Whether it be through voices or instruments, music has always played an important role in mankind. Throughout time, music has evolved, and today music is split up into many different genres and sub-genres. Two extremely popular genres of music are pop and hip-hop. Pop is usually defined as music that is ‘catchy’ and ‘likable’. The genre covers a wide range of music that is popular today. Hip-hop music consists of rhythmic beats that are usually accompanied by rapping or rhythmic speech. After listening to these two genres, it becomes easy to tell them apart. While being two separate genres of music, hip-hop and pop have many similarities and differences.
The two genres can be compared using their origins. In the early ’70s, New York’s ‘first hip-hop artist’, DJ Kool Herc, was the first to use turntables to manipulate his songs. Along with the beat, he rapped and encouraged people to dance. This was the beginning of hip-hop. The early sounds of hip-hop shared many characteristics with those of blues and jazz music. Since then, the sound of the genre has evolved and many new methods of production were introduced. Pop is said to have originated in the 1950s in Britain. The genre was created for the purpose of appealing to everyone, which meant that it included many different styles. Like hip-hop, some of these early styles included blues and jazz, with the addition of rock and roll and country music. Though they both originated in different locations and periods, the two genres share similarities in the key elements of their music.
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There are also many similarities and differences in the contents of the two genres. Hip-hop music is often generalized by rapping or MCing. Rapping is spoken lyrics in rhythm. It can have many complex characteristics, including imagery, story-telling, rhyme, and a variety of flows, which is the tempo of the delivery. Most hip-hop artists tend to rap over beats. The lyrics and their delivery are usually dependent on the beat, as the beat is a key factor in the pacing of the song. Similarly, pop music consists of two parts: vocals and instrumentals. Vocals are sung lyrics in pop songs. These songs often have easily mimicable melodies so that the audience can sing along. Instrumentals in pop songs set the mood for the entire song. Uplifting, soothing, and melancholic are some common themes portrayed in most instrumentals. The vocals and instrumentals in pop songs often share the same mood and tone. Both genres share similar lyrical and musical characteristics that are usually dependent on each other.
Both genres have impacted society in many ways. Hip-hop and pop are both largely marketed and bring in a lot of revenue each year. Festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Camp Flog Gnaw bring in large artists from both genres. These festivals appeal to wide audiences and tend to bring in people from around the world. Another factor in the popularity of these genres is because of record labels. Record labels sign artists and have large marketing teams to mass promote the artists when new music is released. These labels usually pull in large amounts of profits and help bring many new artists into the spotlight. The marketing of these genres affects the imprint that they have on society.
Hip-hop usually has a negative connotation in the mainstream media. Rap was often censored on television and radio because of the profanity in the lyrics. It was also said to be a culture that increases crime rates in mainly African-American cities by promoting violence, sexual content, and substance abuse. However, many artists were trying to speak out about issues in American society. With the introduction of ‘gangsta rap’, rap group N.W.A was able to voice out their opinions on police brutality and discrimination in inner cities. 21 Savage’s ‘Nothin’ New’ addresses how the rates of African-American imprisonment cause other issues that impact poor black communities. On the other hand, pop music is usually associated with unifying society. Charity single ‘We Are the World’, written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raised $60 million to support impoverished countries in Africa. John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ is about his dream to have worldwide peace and unification. Bob Seger’s ‘2+2=?’ is an anti-war statement and tells the story of his friends who died in the Vietnam War. These songs bring a sense of hopefulness to bring people together in times of trouble. Although the two genres are both popular, the media perceives them in different ways.
Pop music and hip-hop are two genres of music with unique sounds and characteristics. Each genre has its own culture and story behind it. Hip-hop began as a way for African-Americans in poor communities to express themselves. On the other hand, pop music rose in popularity by appealing to wide audiences. When briefly looking at the two genres, it seems as though they are completely opposite styles of music. However, upon closer examination, one can see how they also share some major key elements.
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