Horrorcore

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"Death rap" redirects here. For the Necro album, see Death Rap.

Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip hop music described by Entertainment Weekly in 1995 as a "blend of hardcore rap and bloodthirsty metal".[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Horrorcore defines the style of rap music that focuses around "horror influenced" topics, like violence and death.[2] According to the January 2004 BBC documentary Underground USA, the subgenre "has a massive following across the US" and "is spreading to Europe".[3] By contrast, Rolling Stone referred to it as a "short-lived trend" which "generated more shlock than shock".[4] NME agrees, labeling the movement as "rap music's brief fling" while at the same time noting that the genre is subject to revival in its review of Snoop Dogg's 2001 soundtrack, Bones.[5]

Late rapper Big L said he himself was among the originators of the genre.[6] Gravediggaz are frequently cited as "ushering in" or popularizing the form with their debut album 6 Feet Deep, released in 1994.[4][7] The term was also appended to and popularized by the Flatlinerz.[8] The genre quickly faded from public attention,[8] but has thrived in internet culture and sustains an annual "supershow" in Detroit called "Wickedstock".[3][9]

The genre is linked to Detroit hip hop. Area hip-hop group Natas contributed to its popularization.[10] The genre is also closely linked to Houston hip hop. Ganksta N-I-P's 1993 album Psychic Thoughts is sometimes considered one of the first horrorcore albums.[11]

[edit] Notable representatives

[edit] References

  1. ^ Browne, David. (24 Feb 1995) Fifth anniversary music Entertainment Weekly. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  2. ^ Darcy, Pohland. (May 19, 2005) The dark world Of Horrorcore music WCCO-TV. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Underground USA BBC. Accessed November 4, 2007
  4. ^ a b Fernando Jr., S.H. (September 18, 2007) The Pick, The Sickle & The Shovel Rolling Stone Accessed November 4, 2007.
  5. ^ Thorne, Rick. Various Bones NME Accessed November 4, 2007.
  6. ^ http://pressrewind.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/bigl_source495.jpg
  7. ^ Gravediggaz star loses cancer battle. NME (16 July 2001) Accessed November 4, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Passantino, Dom. (07 Jan 2005) Top ten Hip-Hop gimmicks of all time Stylus Magazine. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  9. ^ Lodge, Mike. Interview with Project Deadman's own Prozak. Milenko500 record store. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  10. ^ http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2006_02_nofworld.html
  11. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gcfyxqehldje
  12. ^ Macias, Chris. (December 5, 2006). The king of gore, Brotha Lynch reigns over local hip-hop movement The Sacramento Bee. Accessed November 29, 2007.
  13. ^ Cooper, Lana. (11 April 2007) Insane Clown Posse The Tempest Pop Matters. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  14. ^ Righi, Len. (9 April 2007) King Gordy keeps up lighting up the dark Pop Matters. Accessed November 4, 2007.
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ Three 6 Mafia at Allmusic
  17. ^ [2]

[edit] External links