Chapter 9

“Rapper’s Delight “

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“ Rapper’s Delight” is the title of the single by the Sugar Hill Gang, which introduced a wide audience to a new kind of music. The year was 1980 and the record made a clear mark on American popular culture. Rap is defined as a musical component of hip-hop. It combines the motions of dance with the politics of urban America.

It began as “ do it yourself “ music by DJs at large parties. One or groups of rappers would speak rhythmically about their prowess as a rapper, man or a lover, or the rap DJ would isolate part of songs while they were spinning records on one or multiple turntables.

The early rappers considered themselves to be masters of ceremonies (MCs) more than musicians or singers. The artists who prefer the party-oriented music of the 80s to the contemporary styles still refer to themselves as “ MCs“.

In 1982 new themes were introduced into the lyrics with Grandmaster Flash, who released a record with the title, “The Message “. By introducing poverty, drug addiction, urban decay and the effects these elements have on the black inner-city population, he took rap a giant step away from its party roots.

The protest against police brutality, politics and the troubled history of black America became gradually more intense and resulted in a type of music called “gangsta rap”. This music is very outspoken and aggressive and consequently helped to channel and take the wind out of much of the social and political discontent among young blacks in the late 80s and early 90s.

The use of digital sampling technology alongside turntables and drum machines was a new direction in the late 80s. This approach has influenced both pop music and avant-garde and experimental music worldwide.

The Negro slaves sang their spirituals to support each other in their daily struggle in the cotton fields awaiting their reward in heaven. The rap artists’ goal is similar, to support the black people, but their reward would be social changes and better living conditions in this life. Thereby they unite the Blacks in a common cause and in this way continue the tradition of the community building of the spirituals.