Hip hop and electro are, technically speaking, two different genres of music. But every year (hell, every day) they get a little bit closer together. Maybe it’s too early to apply a name to the synthesis of these two styles (and, please god, I hope somebody invents a better name for it than the intentionally tacky title of this blog post.) But there’s no denying that they’re starting to overlap. I know this isn’t exactly a new idea. Genres always overlap, and defining a genre is always tricky. Still, the distinction between hip hop and electro is growing increasingly blurred.
It’s easy to see why the two styles go hand-in-hand. DJs need vocals, and lifting the vocal track off a well-known rap song is both a) easier than recording good-quality vocals and b) a surefire way to get the dancefloor excited by playing something people recognize (assuming they like the original song.) Seriously, how many times have we heard Rick Ross’s “everday I’m hustlin’” sampled in an electronic song? It’s often easier to build off the popularity of another track. The production of hip hop has become more elecctronic, too. Making a rap beat involves the same software as making an electronic song. And both styles often use the typical “two turntables and a microphone (and a laptop)” for performance.
But is hip hop is becoming more electronic, or is electronic music becoming more, ahem, “hip hoppy?” Niether. Both genres are becoming more like the other. That’s what makes it so interesting. Two different styles are both moving toward the same sound. A popular electro song can become a rap beat, like in the case of Kanye West’s “Stronger”. Or a rap song can be sampled and turned into something more danceable, like the MSTRKRFT remix we just posted about.
Listen to the Wiz Khalifa track below. It uses that old Alice DeeJay song “Better Off Alone” as the basis for a rap beat. Then listen to an old Bloody Beetroots song that uses Public Enemy vocals. The rap-electro synthesis can happen both ways. As always, leave any thoughts or comments you have.
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Bloody Beetroots – Public Enemy
Tags: alice deejay, bloody beetroots, genre, hip hop, public enemy, Rap, wiz khalifa
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I have to agree on this blurring of the two genres, and I love it when you find these great mashups/remixes.
To be honest I prefer the productions done by electro artists with vocals on top as it is obviously more centered on vocals at the moment; and I think also because they are more danceable considering the BPM.
Good post.
I meant to say:
“as it is obviously more centered on instrumentals at the moment”
triphop
GHETTO-TECH
So true with the advent of more mainstream artists teaming up an making new tracks such as
David Guetta and Akon – Sexy Bitch
Mainstream crowds like hip hop and electronic so it only seems like a matter of time before the two overlap
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i dont think they will ever really completely mix for a number of reasons. first hip hop is and will always be the music of the streets and inner cities, i am saying this as a suburban white kid. i like hip hop but some of it just doesnt speak to me, and though djs come from all walks of life in the end they are part of a different cultural movement. i think though now they are catering to a similar audience as hip hop and electro music become more commercialized, and this is causing a blend of styles
Everyone loves money. The most money in music sad to say is in the mainstream. Therefore for electronic artists to make more money and apply to a larger crowds they feel the need to make their songs sound more appealing to the general uninformed “I dont like techno (its not fucking techno for the 1000th time)” public by throwing some cheesy hip hop lyrics overtop of their song. The average music listener is used to hearing music that is played on popular radio stations, MTV, much music etc. Most of those songs have far less complexity to the beat make up of their songs since they are more lyrically focused.
Instead of these good electronic artists continuing to push the boundries of the musical genre they helped to mould they “sell out” (as cliched as that saying is) and start producing songs that will appeal to the general unappreciative public instead of the fans that have kept an open mind to their music.
So next time you hear your once favorite electronic artists make some cheesy, simple beat that has someone reapeating the same phrase a thousand times throughout the song. Pitty the producer and throw on some Deux Helix, Joe and Will Ask?, Jonh Roman…. the list goes on, they are still out there.
And to MSTRCRFT, beetroots etc… For the future when you create your new hiphopEtronica please thrown some songs onto your albums that most ppl will hate because they cant sing along to it and jump around with the other 15 year girls at their party, but your real fans will love and appreciate you for it.
OUT.
an argument is so much stronger when proofread. think about it.
Hip-tro!!!
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