Origin and History of Rap Music

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how rap music can be traced back to the African cultural traditions of oral story telling, vocalization and other cultural aspects that were retained by the slaves who went to America. The paper also explains that the political and social desire for freedom from oppression shaped many of the characteristics of rap music. The paper therefore shows how te issue of cultural domination in the United States as well as in many other countries brought about a movement of resistance which, to a large extent, is voiced and expressed in the contrary and unconventional styles and lyrics of rap music.

From the Paper:

"Rap music should be discussed within the context of the overall "hip hop" culture. In this sense, Rap music should be seen in terms of three interrelated modes of expressing. These are, rap music, graffiti writing, and break dancing. (Ramsey 165) This in turn is related to various cultural developments, which concern the issue of disenfranchised Black youth in Western societies. In this sense, the modern history and origins of contemporary Rap music style can be traced back to the perceptions of social and racial prejudice and the struggle for equality."

Sample of Sources Used:

• KEYES C. L. ( 2002) Rap Music and Street Consciousness . Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
• Kopano, Baruti N. "Rap Music as an Extension of the Black Rhetorical Tradition: "Keepin' It Real"." The Western Journal of Black Studies 26.4 (2002): 204+. Questia. 31 Mar. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001926756>.
• Marino, Michael. "Rap Music and Street Consciousness." Popular Music and Society 28.2 (2005): 271+. Questia. 31 Mar. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009435925>.
• Ramsey, Guthrie P. Race Music: Black Cultures from Bebop to Hip-Hop. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2003. Questia. 31 Mar. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105683091>.
• Wood, Brent. "Understanding Rap as Rhetorical Folk-Poetry." Mosaic (Winnipeg) 32.4 (1999): 129. Questia. 31 Mar. 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001869554>.

More papers on Origin and History of Rap Music:

• Research Paper # 3331 : "Hip Hop and Rap as Political Expression"
• Research Paper # 60858 : "Hip Hop Culture and Identity"
• Term Paper # 121655 : "Black Nationalism"

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