beplaced here. Click the imageto play sound.Double clickmovie files. Billie Holiday God Blessthe Child
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practicing what you preach
For a five year period, the bestHigh school parties in the city took
Place at Fordham Prep Your Professor was the presidentOf Kawaida, the African-American
Club as well as one of 5 peopleOn the executive board of student
Government [meaning he had some
Pull and used it at every opportunity] In addition to DJ Clue, S&S, andA spot appearance by Kid Capri,Ron G blessed us twice with his skills
This flyer was given to Prof Ryan by a
former student who actually ATTENDED
parties at Fordham Prep.
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Characteristic of Black Music Rapping has been traced back to the griots [keepers of the history of
African tribes human repositories of fact, wit, and wisdom] of Africa. The storytelling of emcees, often informs the audience of the
current state of affairs within Hip-Hop (and sometimes theworld).
Jay-Z released a freestyle the same evening of 9/11. The Message -- Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five Mos Def released the Katrina Klap,which uses the beatfrom Juvenilles (who is from New Orleans) Nolia Clap
Underground emcees, those who have not gained commercial(I.e. mainstream) acclaim/success, have greater leeway to talkabout controversial subjects
While Kanye West spoke out on national Television, emceeImmortal Technique was joined by Mos Def for a track BinLaden
Typically, the years 1986-1994, where Public Enemy, X-Clan,Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, and a Tribe Called Quest were amajor part of this movement.
` Katrina
Klap by
Mos Def
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Common themes
Two themes in Black music, struggleagainst inequity and progress towardsfreedom
Beginning with slave songs and spirituals andcontinuing through gospel, jazz, Motown and rap, thelyrical content of Black music has typically mirrored the
trial and tribulation which many Black Americans wereencountering.
With slavery ending in 1865, the Jim Crow Era, TheCivil Rights Movement, the urban renewal of the1970s and 1980s and even the economic boom of the1990s . . . The music has often followed the plight ofthe people.
The mainstream success of rap music has toned downsome of the messages, emcees such as Nas, TalibKweli, Paris, Common, Jean Grae, the Coup andScarface still mix message and entertainment.
KRS-Ones 1991 album Edutainment,coined the term.
The albums self-titled single proclaimed:
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Predecessors to rap
Early (1977-1984) Rap music was heavily influencedby the sounds and styles of the music of the 60sand 70s.
Disco, R&B, and reggae/dub (migration from the Caribbeanallowed deejays to bring their personal knowledge directly intothe culture).
As knowledge of production methods and studiomanagement matured, distinct sounds began toemerge:
jazz-fusion (east coast) funk (west coast) drum and bass (south)
Today, rap music is fused by many genres, from rockand roll (popularized by Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock)
to reggaeton (I.e. Daady Yankee).
This module will cover the musical influences which impactedHip-Hop until 1970. Disco and later will be coveredseparately.
Bootsy Collinsand George Clinton(below) were two of thebiggest stars in the funkmovement of the 1970s.The early dress in Hip-Hop closely mirrors thisperiod.
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Predecessors to rap
The political scene of the late 1960 and early 1970salso played a role in shaping the ideologies of earlyemcees.
Poets such as Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, NikkiGiovanni, and Gil Scott Heron (best known fort hispoem stating The Revolution will Not be
Televised) brought activism and awareness to theiraudience. The Last Poets are typically given the most credit for
transferring the image of poetry By using poetry as a platform of self-expression, they convinced
an urban audience to be more accepting of poetry (which hadlong been considered an upper-class thing)
The Last Poets first performed in Marcus Garvey Park on theanniversary of Malcolm Xs birthday (May 19, 1968)
Playing the dozens and the fast paced whit involvedcan be seen in early rap battles and has beenpopularized by televised freestyle battles on MTV
The African-American tradition of playing the dozens is when twoacquaintances go head to head in a contest of often good-natured, "trash-talk". They take turns insulting one another, their adversary's mother, orother family member until one of them has no comeback.
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Importance of the last poets
Darius James, in his book "That's Blaxploitation!" (St.Martin's Griffin, 1995) talks of the impact of the LastPoets:
Most importantly, they made you think and kept you"correct" on a revolutionary level. We all connected. 'Cause
it was a Black communal thing. Like the good vibes and
paper plate of red-peppered potato salad at a neighborhood
barbecue.
The words and the rhythms were relevant. We joined
together around the peace pipe and the drum. And when it
came to the rhythms of the drums, the drums said, "Checkyour tired-ass ideology at the door."
This clip from the movie Freestyle
introduces the Last Poets. The clipbegins with a brief sound-bite fromMohammad Ali. Ali used wordseffectively to taunt his opponents.
Video Link:
http://www.sharehiphop.com/
nclc375/video1.mp4
Gil Scott Heron and Last Poets use poetry to promote the idea ofchange as serious revolution . Rap music took its cue fromthese early emcees.
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Call and Response a statement given by a song leaderthat is immediately followed by a response from a chorus
Preachers in the Black church often use this technique toengage the congregation - - Can I get an Amen?
Below are a few examples from rap music Can I kick It . . . YES YOU CAN!
A Tribe Called Quest Whos House . . . RUNS HOUSE!
RUN DMC You down wit OPP . . . YEAH YOU KNOW ME!
Naughty by Nature A-Yo . . . A-IGHT
KRS-ONE
Somewhat distinct to black music
The deejay was the first crowd master, they spoke to the crowd throughtheir musical selections and would sometimes use call and responsemethods. Cowboy of the Furious Five is often called the first hype-manspeaking to the crowd through chants.
Listen to Naughty byNature, OPP
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Somewhat distinct to black music Call to action a statement given by a song leader which calls
for a physical response from the audience This practice began in early rap as the party was the main scene
for Hip-Hop The deejay was the main vocal leader before Grand Master Flash
began to use emcees to speak to the crowd Early examples of: Throw Your hands in the Air or Pump Your
Fist gave way to video-induced, more explicit calls from many of
todays emcees. Below are a few examples from rap music
Jump Around (House of Pain) Throw Ya guns in the air (Onyx) Jump . . . (Kriss Kross) Slam . . . (Onyx) Put Ya Hands where my Eyes can See (Busta Rhymes) Lean Back (Fat Joe) Shake it Fast (Mystikal) -- an example of stadium or
anthem music Take Your Shirt Off (Petey Pablo)
Today, these songs in Hip-Hop are sometimes called anthem rapsongs. These songs gain recognition when they are played in largestadium events where the crowd typically reacts to the call to action.
This clip from the movie Freestyleshows crowd response from various
Hip-Hop acts: Black Eyed Peas (pre-Fergie), De La Soul, early Eminem,
KRS-One, and the Ruler -- SlickRick
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Music of the early 1900s
Ragtime Text mirrored the arduous and oftenunfair conditions under which African-Americans livedand labored
Differed from spirituals as they lacked religiosityAs the name suggests, these were the songs they
sang as they worked (typically in the fields)
Popular in the late 1890s thru the early 1920sScott Joplin is considered a pioneer of ragtime
Classical JazzEarliest body of work to express the feelings ofAfrican -Americans
Popular musicians: Jelly Roll Morton Though not as popular as in the earlier part of the
century, Wynton Marsalis, among others has keptclassical jazz alive to a new generation.
Between 1909 and 1915, Morton appeared at Tom Anderson's Annexin New Orleans, as well as many other places in and out of the city.California became his base of operations from 1915 to 1923, Chicago
from 1923 to 1928, and New York from 1928 to 1935.
Jelly Roll Mortonsnippethttp://www.southernmusic.net/jellybio.htm
Scott Joplinsnippet,Reflection Rag
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Work Songs and Spirituals
Works songs Text mirrored the arduous and oftenunfair conditions under which African-Americans lived andlabored
Differed from spirituals as they lacked religiosity As the name suggests, these were the songs they sang as
they worked (in the fields, in chain gangs or on the railroads)
SpiritualsEarliest body of work to express the feelings of African -
Americans
Connected song and dance to produce an ecstatic state inparticipants . . . ceremony involved the whole group
The expressive part of this music became the backbone ofthe Black church, setting it a part from the moretraditional ceremonies of the South.
Both work songs and spirituals were popular fromthe 1870s to the early 1900s (< 1910)
In rural meetings, thousands slaves were gathered and listened toitinerant preachers, and sang spirituals, for hours. In the late1700s, they sang the precursors of spirituals, which were calledcorn ditties. www.negrospirituals.com
Listen to spirituals(click to listen . . .
Sorry could not findthese files)
This collection contains some of theearliest spirituals. Spiritualsevolved into early gospel.
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Coon Songs (1880-1920)
Minstrel Shows Popular in the early half of the 1800s typically had all
white casts in blackface
Actors would mock Negro culture to the delight of mainlywhite audiences
Coon Songs Ushered in with the advent of ragtime and benefited from
ragtimes acceptance into mainstream popular culture
Blended street culture, language and idiom into theperformance
Performed (sung) and written largely by African-Americansand provided the first insight into African-American culture
The most popular acts became the highest paid African-Americans, though royalties mainly went to whites
Coon songs were primarily written by Blacks.
White writers began to pen such songs when thefinancial gain became apparent.
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Popular Coon Songs
All Coons Look Alike to Me by Ernest Hogan(1896)
Spurred many copycats . . . All Chinks/Spaniards Look Alike . . . A Trip to Coontown by Cole and Johnson (1897) All I want is My Black Baby Back by Bessie
Gilliam (1898)
Im Tired of Dodging the Installment Man byCarrie Hall (1902) When a Coon Sits in the Presidential Chair by
Sally Cotrell (1899) Dats De Way to Spell CHICKEN (1902) by Sidney
Perrin Mammys Little Pumpkin Colored Coons (1902) by
Sidney Perrin
The colored man writes the Coon song, the colored singer sings the coon
song, the colored race is compelled to stand for the belittling and ignomy ofthe coon song, but the money for the coon song flows with ceaseless
activity into the white mans pockets. Indianapolis Freeman, August 1901
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Gospel Music
Began early 1920s and 30s Distinct characteristics
Hand clapping and foot stompingUnrestrained African vocalityAfrican-derived rhythms, textures, and performanceMusical accompaniment by piano (or organ) , guitar,tambourine, triangle and drums
Survival instinct was necessary in the 1920s a decade ofextremes that saw the resurgence of the KKK.
Gospel music remains a staple of the BlackChurch over time, it has evolved
Advances in musical accompaniment, individual style (I.e. thesoloist adds their persona to the song) and emerging trends
in music (Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin) have allowed gospel toremain relevant to a new generation.
Early Gospel (pre-1930 consisted of two kinds of groups: the allmale quartet who sung a capella and the all female group who sungwith a piano accompaniment.
The Bethel Lutheran Gospel Choir,
called the most spiritual Lutheran
choir on earth,
MahaliaJackson
Fisk JubileeSingers The Gospel
Wonders
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The Blues -- Coon Shouters
Began early 1920s and 30s Distinct Characteristics
Covers a wide range of musical expression, from classiccountry blues to blues-tinged jazz performances
Urban Blues were prominent until late1930s BessieSmith, Ma Rainey generates emotion, drama andmodality
Memphiswas a hotbed for the Blues. This tradition wouldcontinue with Stax records in the Motown era
The Great DepressionThe impact of the Great Depression should be kept inmind when considering the Blues
Unemployment hit African-Americans harder than anyother group . . . More than half were out of work
The New Deal helped create programs which helpedAfrican-Americans (and other groups)
Ma Rainey Clip Tough Luck Blues
BB King is a staple of Blues music
MuddyWaters
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Swing and Bebop
Swing music was popular from 1935-1945Popular musicians of that time include:Count Basie
(Kansas City), Duke Ellington (of Washington DC),Dizzy Gillespie and Fats Domino
Swing music also ushered in the era of big bandwhere audiences would gather to hear large bands
playing popular tunes. Bebop was popular from 1939-1950
Bebop grew out of improvisational sessions in NYC clubs.These sessions are sometimes compared to ciphers (whereemcees get together and freestyle) in Hip-Hop
Popular musicians: Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, DizzyGillespie, and Thelionious Monk
Much like Hip-Hop, many musicians transitionedfrom swing to bebop and beyond.
The free expression of swing even scared Hitler. The movie SwingKids details his obsession against swing music as German youthembraced what was considered immoral black jungle music
Photo copyright of Down Beat
magazine. www.swingmusic.net
Fats Domino Dizzy
Gillespie
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Bebop (cont.)
Bebop was popular from 1939-1950 Billie Holiday Strange Fruit (1939)
This song openly challenged lynchings (the strangefruit) . . . Protest in song was not accepted at that time
Billie Holiday did not write Strange Fruit . . . This does notdiminish her courage to perform it in countless venues
Bebop musicians, with Charlie Parker given the mostacclaim, used improvisation to enrich traditional scores. The typical bebop combo consisted of bass, drums, andpiano, with two horns.Name Bebop:
Dizzy Gillespie on the name bebop: We played a lot of original tunes that didnt have titles. We
just wrote an introduction and a first chorus and Id say, Dee-da-pa-da-bnde-bop. and wed go into it. People, when theyd
wanna ask for a song and didnt know the name, theyd ask forbebop. The press picked up on it and started calling it bebop
Doo-wop is a derivation of bebop. Popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Actslike Chubby Checker included performance as part of their show. Many ofthe sidewalk quartets popular at that time, were considered doo-wop.The term doo-wop was not coined until the 1970s and is still widelyargued (in terms of its accuracy and definition.)
TheloniousMonk Chubby
Checker
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Rock and roll Swing music was popular from 1935-1945
Chuck Berry, Bo Didley, Fats Domino, and Little Richard sharedthe Billboard chart with Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly. White copies of Black songs would often outsell the original.
Mos Defs Rock and Roll is a reminder to rap fanson the importance of rock and roll:
I said, Elvis Presley ain't got no soul (huh)Chuck Berry is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But they ain't come up with that style on they own (uh-uh)
Elvis Presley ain't got no SOULLLL (hell naw)
Little Richard is rock and roll (damn right)
You may dig on the Rolling Stones
But they ain't come up with that sh!t on they own
Jimi Hendrix was one of the most influential artists of his time. While he had many Black listeners, he once asked to play at the famed Apollo
Theater but was denied because his audience differed from theirdemographic.
Little Richard Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry inspired countless Detroitrockers. Backed by the Woolies, Chuckrocks a Motor City audience in 1971 atOakland Community College's UnionLake Campus.
www.appleson.com/Grit01.htm
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Name that sample
Much of rap music is based on sampling. Where aproducer (who is typically a deejay himself), usespart of a beat or melody from a previouslyrecorded song.
There is an excellent website: www.the-breaks.comwhich lists rap songs and the songs which itsampled. It even breaks the samples down bygenre (I.e. rock and roll, funk, country).
If you are into music, this is definitely a cool site.
Suggested Sites: www.the-breaks.com/ www.oldschoolhiphop.com/
www.zulunation.com/ www.daveyd.com
While the Source and XXL are
considered the two main Hip-Hop
magazines, with Wax Poetics a distant
third, Scratch Magazine is the only
magazine dedicated to producers and
deejays.
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Evaluation
Please respond to the following questions in a MicrosoftWord document and turn in your response by FridayJune 15 on the Digital Dropbox on Blackboard. .
1. What did you like most about this lesson?2. What did you like least?
3. What can be done to facilitate learning via this onlineenvironment? What would you change?4. What is the connection between rap music and African-
American music? What other influences (outside theones mentioned in this module) have you heard in rapmusic?
Full citations of all music and images forthcoming. The authortakes no responsibility or ownership, -- all sounds/images used foreducational purposes only.
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Liner NotesLiner Notes
Before there was Hip-Hop . . .This Powerpoint module examines the many predecessors
to Hip-Hop. A true appreciation for rap music requires adecent grounding in its musical roots.
There are audio and video links throughout thispresentation. Please be patient while the moduleloads . . . The server may not be able to push the video
out fast enough.
If you need assistance, the staff at any of the UDCcomputer labs can assist you.
Also, try Learning Resource Center [in the library]