Page set up April 1st. 2001 And No, it is NOT a joke!
Comments welcome Many people totally dismiss RAP as a musical form, partly a result of the language. There os a whole lot more to it!	This is a new Page. Contributions are welcome. As to who "started" RAP, now there's a question! Talk with music has a long history. Storytelling with music is an Icelandic tradition, with the saga histories from memory, though I'm not sure how much musical input there is. There is also the "sprechstimme" approach by Schoenberg and others. This is where the spoken word is intoned to a degree. RAP itself may originate with the reggae genre in the West Indes, with Bob Marley, whose lyrics often tell stories or make social comment. The UK poet John Betjeman did at least two albums to the music of Jim Parker , "Betjeman's Banana Blush" and "Late Flowering Love" both in 1974. Those are literally spoken poetry. "Gangsta" RAP developed a little later as the vocabulary became more "colourful" as did the more extreme "Attitudes", particularly to violence and to women. The term "Hip Hop" also appeared, and that is not just the music! Naturally the "argot" (language type) developed a whole new vocabulary, with older words having new meanings. Confusing to older folks! For instance MC is not just Master of Ceremonies!
As a footnote:- Any of you browsing on educational networks are liable to find that the "argot" or language of both RAP and Hip Hop falls foul of censoring systems. That's a result of language use evolution as much as an actual choice of words in the lyrics. Teenagers have always invented new words! Text messaging is a major example now! "c u l8er" for instance! The practice of "parental advisory" stickers is a pathetic marketing ploy in my opinion. Is "cussin" meant to be cool?

This is NOT intended to be a rank order listing and will certainly not include everyone or please everyone. RAP has even been incorporated into "NUMetal" or "Rapmetal", no doubt to the chagrin of purists of both genres! Many RAP acts now also include a more traditional vocal line too, and not just as a minor part of the general "mix" . It may be worth comparing, say NWA with a more recent act. The same type of thing applies to the "Garage" genre too. This has been a much abused term. Both the RAP and Garage which chart in the UK are rarely representative! Real Rap Rap Music The Rap Central (closed sorry) British Hip Hop Rap Dictionary Second Page

Jamaica 1963-	Bob Marley	Reggae style.
	Mostly with the backing of "The Wailers". There are also "Dub" versions of some tracks. He also appears on a great number of labels, some locally based. He was not strictly a RAP artist, but his lyrics had a similar impact. A recent major reissue is well worth considering.
USA	NWA	members were.	Straight Outta Compton. Was a groundbreaker album. "Niggaz With Attitude" indeed!
USA	TuPac	Strongly recommended the linked site left, but it's sadly no longer on line.	Extensive recent reissue. He recorded a great deal.
Brooklyn	Biggie Smalls
USA	Puff Daddy	Manages to get himself into trouble. Why the "rename" though? Sounds like a Ken Dodd mutant!
Brooklyn USA	Mos Def
	MOS DEF has just come to my attention ( Thanks Chris Martin of Coldplay) He hails from Brooklyn (as Biggie Smalls did) but writes with a "broader background and musical input". (see NME Dec 2nd p 31). Lyrics still have advisory logo I see.
Marshall Mathers III USA	EMINEM		The "Marshall Mathers" LP. is his best seller so far. Alter egos rule?
	EMINEM, SLIM SHADY or whoever he is this week seems to be the latest rage or sell out depending how you look at it. He has too many alter egos for my liking. Looks a bit like an excuse to rip off to me. Is he just looking for controversy and little else? His "lyrics" are hardly Earth shattering, (though the rhymes etc are rather skilful in some cases), with too much irrelevant "parental advisory" stuff for my liking! It has also been argued that many of his "life story" allegations in RAP are fictional!

	D12 Out swearin' Eminem? Why buy it?	Apparently "Eminems group"? At least an act he supports. It seems the lyrics are of the usual PAL standard! Purple Hills, the latest single seems to be merely a blatant drugs anthem. If that's the case, then yet more "RAP Bullshit" So I don't rate it at all. Drugs? Man! they're for MUGS!	Gonna check out de website, and if its a loada poo, then gonna ban it too! Bad use of the lingo, Man! its a no no! Use cooler words, not advisory, or you get put down in history! Ok manu pop is Pap, but why make RAP into CRAP?
	Both the artists above and below this entry appear to have faded. Note my comments on them, which are unedited. New text is not italicised.
	Li'l Bow Wow		The RAP answer to all the early teen acts in the "Boyband" line? Managed a hit album and single too, but will it last?

Page created April 1st. 2001 Revised 13th. January 2002 and November 2003.