Rap music, also called hip-hop, involves rhythmic speech along with music. It often uses digital sampling to extract music from recordings. Hip-hop is a cultural movement including rap, graffiti, deejaying, and breakdance. DJ Kool Herc’s 1973 party in the South Bronx laid the foundation for hip hop by isolating and repeating musical breaks.
Hip-hop originated in the ’70s among African Americans in New York, with Puerto Ricans and Jamaicans playing a key role in its growth. Some popular hip-hop artists today include Snoop Dogg, Big Daddy Kane, Dr. Dre, and Jay Z.
Facts About Rap Music | Rap Music Facts 2024
Who is the best rapper in the world?
Here are some really good and well-known hip-hop artists :
Tory Lanez :
Tory Lanez is a famous Canadian rapper, singer, and music producer. He became well-known with his first mixtape ‘Conflicts of My Soul’ and had hit singles like ‘Say It’ and ‘Luv’ from the album ‘I Told You’, making it onto the Billboard 100. He also released a studio album called ‘Love Me Now?’ and has a huge fan following.
Joyner Lucas :
Joyner Lucas, from Massachusetts, is a rapper, singer, lyricist, actor, and producer. His music video for ‘I’m Not Racist’ was a big hit on YouTube and even got a Grammy Award nomination in 2019. His latest singles include ‘Devil’s Work’ and ’10 Bands’.
Logic :
Logic is known for his hit tracks and albums, including the number-one album ‘Confessions of a Dangerous Mind’. His popular track ‘Homicide’ featuring Eminem is part of this album. Logic is not just a musician; he also wrote a novel called ‘Supermarket’, which became a New York Times Best Seller. He even released a soundtrack with the same name.
Pusha T :
Pusha T entered the rap scene as part of the duo Clipse with his brother and collaborated with artists like Kanye and Linkin Park. He’s internationally recognized for his clever lyrics, and his album ‘Daytona’ was Grammy-nominated and highly successful.
Drake :
Initially known for acting in ‘Degrassi’, Aubrey Drake Graham shifted to the music industry. His debut solo album ‘Thank Me Later’ topped the charts, and ‘Take Care’ earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Drake is now one of the world’s best-selling music artists.
Who was the first rapper to win a Grammy Award?
Will Smith from Philadelphia was the first rapper ever to win a Grammy. He started rapping in his early teens and met Jeff Townes.
Will Smith and Jeff Townes became close friends and formed the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince. Unlike some other rappers who tackled controversial topics, they focused on fun and friendly rap, challenging stereotypes about the genre. At the 31st Grammy Awards on February 22, they made history by winning the first-ever Best Rap Performance award for their hit singles ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand’.
Who created rap music?
The exact start date of rap music is debated. It began in New York when DJs took beats from disco, funk, and soul to create a repeating rhythm, giving rise to the musical genre.
- DJ Kool Herc is credited for kicking off rap music. In the ’70s, he threw school parties, creating loops by playing the same beat with two turntables and extending instrumental parts of songs.
- The hip-hop sensation took off in the Bronx with DJs like Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa flourishing in the ’70s.
- Kurtis Blow, the first rapper-singer signed to Mercury Records in 1979, paved the way. Mainstream records from Sugar Hill Gang and Fatback Band hit the Billboard Top 40 the following year.
- In the 1980s, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore accidentally created ‘needle drop’ and scratching, taking rap and DJing to new levels.
- In the 2000s, advancements in technology and streaming allowed for more variety and sophistication in the rap genre.
The very first rap song.
Some people believe the first popular rap song was ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by Sugarhill Gang. However, before that, the actual first commercially released rap song was ‘Kim Tim III’ (Personality Jock), which came out in the winter of 1979.
In 1980, ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by Sugarhill Gang made it to the top 40 on the Billboard charts. While it may not be the very first commercially released rap song, we can say Sugarhill Gang was the first rap group to release a commercially successful rap song.
Amazing Facts About Hip-Hop
- Drake wanted to be a “breakdancer/singer” according to his high-school yearbook, and his favorite expression was “bling bling.”
- Post Malone’s hit ‘rockstar’ was originally a different song with T-Pain and Joey Badass, who revealed he ghostwrote parts of it.
- P Diddy used to be a backup dancer for Big Daddy Kane and Heavy D. He even danced with Tupac in a performance.
- Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes went to the same high school in Brooklyn and had a rap battle in their cafeteria.
- Kanye West shares his birthday with Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web.
- Lil Wayne’s original stage name was Shrimp Daddy, inspired by former Cash Money artist Pimp Daddy.
- Eminem thought of his alter-ego Slim Shady while sitting on the toilet.
- Eazy-E signed the Black Eyed Peas to Ruthless Records in 1992.
- Cee Lo Green sang backing vocals on TLC’s ‘Waterfalls.’
- Kendrick Lamar was on the set of Dr Dre and Tupac’s ‘California Love’ video.
- Alyson Stoner, known for dancing in Missy Elliott’s videos, is now 21.
- Nas co-wrote Will Smith’s hit single ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’ and they won a Grammy.
- Eminem’s debut album ‘Infinite’ only sold about 1000 copies.
- Nas’ intro into ‘NY State Of Mind’ was a mistake, but it turned out iconic.
- Pharrell Williams’s first musical memory involves dancing to Kenny Rogers at a theme park.
- TLC recorded the theme song for Nickelodeon TV show All That.
- Eminem has only read one book in full: LL Cool J’s I Make My Own Rules.
- Jay-Z’s ’99 Problems’ samples an Ice T song released a decade earlier.
- Pharrell Williams wrote Teddy Riley’s rap in Wreckx-N-Effect’s ‘Rump Shaker.’
- Lil Wayne accidentally shot himself in his bedroom when he was a teen.
- Dr. Dre’s ‘Nuthin’ But a G Thang’ samples a Leon Haywood song.
- Nas started writing and recording ‘Illmatic’ when he was 17.
- André 3000 and Erykah Badu had a child, Seven, in 1997.
- Kelis’ ‘Millionaire’ and Gwen Stefani’s ‘Long Way To Go’ were scrapped from an Andre 3000 album.
- Drake was part of the cast on the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation.
