

Two decades later, it would begin to become one of the key elements of African-American culture. With the arrival of Africans to the United States as slaves, the tradition expanded, this time in the form of work songs, although in a very discreet way due to the multiple restrictions they had to express themselves.Ĭenturies later, and in the throes of civil rights, rap (which had already begun to manifest itself in blues and jazz) evolved in the black and Latino neighborhoods of New York. In many of these societies, there was a figure called griot, in charge of transmitting oral tradition through recitation. Later it was adopted to refer to a particular way of recitation that is accompanied by a beat.Īlthough the first expressions of rap as a commercial musical genre originated in the American Midwest in the 1980s, this form of reciting phrases with vocal rhymes comes from West African cultures. On the other hand, it is affirmed that the word rap, more than an acronym, is a term that was used among the Afro-American population as a synonym for “talking”. However, other specialists allege that it actually means rage against the police, referring to the police repression against Afro-American and Latino minorities that took place in the 60s and 70s.

For some, rap is an acronym for rhythm and poetry. Although its origin is essentially linked to American racial minorities.Ībout the origin of the word rap, there are many versions of story. Today, it is possible to find expressions of the genre in other demographic groups. Rap music is a musical genre characterized by a melodic recitation with recurring rhymes, which are sung or declaimed on a basis called a beat, which can be generated vocally or with instruments.Īlthough rap was originally associated with African-American culture. What is Rap? The Sugarhill Gang is one of the groups which popularized rap music ( Image source) It wasn't long before both gained popularity and began to be used, especially in the American ghettos. He was first inspired by West African folk poets. Hip-hop and rap were first made by Jamaican deejay, Kool Herc. They always talk about reality and want to deliver a message that goes from the class struggle to the adventures that are experienced day by day, with a lot of flow. They always have an immersed social component. Both represent a musical form that incorporates a lot of rhyme and rhythmic speech on beat bases or accompaniments. When it comes to music, both are the same. This is because they exist in the same sphere or genre of music. However, the truth is they are more similar than they are distinct from each other. And here we will explain to you to make you understand what their flats are. Surely, many have asked themselves the question about what is the difference between hip-hop and rap.
