| Rap rock | |
|---|---|
| Stylistic origins | Hip hop, rock |
| Cultural origins | Mid-to-late 1980s, United States |
| Typical instruments | Rapping - Vocals - Electric guitar - Bass guitar - Drums - Turntables - Sampler - Synthesizer - Keyboard |
| Mainstream popularity | Underground in 1980s, moderate in early 1990s, gained much mainstream success in the mid to late 90s |
| Subgenres | |
| Rapcore - rap metal | |
| Other topics | |
| Hip hop - rock | |
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock's most popular subgenres include rap metal and rapcore, which include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented influences, respectively.
Allmusic describes rap metal as having "big, lurching beats and heavy, heavy riffs" that "occasionally [...] [sound] as if the riffs were merely overdubbed over scratching and beat box beats",[1] and described rap rock as having a more organic sound,[1] characterizing many songs in the genre as rock songs in which the vocals were rapped rather than sung.[1] Allmusic also states that the rhythms of rap rock are rooted in that of hip hop, with more funk influences than normal hard rock.[1]
Hed PE, which fuses punk rock with hip hop, sometimes incorporates reggae and heavy metal influences.[2] According to Rolling Stone writer Rob Kemp, Incubus' 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E. "links funk metal to the rap metal".[3] Kottonmouth Kings perform a style which they refer to as "psychedelic hip-hop punk rock".[4] Kid Rock incorporates country and Southern rock influences,[5] and is backed by a 10 piece band, while Everlast fuses blues and rock with hip hop,[6] performing with a live band that includes a DJ.[7][8]
The lyrical themes of rap rock vary. According to Allmusic, "most rap-metal bands during the mid- to late '90s blended an ultra-aggressive, testosterone-heavy theatricality with either juvenile humor or an introspective angst learned through alternative metal.".[9]
Although some alternative metal and nu metal bands incorporate hip hop beats, rap rock bands were always fronted by rappers.[9] Rock bands generally not associated with rap rock have experimented with hip hop influences, including rapping. Such bands have included Blondie,[10] The Clash,[11] Rush[12] and Beck.[13] Many rappers have sampled rock songs, including Ice-T,[14] The Fat Boys,[14] LL Cool J,[14] Public Enemy,[14] Whodini[14] Vanilla Ice[15] and Esham.[16][17]
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, who formed in 1983, are often cited as one of the originators in the rap rock genre and were one of the first white rock bands to fuse rap music into their rock sound which also included a mixture of punk and funk music. At their first performance, the band was short on material so they asked friend, Anthony Kiedis, who was the MC for the night to join them on stage. Kiedis proceeded to rap a poem he wrote titled, "Out in L.A." which was heavily influenced by Grandmaster Flash. The band's first demo, recorded in 1984, featured many songs with rapped lyrics over a rock sound. In 1986, Run-D.M.C. collaborated with Aerosmith on a remake of the latter's earlier song, "Walk This Way", first released in 1975. The success of the "Walk This Way" remake helped bring hip hop into popularity with a mainstream white audience.[18] Beastie Boys, formerly a hardcore punk group, began working in the hip hop genre. Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, largely featured a rock-based sound.[19]
Rap rock began to enter the mainstream arena in the 1990s. Rock bands such as 311, 24-7 Spyz, Faith No More, Living Colour, and Rage Against the Machine fused rock and hip hop influences.[14][20] In 1991, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Blood Sugar Sex Magik, a album that became groundbreaking for the band and rap rock sound and one of the most iconic albums of the decade. The album was a mixture of the band's trademark funk and rap rock sound and featured the Grammy Award winning single, Give it Away which became one of the most well known rap rock songs and in 1994 was named to Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock" list. Rolling Stone said of the song in 1991 that "The pummeling 'Give It Away' [...] established a template for rock punctuated by the beatcentric relentlessness of hip-hop that would be appropriated by everyone." The soundtrack album for the 1993 film Judgment Night featured 11 collaborations between hip hop and rock musicians.[21] Urban Dance Squad mixed funk, heavy metal, hip hop and punk.[22] Biohazard is also considered to be a pioneering act in the genre.[23] Cypress Hill's Black Sunday featured a rock-based sound and artwork which, according to Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey, resembled that of heavy metal bands.[24]
Rap rock gained mainstream popularity in the late-90s. Among the first wave of performers to gain mainstream success were 311,[25] Bloodhound Gang,[26], Kid Rock[27] and Limp Bizkit.[9]
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