LEVEL 2 2.3 Demonstrate understanding of representation in the media.

. Is Rap and Hip-hop music to blame for encouraging a culture of violence on society?

Origins and Evolution of Rap and HipHop

Rap Music Genre With its supercharged rhythms, rap music took the world by storm in the late 1970s and led to the cultural phenomenon known as hip hop. Rap music had its roots in Jamaican toasting, R&B and funk, but rap songs are essentially the sounds of the streets, a passionate outcry from inner city youth about their bleak lives. Since its early days, rap songs have really exploded with incredible sonic invention, exploring new poetic ideas and the gangsta life. Raps germination is sometimes attributed to the righteous street poetry of the Last Poets and the Watts Prophets, but it didnt begin to take full shape and earn its tag until after the Sugarhill Gang released Rappers Delight in 1979. Since then, rap spread from its New York epicenter throughout the remainder of the U.S. (with each region taking on its own specific flavor) and then to countless countries. Rap is music that consists of topical rhyme verses recited over a recorded or live instrumental background. Developed by urban American blacks, its format originally consisted of a disk jockey (D.J.) alternating and mixing small excerpts of recorded music and adding rhythmical scratching sounds, while a rapper sings or recites rhymed lyrics, that were often similar to poems. Rap first appeared in the mid-1970s. Rap musicians sample a wide range of street sounds, historical music, and spoken-word recordings in a very powerful, musical format. The first rap came into existence in the Bronx, a ghetto of NYC. African-American poets had started using drum beats and instrumental music as a background for their lyrics. The rap music we know today was born. Rap music soon became a subject of criticism and controversy because of sexually explicit lyrics and texts that glorified violence or promoted controversial political views. The music was also used to express feelings and criticize the government, life standards and society. Gangs in the ghettos of big American cities stopped fighting with weapons and started fighting with rhymes. Gangsta Rap Fans frequently drop the word hardcore and refer to this genre strictly as gangsta rap. When fans do use the term hardcore gangsta rap music, they are usually referring to the most intense brand of this type of music. If you were to classify rap according to the fans, hardcore gangsta rap music is gangsta to the max. With its ultra aggressive themes, explicit lyrics, and non-stop hard hitting beats, hardcore gangsta rap music is extreme hip hop uncensored. Although gangsta rap music pushes the envelope beyond the point of what some critics may consider socially acceptable, it has still managed to become the most commercial form of rap throughout the late 1980s, and into the early 1990s. Hardcore gangsta rap music fans rejoiced during this period as some of the most deliciously loathsome songs were recorded.

Conventions of Rap and Hip-Hop How are the artists represented?

Hip-hop/Rap conventions Special terminology Swag, G, yo, raw Iconography, guns, chains/jewellery, hats (slanted sometimes), cigarettes, cigars, stacks of money. Designer clothes (to say they have a lot of spare cash) Artists are mainly black but other races are prominent (Eminem for example). Also mainly American but other countries apply (Plan B, Professor Green) Each rapper who appears on the front cover will be shown with his star image and personal identity but also shown in a way that looks like all other rappers (to create a common feel) Can sometimes feature females on front covers but mostly male. Holds a stereotypical view of women as being sex objects. Close up or low angle shot show that they are big, powerful and strong They a have a snarl or an angry facial expression to look intimidating and powerful. Artists personalities and the lyrics in their songs try to make out that the artists are successful, powerful and rich. Artists will be in front of the magazine masthead to show that they are powerful and it makes them stand out. Artists will be shown as dominant and in music videos, illustration will be show to demonstrate their dark and difficult past lives.

XXL MAGAZINE Analysis

This XXL magazine clearly connotates masculinity and gives an idea that the audience are hip hop and R&B listeners. XXL gives the impression that the music is male dominated and large due to the photo. The idea of XXL is enhanced by the use of diamonds. The masthead is created with diamonds which associate bling culture and also hip-hop as many hip-hop artists wear lots of jewellery and bling as shown by the main image of Baby and Lil Wayne. The red colour in the masthead typically connotates the colour of power and violence which is associated with gangs and gang shootings as this is also portrayed by the main image as the two men are showing confidence and power in their posture. The main image is also stereotypical as they are wearing a lot of heavy jewellery which signifies wealth. The tattoos have associations of criminality (the tear drop tattoo has associations with murder). The main cover line grabs attention to hip hop audience and also connotates masculinity as it is designed in block letters. The additional cover line are in upper case letter to make the other artists stand out too, it also has a colour scheme of black and white. The block letter shows the dominance of rap and hip-hop culture. The posture and direct gaze of the rap artists is intimidating and appears to be instructing the audience to avoid eye contact. Alliteration in the puff makes it memorable and the word dominance portrays hip hop and the power it has over its audience.