Miami Student

Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: OpEd Page

Media Credit: Dan Chudzinski

People have been criticizing rap music since it first emerged on the modern popular culture in the late 1970s. Also known as "hip-hop" and "R&B," rap music has a history of rich culture and pride. Its origins come from a type of music in Jamaica called "dancehall," which is characterized by a DJ singing or rapping over raw, danceable music rhythms. Around the mid 1970s this music made its way over seas to the New York inner-city music scene, where the African American, Filipino and Latino youth initiated a monumental cultural movement.

This music evolved into what is now referred to as "old school hip-hop," which continued until about the mid 1980s. Accompanied by funk, disco and soul, hip-hop could be found at block parties, all over the big cities. The next era of rap music known as the "golden age of hip-hop" is marked by the first independent hip-hop recording agency, Def Jam, and spans from the mid 1980s to the early 1990s. A few of the most popular artists of the time include Salt-N-Pepa with "Lets talk about sex" and the Sugarhill Gang with the "Rappers Delight." And we all remember the subsequent era of "Gangsta Rap," with infamous rappers like Mobb Deep, Tupac and the Notorious BIG. Finally, we make it to the contemporary "bling" era, represented by artists such as Eminem, 50 cent and P Diddy.

Many people have said that rap has evolved so much over time, you can barely compare it to the hip-hop of the 70s. Well, I disagree. If you examine the lyrics of songs back then, to songs of today, you'll realize that they're rapping, or beatboxing about the exact same material. In fact, there is one song, "Rappers Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang, from the early hip-hop era that represents almost all rap songs that come out of production studios today.

We all know that the only reason rap songs are played at bars and clubs across the country is the fact that dancing is a favorite pastime of drunken girls. The Sugarhill Gang clearly recognized this fact when they wrote their song, the only difference being that back then they were trying to move people's feet; today the songs are trying to move other specific body parts.

For example, songs like "Money Maker" by Ludacris and Pharrell tell girls to "shake ya money maker," and that "you's a hell of a distraction when you shake your behind." When Young Dro instructs us to "bounce right to left and let your shoulder lean" we're supposed to emulate the dance moves he demonstrates so well in his MTV video. But then again, what would his music videos be without the immense amount of money spent to "bling out" outfits, cars and jewelry.

Continued...

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