Hip Hop and Rap Are Art Because Theyre Like Poetry
How is Hip Hop and rap similar to poetry? Is the difference really that Large?
The 'Is rap poetry' debate is one of those subjective topics that no one e'er seems to agree on.
You've got traditionalists riled that something then 'eloquent' could even be associated with a genre so 'vulgar'. And so you've got those who don't speak in Shakespeare'southward tongue, who're slightly more open to possibility that rap is a form of poetry. Nevertheless, there's good reason for this divide.
See, both rap and poesy are forms of literary art. And as nosotros all know, art can testify to be very controversial – Granddad taught me that. Not that it'south a bad affair though. In fact, without debate art wouldn't be fine art, considering the whole point of it, is that it's open to interpretation. And so, any opinions on Hockney or Monet, are just as valid every bit opinions on Shakespeare or JayZ.
Therefore, for thegreater good of Hip Hop, information technology'd just make sense to settle this 'literary beef'. in which instance, are there whatsoever valid reasons why rap is verse? Or is this entire debate only a giant misconception? Read on to find out…
Asking yourself'is rap a course of poetry', but need your answer quick? Smash that menu beneath to rails downwards your answers in the nick of time…
Who invented rapping? Where did it originate?
Okay, there's no denying it…
Compared to verse, rap is undoubtedly the youngest art form of the two. This form of rhythmic speaking firstoriginated from the ancient Griots of Westward Africa – a bunch of historians who'd tell tales of their past to the beat of a drum (dum dum dum).
Yet, with that being said, rap didn't find its way into music until the 1970s! For this we accept to thank DJ Kool Herc (a DJ from the Bronx) who used his two turntables to create loops. Genius!
And although rap was around in the 70s,lyrically information technology remained relatively uncomplicated. That was until the Golden Years of the 1980s, when rappers like Public Enemy, Run DMC and later N.Westward.A. and Ice T, laid the foundations of the intense (& slightly rebellious) rap sound that nosotros know & love today.
Both the sound and lyrics continued to evolve through the 90s, with the likes of Biggie Smalls, Tupac and in the tardily 90s, G-G-G-Unit. By this time, metaphors and similes were common across lyrics too, as wordplay began to accept middle-phase. Flows too actually switched up in the 90s, specially towards the 2000s.
Then come thenoughties, & thanks to advanced production wizardry & the rising of the net, Hip Hop was now internationally recognised & recorded in HQ. From here it'south gone on to go what'due south arguably the world'southward most popular genre of music + give birth to various sub-genres: Mumble Rap, Trap, Drill, AfroBeat and and so on.
All sounds & lyrical styles, which have gone onto shape the face up of Hip Hop into what we know information technology today.
What does rap correspond?
Seen every bit though the 'is rap poetry' debate is lyrical, it seems merely right that nosotros clear upwards the etymology around this term besides (fancy give-and-take for 'what information technology ways')
Fun fact: there's really 2 ways of looking at this! First, there'due south what the give-and-take means itself. The word 'rap' has been around since 1541 & ways "to utter (esp. an oath) sharply, vigorously, or suddenly", co-ordinate to the The Shorter Oxford English language Lexicon. In other words, speak in a sure 'rappish' tone.
However, there'south too a 2nd interpretation. The term 'rap' is also believed to be an anacronym (an abbreviation) of the phrase: Rhythm And Poetry. At present while there's a lot of fence over whether this is the case, I must say, it looks convincing.
I'll leave the decision for that up to you…
And so, who started poetry?
Poetry is rap'southward grandpa; the kickoff examples of poetry engagement back to nearly 4000 years ago!!
And who'd have thought it – the world's beginning poet was actually female… Emma Watson would be proud! This poet went by the proper name ofEnheduanna & was an Akkadian poet, who turned out to be the daughter of Sargon the Bang-up – i.e. a 'public effigy' from dorsum in the years BC. Sargon was the get-go person Ever to dominion over an empire! So my gauge would exist that for her, poetry was a pastime.
See, while information technology'due south claimed thatEnheduanna was the first poet, verse only actually began to 'kicking off' & have the grade nosotros know today, when Epic poesy came nigh in twenty B.C. These are your poems like 'The Odeyssey' by Homer (non Simpson) and 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. In essence, a poem that tells an 'extraordinary' or 'dramatic' story. If y'all're into more than mod poems, A Midsummer Nighttime's Dream is also an Epic also… oh the joys of GSCE English.
Although, as well every bit different forms of poetry, there's likewise been different eras. The master ones being…
- Renaissance poetry – These are poets like Thomas Wyatt and Edmund Spenser, who focus on portraying tragedy in a witty just true way.
- Elizabethan poesy – Telephone call this the origins of wordplay. Elizabethan poets like Edmund Spenser and Christopher Marlowe are some of the showtime to focus on metaphors, puns and repetition.
- Metaphysical poesy – In contrast to Elizabethan, Metaphysical poets of the likes of Andrew Marvell and George Herbert focused less on the written quality of their words & more on their impact when spoken. Typically metaphysical poems are orientated around complex thoughts.
- Cavalier poetry – Poets of this era, such as Robert Herrick and the ironically named, Richard Lovelace, talk of loyalty, making merry and would pigment pictures of them as magnificent heroes too. Cavalier verse often makes reference to the crown. Read into these poems & you lot'll likely spot a fair few of these footling jabs at Oliver Cromwell.
- Romantic poesy – Pretty self explanatory this era. Romantic poems pivot focus on idea, emotion and a lot of the fourth dimension, imagination. If you've ever read William Blake or John Keats and so you're no stranger to romantic poetry (oooh la la)
- Victorian verse – Pessimism, morality and the questioning of God is what distinguishes a verse form of this era. Robert Browning and Alfred Tennyson are some of the about well known Victorian poets.
- Modern poetry – Otherwise dubbed equally Contemporary, this era began during the 20th century & has a strong focus on realism, spirituality, dissatisfaction + to some extent, the significant of life. Some of the best modernists out at that place include war poet, Wilfred Owen, and people'south poet, Tony Harrison – a fellow Yorkshireman!!
What is the departure between rap and poetry?
A couple of reasons why rap is poetry
Is rap considered poetry?
Well, you'll likely have a clearer thought of why it could be, afterwards eyeing up the similarities beneath. Yep – despite what the 'poetry purists' may tell you, there's a fair few similarities between rap & poetry. Many of which (I must say) are quite disarming.
So with that in mind, dive into these 7 reasons why rap is poesy…
1 – Poetry (merely like rap) is verbal art – Those who can't stand the thought of rap being considered a form of poetry, will frequently tell y'all: "rappers are storytellers – not poets". A fair bespeak, until you realise that (A) almost all poems tell some sort of story & (B) that poetry actually predates written text. Point being that poetry was originally spoken out or performed just like rap. In fact, without that existence the instance, many slap-up poems may not have even fabricated information technology onto paper!! So peradventure rap is a LOT more than like poetry than we initially idea.
2 – Both comes in 'free' forms – Oh yes – information technology wouldn't be the 'Is Rap Verse' debate without touching on free forms. Something that you lot'll find across both rap & verse; inorthward rap you have freestyles & in poetry in that location's gratis poetry. And in case you're wondering, free forms are types of writing that doesn't requite a f***. Information technology takes ane look at the rulebook and goes, 'Meh. I'm bored – allow'south change information technology upwardly!'.
NOTE: M uch like a freestyle in rap, free verse poetry doesn't normally come with a set construction – it's not often you lot'll find information technology laid out in stanzas, just every bit you'll rarely find a freestyle with a chorus. The story's much the aforementioned with rhyme & rhythm. Both costless poetry poetry & freestyle raps go along it largely irregular. Although the one unavoidable regularity that you practice take with a freestyle in rap is the beat, unless of form you get acapella (cough) slam poetry?
3 – Rap embraces poetic techniques – Some other reason rap is considered poetry is because every bit it'due south evolved, it's embraced more & more in the way of poetic technique. Analyse certain rap songs closely, and it's likely you'll come beyond some course of: end rhyme, anaphora, metaphor, alliteration, dissonance, internal rhyme, hyperbole, oxymoron, assonance, imagery, monologue…
Now, could this merely exist rappers copying poetic principles? Or is rap music taking these poetic principles & adapting them to the mod age? Maybe why there'south fears about poesy becoming a dying art. Dost thou agree?
four – Dialect Growth – Touch on dialect & the 'Is rap poesy' contend takes another turn unexpected plough. See, rap is virtually proof of just how fast language is evolving – accept 5 to investigate Drill Slang & you lot'll see what I mean. MLE is proving to be a particularly pop dialect across the United kingdom. Speaking of which though, dialect is also a prominent part of poetry too. Compare contemporary poets like Tony Harrison to the likes of Shakespeare & y'all'll presently sense the divergence. Gone is all the 'art thee' & 'come hither' type language, in place of regional dialogue, strong opinions or even a curse give-and-take. Characteristics that mirror rap vocals… mayhap?
five – Dissimilar eras of rap and poetry – Because that poetry has been around for roughly one hundred times the length of Hip Hop, it's got a lot in mutual in terms of development. Both rap & poetry tin be divers by specific eras, each of which has their unique style & approach. Plainly in that location are (as of at present) more poetic eras. Withal, with music is evolving faster than ever before (kudos to the net), I don't call up it'd be dillusional to say that Hip Hop will catch up.
More communication = More cognition = Faster alter
Put it this mode, more than sub/ microgenres take come out of Hip Hop in the terminal 10 years than I have fingers, so…
6 – Lyrics – While certain 'poetic ponces' maintain that lyrical poems are non the equivalent to lyrics you detect in music, I'm suspicious. Why? Because lyric poems are those which convey deep thoughts & emotion + they're often written in the first person as well. Couple that with the fact they're oft sung or performed &… (merely wait till yous read the next bit)
Considering you know what's even more ironic? Lyric poems even become their name from an instrument – the Greek 'lyre' – which just so happens to be 'the' stringed instrument that would accompany the performance of a lyrical poem. The other 2 were a cithara and a barbitos. Anyhow, then only to be clear – that's a poem which is: sang to music, written in the 1st person, is chosen a lyric & gets its name from an instrument. Now, I'm not detective, but…
vii – Stress & meter – Can't stress this plenty – see, rap & poetry BOTH use stress & meter to create a rhythm. With poetry, you'll see poets stress certain syllables.So instead of saying "mackerel tastes fantastic" they say "mACKrel tastes fanTAStic" – i.due east. use the words to create a articulate class of crush. A technique you'll too find used past us rappers, although we're typically less dependant on it – perks of having a beat, I guess. Then while a poets use stress & meter to brand their slice flow, a rapper uses the mostly for dramatic effect. Small difference, simply the same core components.
A couple of reasons why rap is Non poesy
Granted, at that place are a lot of reasons why rap is poesy.
However, that'southward not to say there aren't valid reasons why rap isn't verse too.There are! Come across, this is where the 'Is Rap Poetry' debate gets interesting & for many could take an unexpected twist. Intrigued?
Check out these iii reasons why rap is NOT poetry…
1 – Rap is a by-production of poetry – Ane potential reason why rap ain't verse is the uncomplicated fact that utilize of poetic technique doesn't something poetry. Heck,nursery rhymes are 'technically' poems, simply even so you don't see the guys who wrote them claiming to be a poet laureate. Same goes for radio jingles or rhythmic telly slogans. And then really, you could fence that rap isn't poetry in itself – simply a modern estimation… food for thought.
2- Poetry is syllable sensitive – Arguably one of the largest differences between rap & poesy is the employ of syllables. Equally you'd look, with a poet not having whatever sort of musical acompanyment, syllables tend to exist used in a far more rigid fashion; a requirement of poetry in social club to create its rhythm.
For instance in poetry, at that place may be five stressed & v unstressed syllables in one line (i.due east. iambic pentameter), whereas in rap, in that location'southward no real rigid rules. One line could be crammed with twenty unstressed syllables, while the next could characteristic just 8 – iv of which are stressed. In that respect I suppose yous could say rap is more free – whether that's good or bad is up to you.
3- The meaning of rap only isn't there – This is an issue poets are severely passionate about. If a poem doesn't hateful anything, then why write it – right? All of which from a poetic perspective, can make modern music seem a bit zilch.Lyrics well-nigh how 'Maddie'south backside jiggles' for instance, or 'copping a new Roley' aren't exactly what you'd phone call deep or heartfelt. Although, not all music artists fall into this category.
I can name a skillful handful of rappers (me included), who aim to invoke serious emotion through their songs. Many of which are that emotionally charged, that they'd even make a grown man weep!! So aye – while a good chunk of raps could exist regarded every bit 'lacking in meaning', I'd be careful nigh jumping to conclusions. Sweeping statements never do anyone any favours.
NOTE: The 'not so serious' nature of rap music is probable a cultural affair. Expect dorsum at gild throughout the eras of poesy & information technology's pretty clear that as a race we've become far more breezy. Today y'all can wear a pair of ripped jeans to work & use F*** like information technology'south punctuation. Try that in the days of therenaissance poetry and (gulp)… goodbye.
Is rap a form of verse: some thoughts to consider
Right – then while there are valid points on both sides of the 'Is Rap Verse' debate, it does nonetheless manage to ruffle the feathers of rappers & poets alike.
And however, it'due south not like that's going to come to a halt, anytime soon. Equally rap music gains popularity & new variants begin to spawn, these two creative fields are only going to clash even more than. Therefore, to assist you come to your own determination, here'due south a couple of notable opinions on the 'Is Rap Poetry' contend…
Iconic rappers similar JayZ are adamant that rap is poetry…
However, not everyone takes the same view every bit Jay.
Renowned poet Simon Armitage maintains that: "songs are not poems, I should say. In fact, songs are often bad poems. Take the music away and what y'all're left with is often an awkward slice of creative writing full of lumpy syllables, cheesy rhymes, exhausted cliches and mixed metaphors."
Not sure he'd be a fan of this then. After a video went viral of a instructor using poetry to win over the crowd at a rap boxing, rap is now being used to teach verse in schools…
XtG – Is rap considered literature? Has it really bastardised a traditional art form?
Hmmm, well let's simply say that…
If you consider poesy to exist 'the classics', and so chances are your answer is going to be "No". Should this be you & you lot'll have no doubt being gritting your teeth correct the way through this web log,in hope that it'll end on a 'intellectual' anecdote.
All I'll say is – go along grittin' em, because…
I disagree. See, while rap isn't poesy in the conventional sense, I do recollect (certainly some rap) has to be classed as poetry. Granted, folks like Simon Armitage may take a indicate in regards to certain songs, BUT to conclude that all rap is exempt from being poetry, is (if you ask me) a bit airtight-minded.
Meet, as great every bit poetry is, there'southward no getting circular the fact it's relevance & connection it has with people, is starting to fizzle out. Not past any error of it's own, just considering of a cultural shift. And that's my bespeak – whatever your thoughts are on rap, there's no denying that it speaks to people, particularly the younger generation.
With first the CD, and then the iPod & now online streaming, music is far more than attainable than e'er before; to many of us, information technology's a second organ. And so while you could argue that the growth of music has somewhat ousted poetry from the spotlight, y'all could also argue that rap is poetry's gateway into a new generation.
As I pointed out before, all arts are all open up to interpretation – that's what makes them art. Exactly why I stick by what I said –rap is poesy. It's that mod interpretation, which is dragging poetry kicking & screaming into the 21st century.
Disagree?
Well, there'due south no betoken getting riled. Only turn on the radio & take a spring out of Frank Sinatra'south book – face the music, and trip the light fantastic toe.
Congrats! You've now reached the finish of this blog! Although, don't become – because for you, it's non the terminate…
Similar what you've read & eager to dive into more of my rampant philosophies? Don't wait about – check out the latest posts to grace my Rap Music Blog!
And with that – I'g signing out.
Until the next i fandem,
10
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Your Author
XtG is a Yorkshire rapper, who equally you've probably guessed, finds it difficult non to limited himself when holding the pen. Hailing from Huddersfield on the W-Side of Yorkshire, he's one of a rare breed. A rapper who's out to exist recognised for turning convention on its caput.
Source: https://xtgmusic.com/is-rap-poetry/
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