Auto Sampler

There is a point in every genre when it can no longer be self-sufficient. It must pull pieces from various influences and must meld with other genres. Nothing can possibly stay “pure”. Hip-hop is no different. Some may argue this happened awhile ago, but I think the changes are only truly coming to fruition now.

Almost by definition – as it is sample-based music – hip-hop has always been deeply influenced by other genres. It litteraly used their sounds: the bass loops from funk, the horns and vocals from soul, the piano rolls from jazz. But the focus, for the most part, of early hip-hop and rap was on the MC. The flow derived from the space between the words, the melodies pulled from the vowels, the tone in the rapper's voice, these were completely different from any other genre. They were so utterly distinctive. And so they were enough.

The past few years the focused has changed, in many ways, from the MC and their rapping to the producer and their sounds. Often hip-hop producers would simply loop a sound and place a break over top. This is not to say it was done without skill or care, but the beat and simplicity of the loop was necessary for the focus to remain on the MC, allowing them the necessary movement in their word play. Pop and electronica are centered on their sound, though. In pop music the singer's voice provides the melody, in electronica the focus is on the tone and rhythm of the instruments. These qualities have only just become prominent, and celebrated, in hip-hop.

Artists such as Timbaland, Pharell and Kanye West, who were originaly producers working behind the scenes, are now the stars. Their songs provide pop hooks and tight productions. Lush beats are no longer a rarity. Rappers are singing more and more, even using common pop melodies. T.I.'s Whatever You Like provides the perfect example. Beats made using electronic synthesizers are now the rule, not the exception. Auto-tune has become synonomous with hip-hop, despite being an electronic tool used to ensure pitch-perfect singing.

In many ways the timing with which this occured was bound to happen. Modern pop, hip-hop and electronica were all born at the same moment: the popularization of the sampler. While differing groups pulled this invention in various directions – Michael Jackson, Grandmaster Flash, Frankie Knuckles – they were all progressing at the same rate and so, when the concepts had matured, the next logical step was to integrate.

Jazz, rock, disco – every genre reaches this point. There's post-punk. There's neo-soul. I won't play with the names, but hip-hop has forever and irreversibly changed. The focus is no longer strictly on the skills of the MC, as it has incorporated not only the structure and sound of other genres, but also the ideas.

Read more at All">http://allnapster.blogspot.com”">All Napster

About the Author:

Paul Lanyon writes about developments in all genres of music. Read more at All Napster

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Changing Face of Hip-Hop

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