HIP-HOP ORIGINS

Question 1

Instrumentation

Answer 1

• Vocals (Predominantly male) Rapping
• Record decks (Turn tables)
• Samplers
• Synthesizers
• Drum Machine
• Sometimes live instruments like guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, bass, saxophone and other horns

Question 2

Technology and Production

Answer 2

• Later styles also use samplers to create loops
• DJ scratching creates unique sounds including reversing, pitch-shifting and filtering
• Special effects from synthesizers / non-pitched sound effects
• Drum machines used instead of or alongside loops
• Original hip-hop artists used two or more record decks to play instrumental grooves – often drum and bass breaks – while mixing in other patterns or short hits from other records
• Music often has a lo-fi quality
• Deep bass frequencies – often from kick-drum sounds

Question 3

Performance and Arrangement

Answer 3

• Melodic elements are normally short motifs
• Use of riffs, often repetitive
• Based mainly on repeating rhythmic patterns – loops
• Sometimes no bass line
• Unique timbres created by DJ scratching techniques
• Harmonic elements often have little importance, no large scale chord patterns or complex harmony
• Rappers perform over the beats of a DJ
• Frequent use of call and response chants
• Use of beat boxing
• Songs typically have a verse -chorus structure with the chorus based on a refrain with catchy hook, often delivered by several rappers

Question 4

Influences

Answer 4

• Funk
• Disco
• Soul
• R&B
• Reggae – toasters on sound systems, dub
• Scat singing

Question 5

Key Terms and Facts

Answer 5

• Djing – Scratching, Record Decks, Turntables, Crossfading
• Sampling – Loops, samples, Drum machines

Question 6

Hip-Hop definition

Answer 6

Hip-Hop refers to a complex culture which comprises of four elements:

1. deejaying/turntabling
2. rapping/Mcing
3. graffiti painting/graf/writing
4. break-dancing/B-boying

Question 7

Where did was hip-hop born?

Answer 7

The South Bronx, a predominantly African American and economically depressed section in New York in the late 1970s

Question 8

How was scratching originally achieved?

Answer 8

with vinyl /turntables/ desks

Question 9

Using modern methods how would you create a scratching sound?

Answer 9

samples, CDJs, vinyl emulation software such as final scratch

Question 10

List the different sounds that can be created using scratching techniques

Answer 10

reversing, pitch shifting and filtering

Question 11

Hip-Hop tracks usually use lo-fi samples. What does lo-fi mean?

Answer 11

lo-fidelity; poor quality, imitating old fashion technology