An intro to Hip-Hop for the modern person (part 1)
There's a hip hop song for everyone I don't care if you're a coal miner or a hedge fund billionaire
Warning: English is not my first or second language so get over it.
Why are you writing this?
Hip Hop/Rap music is very misunderstood and hated by people that were not properly introduced to the genre. My goal here is not to turn you into a rap fan or change your opinions on it. I only wish to give you a better understanding.
This post is also meant to be and audio experience so I recommend before you continue reading that you take a shot of whiskey or take a few puffs of something. If you don’t indulge in these kind of things that’s fine, put yourself in an accepting and understanding mood. Get some good headphones or speakers too.
A Brief History
I’m not going to reinvent the wheel so ill give you an excerpt from (link)
“Hip hop is a subculture and an art movement that emerged from the Bronx in New York City during the early 1970s. Its development reflected the negative effects of post-industrial decline, political discourse, and a rapidly changing economy.
Looking back to New York City during this era, we see an economic collapse. The city’s economy was falling apart due to the decline of the manufacturing industry and construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway. Much of the white middle class moved to the suburbs to escape the social and economic challenges. The migration shifted demographics and segregated communities. Conditions worsened in neighborhoods prominently populated by African-Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Caribbean immigrants. Urban despair also brought rising crime, gang violence, and poverty.
Consequently, businesses closed their doors, causing many economic opportunities and sources of entertainment to evaporate. As a result, urban youth turned to the streets for recreation and self-expression. The abandoned buildings and parking lots set the stage for block parties. These block parties laid the groundwork for everything associated with early hip hop culture. DJs and MCs brought the music by setting up mobile “Sound Systems” introduced by Jamaican culture. Sheets of cardboard became dance floors for break-dancers, and brick walls transformed into canvases for graffiti.”
How to listen to rap
When listening to rap forget yourself for a second and become the rapper. Rap is mostly written in the first person. When you’re listening imagine you’re in a dream and you’re the rapper. Yes, You!
Pain, Violence & Dilemmas
Pain is the underlying tone in most rap songs. Most rappers are undereducated, single parented and were born in terrible neighborhoods with bad schools and a blanket of violence covering it all. Somehow after all that they still found a way to make it. While the morality of some rappers can be questionable. They use rap as an outlet to express their pain and what was going on around them.
The first song we’re going to take a look at is “Oodles O' Noodles Babies” by Meek Mill. Please listen intently and then read the lyrics below then listen again. If you’re not used to Black Americans you may not understand what they’re saying and or cant pick up on their slang. It’s fine, you’ll get used to it.
In this song Meek Mill recalls his childhood and environment in Philadelphia:
Lyrics:
This shit right here for my oodles o' noodles babies
His mom smoked the crack while she was pregnant so he can't even help that he crazy
He goin' to jail it’s inevitable, forrealAin't have nobody to give me no hope
I hope my momma ain't doin' no coke
I used to wish that my daddy was livin'
I had a dream that I seen him a ghost
I used to act up when I went to school
Thought it was cool, but I really was hurt
Wanted my family to come to my games
My mama couldn't make it 'cause she was at work
Remember, my grandmomma, she took me to church
Really tho', I ain't wanna go
Remember, I kissed aunt in the casket
And her forehead was cold
I was like 4 years old
We couldn't afford no clothes
It was hand me downs, who would think a nigga get a Grammy now?Got a black judge tryna tear me down
All this jail time probably wear me down
Turn the lights off in the bathroom
Screaming, "Bloody, Bloody, Bloody Mary" now
Havin' nightmares about Candyman
With the tool on me, like a handyman
[They] Killed my lil' cousin, I'm like, "Damn it, man"
Had to see the footage on the camera, man
On the pavement, with his brains out
With the white sheet, he was laid out
Wanna ask 'Ye, "Is this a choice?"
Shit was like this, when I came out
What the fuck is you really complaining 'bout?
I know niggas that's never gon' make it out
This that shit you won't see in the media
Poor gettin' poorer and the rich gettin' greedierLot of daddies goin' back and forth out of jail
Lot of sons growin' up and repeating it
This the belly of the beast, you won't make it out
Man, this shit was designed just to eat us up
And my momma told, "Nigga, keep it up
You gon' end up in prison, just sweepin' up"
Remember, nobody never believed in us
When they see us now, they can't believe it's us, noI think it's funny how
We used to go to school, play SEGA's
And then, next thing you know, you runnin' around with Glock .40s
We ain't never believed in the police, they was shootin' usYeah, they called it the projects
They put us in projects
What they gon' do with us? Can't call the cops yet
You might just get popped at
'Cause they the ones shootin' us
I'm on my mom's steps
It's like a bomb threat
The violence pursuing us, I ain't meet God yet
'Cause I'm on the block where
It's just me and Lucifer, look what they do to us
They know we in povertyWhen I went to court, the judge said, "Meek, you a menace to society"
Huh, you said, you'd give me a chance, your honor, why would you lie to me?
16 more years on probation, you know you gon' get more time on me, huh
Whole hood goin' crazy, babies havin' babies
She was fourteen, actin' like she eighty
Got pregnant by a nigga that was locked up in them cages
And the story goes on, if you make it, you amazingSee, I got homie that's a billionaire
And I be tryin' to explain to him like
If your mom ain't on crack or if she got a job and she doing eight hours a day
And your daddy in the graveyard or in the jail cell, who the fuck gon' babysit?
Meek Mill opens up and gives you his side of the story and the dilemma he faced when there was violence in the street but could not call the police because the Philadelphia Police would allegedly shoot them too. If the police wont help you and violence is all around, you’re forced to protect yourself. Do with this information what you will (link)
I made you listen to this song first to give you a foundation so you can better understand the rest of rap.
The Birth Of Musical & Lyrical Geniuses
I can’t give you an intro to hip-hop without going through one or two of the many geniuses.
A Lyrical Genius
At 17 years old in June 1992 Nasir Jones better known as ‘Nas’ a lyrical genius to be started recording what’s known today as the greatest rap album ever made. ‘Illmatic’ was the album. In this album he takes you through growing up in the projects of Queens, New York in the late 80s and early 90s.
The song we’re going to listen to from that album is called ‘N.Y. State of Mind’ what would later inspire the title of Jay Z’s global hit song ‘Empire State of Mind’.
Listen intently and dive into the story
Ok, Cool Story… But why is this guy a “Genius”?
Rap is poetry (sometimes). to understand why Nas and others of his caliber are amazing you have to dive into their lyrics. Listen to the metaphors and check the rhyme schemes. Genius is in the details, also remember this guy was 17.
Watch this video:
If you don’t understand the metaphors/words click this (link) and hover over the lyrics for a “somewhat” accurate explanation.
A Musical Genius
Last song and we’ll wrap this up for today.
I want you to now forget everything you ever thought you knew about Kanye West. The man is actually a genius. For those of you who understand/appreciate music production and what goes into it you’ll instantly get it. No explanation necessary. Kanye self produces his own music and raps too.
Now dive into some greatness.
Was that not enough for you anon? I know its not.
Kanye tops that last song ‘Power’ with this song ‘All of the lights’ Where he features a bunch of top artists from different backgrounds and puts them on one song and brings the best out of them. This should never work Anon, but Ye pulled it off and masterfully. Listen
Conclusion
I think this is a good start. I’ll release part 2 to this post and it’ll probably be about violence and questionable morality in hip hop maybe, but now you’re ready to explore on your own. Enjoy.
Albums I recommend for starters:
Kanye - My beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kid Cudi - Man On the Mood: The End of Day
Le$ - Gran Turismo 2
Lil wayne - Tha Carter IV
Curren$y - Canal Street Confidential
Drake - Take Care
Chief Keef - Finally Rich
Cordae - The Lost Boy
This list will give you a mix of new and old mixed with underground mixed with gansta rap/drill.