Styles/Genres | ProHipHop

November 22, 2011

AMA’s The Ultimate History of Hip-Hop

Source: #AMAs The Ultimate History of Hip Hop [SOJONES INFOGRAPHIC]

Since the time that hip-hop was introduced, it has influenced both the people and culture that surround it. For many, hip-hop is a form of art while it’s being looked up as a music genre that brings every beat a unique representation.

The American Music Awards recently announced and crowned Taylor Swift to be this year’s winner beating up contenders Adele, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry. In this connection, SoJones brought up a timely reminder about hip-hop and how far it has gone, it’s roots, and the progress it went through will all those years of ever-changing music hits.

Here are some trivia about hip-hop that you must learn:

- Did you know that the first breakdancing moves started in 1925 when Earl “Snake Hips” Tucker rumbled the stage with his groundbreaking slides, waves, and other moves that became the foundation of breakdance?

- The first hip-hop single to hit the Billboard charts was released in 1979 entitled, “Rapper’s Delight” by the legendary Sugarhill Gang.

- Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” was the first rap single to go #1 on the chart in 1990.

- It was in 1985 that the first hip-hop video appeared on MTV.

- In 1996 Jay-Z exploded his debut album entitled, “Reasonable Doubt” that reached number 23 on the Billboard 200, and was well-received by critics.

Posted by yodee on November 22, 2011 in Styles/Genres | Permalink

August 04, 2009

Country Rap or Talking Country? Colt Ford’s Ride Through The Country

Colt Ford – Ride Through The Country

Colt Ford dropped Ride Through The Country back in December but it's just now getting Billboard coverage due to rising sales.

He says he doesn't like the term "country rap", because he feels it's confuses people, so maybe it's more like the talking blues. Colt says he wants to be called a country singer, though he can't sings and that's why he raps.

You can check out some tunes yourself on MySpace.

Available on iTunes:
Colt Ford: Ride Through The Country

Posted by Clyde Smith on August 04, 2009 in Album Cover Artwork, Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

June 29, 2009

Reggaeton: Edited by Raquel Rivera, Wayne Marshall, Deborah Pacini Hernandez

Reggaeton

Reggaeton, a selection of academic essays edited by Raquel Rivera, Wayne Marshall and Deborah Pacini Hernandez, was released in April by Duke University Press.

Via Hip Hop Research.

Posted by Clyde Smith on June 29, 2009 in Books, Books Magazines Websites, Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

June 16, 2009

Returning to Successful Formulas: Eminem, 50 Cent, Wu-Tang Clan

So Eminem's brought back Slim Shady and is resurrecting D12 with the thought, "I think this is what Proof always wanted, was for me to go crazy again."

50 Cent says he's going back to hardcore hip hop with a quote that sounds like Jay-Z talking about his own most recent projects, ""When I start writing music to my core, I'm talking about the way I came up, the way I was raised."

RZA says the Wu-Tang Clan's upcoming album Chamber Music is "paying homage to our early sound" and what I've heard sounds good.

Some artists, like Kanye West, can be part of what is happening now with the new waves of styles and trends while others just can't or won't make that transition. That's not a diss by any means and sometimes older styles can be modernized while retaining core elements, as RZA says he's doing with the production on Chamber Music, or even simply brought back and reframed by contrast.

Such moves can excite old fans and create new ones. It's a tricky thing but I have a feeling it will work out well for all these artists, as we're seeing with Eminem, because they seem to be following what matters to them and to their core fanbase rather than chasing trends. That focus puts them in a position of strength as folks seek out what feels solid during a time of great change.

Posted by Clyde Smith on June 16, 2009 in Artists, Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

September 20, 2008

Nerdcore in Defense of Olafur Eliasson

The Southern Mothers – Olafur Eliasson (A Milli Remix)

Wow! These guys’ lyrical inventiveness is quite impressive. And I’ve certainly never encountered so many sexual references in defense of public art.

You might want to check Gothamist for background on Olafur Eliasson. Most of the other art and architecture references are closer to common knowledge.

I wish more music videos had subtitles. I think they’re meant as a joke here but I like them for their own sake.

The duo, The Southern Mothers, have at least one other video, Tracy Letts, playing off 99 Problems and focused on playwright Tracy Letts. Not bad but you can see they really stepped up their game with Olafur Eliasson.

Posted by Clyde Smith on September 20, 2008 in Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

September 17, 2008

Del the Funky Homosapien: G4tv Nerdcore Promo

Del the Funky Homosapien: G4tv Nerdcore Promo

Del the Funky Homosapien continues to expand my perception of what nerdcore might include with this promo for G4tv.

Posted by Clyde Smith on September 17, 2008 in Marketing, Styles/Genres | Permalink

September 10, 2008

Gym Class Heroes: Leading the Next Rap/Rock Revolution

Jon Carmanica makes the case for Gym Class Heroes as a band that is ""crossing under" and gaining credibility in the world of rap.

We’ll see how much further their singles driven progress takes them into the realm of urban media but it seems more likely that the majority of these rap/rock hybrids, spanning the gamut from 90s style "heavy" rap/rock to Schwayze’s gentle blends, are going to affect the rock landscape much more dramatically than the urban landscape and give rappers new opportunities in new arenas.

Posted by Clyde Smith on September 10, 2008 in Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

August 28, 2008

G4tv Nerdcore Promos: MC Lars, MC Frontalot, YTCracker

MC Lars for G4tv

Here’s a new Nerdcore tv spot for G4tv from MC Lars whose vocal stylings are what I had considered typical of nerdcore and why I haven’t been so into the genre.

MC Frontalot for G4tv

MC Frontalot is also a big name in nerdcore and I’ve checked him out before but, though he sounds related to MC Lars if you listen without watching, this spot reminds me more of musicians that crossed over into performance art like Klaus Nomi whose excessive self-presentation is a particularly strong part of the act.

YTCracker for G4tv

I don’t think I’d checked out YTCracker before and he comes across as the most "normal" rapper of these three. Juxtaposing them suggests that they’re more connected by themes and beats than by vocal styles.

Given that the folks at GPtv are saying that Del the Funky Homosapien is next in the series and describing him as the "overlord of nerdcore", the nerdcore genre is starting to look and sound a lot more interesting.

Posted by Clyde Smith on August 28, 2008 in Marketing, Styles/Genres | Permalink

August 11, 2008

Daddy Yankee: Talento De Barrio Soundtrack Album & Movie Trailer

Daddy Yankee – Talento De Barrio Soundtrack

Though reggaeton never melded with hip hop it wasn’t for lack of trying on Daddy Yankee’s part. His career continues with a starring role in Talento De Barrio which he also coproduced as well as featuring on the soundtrack.

Daddy Yankee’s Talento De Barrio [Soundtrack] is due August 12th on Machete Music.

Talento De Barrio Trailer

Talento De Barrio, the movie starring Daddy Yankee, opens August 14th in Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Posted by Clyde Smith on August 11, 2008 in Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink

June 06, 2008

How Do You Define Hipster [Rap]?

I’ve been gathering links to hipster rap coverage as these colorful new players have made their appearance, for better or for worse, in the hip hop blogosphere.

If you’ve written something on the hipster phenomenon, please drop a link in the comments.

And if you care to share your definition of hipster, cause every one I’ve read to date kind of sucks, that will be especially appreciated.

All contributions will be considered for my upcoming post, Hipster Rap: Parade Music for Gangsta’s Funeral.

Update:
You can define hipster or hipster rap and we’ll see what kind of overlap happens.

Posted by Clyde Smith on June 06, 2008 in Business News, Styles/Genres | Permalink