Throughout American Musical History, music has developed and progressed through the intermingling of different genres and ethnic styles. Music serves as an opportunity to not only express ethnic identities and political opinions, but also as a form of expression where different cultures and styles can interact and be unified. Modern day hip-hop exemplifies this intermixing of cultures in that the music came from a distinct minority group; however, it has grown into the popular music of our era. Through the playlist I have posted on this site, I aim to not only demonstrate the intermingling of cultures through music but also to discuss the affect that various genres of music have had on the emergence of rap as a popular form of music.
The songs that I have chosen can all be catagorized in the "mash-up" genre; however, the songs are significant in that they all link rap music with separate genres. A mash-up is a genre of music that combines two songs by superimposing the vocal track of one song over the musical track of another. In my playlist, I have chosen songs that superimpose rap vocals with music tracks from various different forms of music. Each of these songs vividly displays cultural interaction at work, and the collection as a whole paints a portrait of the numerous influences that have affected rap music.
With this in mind, it is important to note that the hip hop mash-ups that I am discussing are merely the latest example of an ongoing cycle of cultural recombination. The hip-hop artists and DJs involved in making these tracks are not only creating interesting and sonically pleasing music, but they are also trying to unite many different forms of music into one piece. These tracks represent the cultural unity that Walt Whitman expressed in his influential poem Song of Myself in that they represent a universal bond between all who inhabit the earth. These hip-hop songs provide a context for cultural acceptance and communication, and represent the most recent attempt at cultural equality and unity.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Playlist
1. The Sound of Science- Beastie Boys
2. Pass the Mic- Beastie Boys
3. Been Around the World- Puff Daddy ft Notorious B.I.G.
4. Notorious B.I.G.- Notorious B.I.G. ft Lil Kim & Puff Daddy
5. Feels So Good- Mase
6. Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems- Notorious B.I.G.
7. Until the End of Time- Tupac
8. Hard Knock Life- Jay-Z
9. I’ll Do Anything- Jay-Z
10. Deliverance- Bubba Sparks
11. Over and Over Again- Nelly ft Tim McGraw
12. Encore- DJ Dangermouse
13. Hate Me Now- Nas ft Puff Daddy
14. Gin & Juice- The Gourds
15. We Built This City- The Diplomats
16. Dead or Alive- The Diplomats
17. Push it- Camron ft Jim Jones
18. S.C.O.M.- Fort Minor ft Juelz Santana
19. Change Africa- Jay-Z
20. Bittersweet Symphony- Jay-Z
21. Apologize Remix- Lil Wayne
22. Something you forgot- Lil Wayne
23. Electric Feel- MGMT ft Jim Jones
24. Numb/Encore- Lincoln Park & Jay-Z
25. Life of Clocks- Jay-Z & Coldplay
26. He’s a Star- Juice
2. Pass the Mic- Beastie Boys
3. Been Around the World- Puff Daddy ft Notorious B.I.G.
4. Notorious B.I.G.- Notorious B.I.G. ft Lil Kim & Puff Daddy
5. Feels So Good- Mase
6. Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems- Notorious B.I.G.
7. Until the End of Time- Tupac
8. Hard Knock Life- Jay-Z
9. I’ll Do Anything- Jay-Z
10. Deliverance- Bubba Sparks
11. Over and Over Again- Nelly ft Tim McGraw
12. Encore- DJ Dangermouse
13. Hate Me Now- Nas ft Puff Daddy
14. Gin & Juice- The Gourds
15. We Built This City- The Diplomats
16. Dead or Alive- The Diplomats
17. Push it- Camron ft Jim Jones
18. S.C.O.M.- Fort Minor ft Juelz Santana
19. Change Africa- Jay-Z
20. Bittersweet Symphony- Jay-Z
21. Apologize Remix- Lil Wayne
22. Something you forgot- Lil Wayne
23. Electric Feel- MGMT ft Jim Jones
24. Numb/Encore- Lincoln Park & Jay-Z
25. Life of Clocks- Jay-Z & Coldplay
26. He’s a Star- Juice
The Sounds of Science- Beastie Boys
Song Title: The Sounds of Science
Artist: Beasties Boys
Album: Paul's Boutique
Record Company: Capitol Records
Date of Publication: July 25, 1989
Catalog #: C1-92844
This song by the Beasties Boys overtly samples the song "The End" by the Beatles. At the two minute mark in "The Sounds of Science" the background music of the song makes a drastic change to the melody of "the End" by the Beatles. The Beastie Boys make no attempt to hide the Beatle's influence on their song, and the only change they make to the Beatle's music is adding the sound of a scratching record. By combining the rock and popular genre of the Beatles with the hip-hop song "the Sounds of Science", the Beastie Boys are linking the two genres. The Beasties Boys are making a statement that rap music is not just for poor, urban listeners; instead, they suggest that rap music has grown from the popular music of the 1960s and is available to all different ethnic and social groups.
Listen to "The Sounds of Science": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOjYJPrpm-A
Listen to "The End": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k4PBNWUQEo
Pass the Mic- The Beastie Boys
Song Title: Pass the Mic
Artist: Beastie Boys
Album: Check Your Head
Record Company: Capitol Records
Date of Publication: April 21st, 1992
The song "Pass the Mic" by the Beastie Boys a sample from the 1976 composition "Choir" by the jazz flutist James Newton. The song begins with a six-second sample taken from "Choir" where Newton is overblowing a C note on his flute. The sample is repeated frequently throughout the song and creates an eerie noise in the background. This sampling of a jazz flutist demonstrates the numerous different influences that affected the Beastie Boy's hip hop sound. Although the jazz flute is not normally affiliated with hip-hop, the Beastie Boys creatively use the flute in an effort to unify the hip-hop and jazz genre.
Listen to "Pass the Mic": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBZYBL0KYdI
Listen to the sample from "Choir": http://atomiq.org/etc/james_newton_pass_the_mic.mp3
Picture Source: http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/beastie_boys/check_your_head/
Been Around the World- Puff Daddy ft Notorious B.I.G. & Mase
Song Title: Been Around the World
Artist: Puff Daddy ft Notorious B.I.G. & Mase
Album: No Way Out
Record Company: Bad Boy
Date of Publication: July 1st, 1997
Catalog #: 78612-79126
In this song, Puff Daddy takes the music from the 80s classic "Let's Dance" by David Bowie and adds a hip hop beat to it. The melody of both songs are almost identical; however, the rap song adds a hip-hop drumbeat and slows the tempo. By using Bowie's music, Puff Daddy is mixing the popular dance music of the 80s with the hip-hop music of the early 90s. Both songs are easy to dance too and sound very similar, yet clearly come from distinct genres. By sampling a song that is not familiar to Puff Daddy's black, urban fanbase, he is suggesting that hip-hop can cross through ethnicities, musical genres, and time.
Listen to "Been Around the World": http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x14ycc_puff-daddy-mase-been-around-the-wor_music
Listen to "Let's Dance": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT1L6gVjrKQ
Notorious B.I.G.- Notorious B.I.G. ft Lil Kim & Puff Daddy
Song Title: Notorious B.I.G.
Artist: Notorious B.I.G. ft Lil Kim & Puff Daddy
Album: Born Again
Record Company: Bad Boy Records
Date of Publication: December 7th, 1999
In this song, the artists sample a well known 80s song by Duran Duran. The song "Notorious" by Duran Duran was a popular song of the new wave and rock genre that received lots of commercial success when it was released in 1986. In the song "Notorious B.I.G." by various members of Bad Boy Records, the music is clearly sampled from the Duran Duran version and once again a rap drumbeat is added.
Listen to "Notorious B.I.G.": http://vodpod.com/watch/742748-the-notorious-big-ft-lil-kim-puff-daddy-notorious
Listen to "Notorious": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytWIZHxolI0
Feels So Good- Mase
Song: Feels So Good
Artist: Mase
Album: Harlem World
Record Company: Bad Boy Records
Date of Publication: October 28th, 1997
Catalogue #: 73017
This song samples Kool & the Gang's hit "Hollywood Swingin'" from 1973. In this song, the rapper Mase is trying to incorporate aspects of funk into rap. The music is copied from Kool & the Gang with slight adjustments to make the song sound more like the rap genre. In the middle of the song, Puff Daddy's lyrics state "Take hits from the 80's? But do it sound so crazy?" These lyrics suggests that Puff Daddy and Mase are improving upon the 80's music by incorporating it into the rap genre.
Listen to "Mo' Money Mo' Problems": http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=9356344
Listen to "Hollywood Swingin'": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kz2evj6YfS4
Mo' Money Mo' Problems- Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Mase
Song Title: Mo' Money Mo' Problems
Artist: Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy, Mase
Album: Life After Death
Record Company: Bad Boy
Date of Publication: March 25th, 1997
Catalog #: 74321 49249 2
"Mo' Money Mo' Problems" samples the song "I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross, which was a huge hit during the 1980s and is still a popular song. "Mo' Money Mo' Problems" is a significant song in rap in that it moves away from the derogatory and hardcore verses that many gangster rappers had previously been using. By sampling an upbeat and mainstream hit from the 1980s, the artists create a cleaner and livelier sound. "Mo' Money Mo' Problems" was extremely popular when it was released and due to its commerical success it marks the beginning of rap entering mainstream music.
Listen to "Mo' Money Mo' Problems": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR9hV-elWRE
Listen to "I'm Coming Out": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9KXkDMEPag
Hate Me Now- Nas ft Puff Daddy
Song Title: Hate Me Now
Artist: Nas ft Puff Daddy
Album: I Am...
Record Company: Columbia
Date of Publication: April 6th, 1999
Catalogue Number:
This song by Nas and Puff Daddy samples "O, Fortuna" by Carmina Burana. When Nas' CD I Am... first came out it was widely popular; however, it was criticized by some for its commercial appeal. In this song, Nas samples a popular classical music song, which is rarely done by rappers. Although the song does sample classical music, it has a very hardcore, gangster rap sound. This suggests that Nas is attempting to add a ghetto feel to classical music, which makes it more appealing for his urban listeners.
Listen to "Hate Me Now": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIeGPftrGnU
Listen to "O Fortuna": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuERh0jBjh8
Photo Source: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBizT9PkL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
Until the End of Time- Tupac
Song: Until the End of Time
Artist: 2pac
Album: Until the End of Time
Record Company: Death Row
Date of Publication: March 27th, 2001
Catalog #: 490840
This song samples the 1985 hit "Broken Wings" by the band Mr. Mister. In the song by Tupac, the rap beat, lyrics, and the chorus from the R&B group Next take the music from "Broken Wings" and create an interesting rap song out of it.
Listen to "Until the End of time": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7JuArhpTB8
Listen to "Broken Wings": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWyeVfuolT4
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2Pac_-_Until_The_End_Of_Time2.jpg
Hard Knock Life- Jay-Z
Song: Hard Knock Life
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: Vol 2...Hard Knock Life
Record Company: Roc-A-Fella Records
Date of Publication: September 29th, 1998
Catalogue #: 558902
In this song by Jay-Z, he samples the music from the Broadway Musical Annie to create a commercially successful and comical song about life in the ghetto. This song was ranked number 11 on VH1's 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs, and after listening to the music you can see how this song represents a crossover into the mainstream. The innocence of the female orphans singing the chorus in the song creates a distinct contrast between the gangster lyrics of Jay-Z. This song is significant because it expands the influences on hip-hop to broadway musicals, and it softens the tone of gangster hip-hop to allow it to enter the mainstream.
Listen to "Hard Knock Life" by Jay-Z: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxtn6-XQupM
Listen to "Hard Knock Life" from Annie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR80EEsWauU
Photo Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/Jay-z-vol-2-hard-knock-life.jpg
Anything- Jay-Z
Song Title: Anything
Artist: Jay-Z
Album: The Truth
Record Company: Roc-A-Fella Records
Date of Publication: Febuary 29th, 2000
This song is a sample from the British musical Oliver!. Like in the song "Hard Knock Life", Jay-z takes the music from a musical and puts a rap beat in the background while simultaneously slowing down the beat. Both "Hard Knock Life" and "Anthing" represent the wide variety of genres that have an impact on rap and reinforces the idea that rap embraces all different musical cultures and ethnicities. These songs also demonstrate the versatility of rap since they are able to convert showtunes into popular hip-hop music.
I would highly recommend watching both videos not only for the comical aspect of the conflicting genres, but also to illustrate how distinct the two genres truly are:
Listen to "Anything" by Jay-Z: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUbRa_ijVw
Listen to "Anything" by Oliver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0D53Dxl3M
Photo Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ae/Jayzanything.jpg
Deliverance- Bubba Sparxxx
Song: Deliverance
Artist: Bubba Sparxxx
Album: Deliverance
Record Company: Beat Club/Interscope Records
Date of Publication: September 16th, 2003
Catalogue Number: 000114702
This song by Bubba Sparxxx is a landmark in the development of hip-hop's ability to mingle with different musical genres. The song embraces grass roots and country music while simultaneously blending these unique styles with hip-hop. Country music and hip-hop have always seemed to be at odds with each other due to the ethnic and cultural groups that listen to each genre. Country music appeals to white listeners who live in rural areas; whereas, rap music appeals to various ethnicities, predominantly black and latino, that live in urban areas. Overall, Bubba Sparxxx successfully blends the two genres into music that is both a statement about cultural fusion and fun to listen to.
Listen to "Deliverance": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7akj4g2f0
photo source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/Bubba_deliverance.jpg
Over and Over Again- Nelly ft Tim McGraw
Song: Over and Over Again
Artist: Nelly Ft Tim McGraw
Album: Suit
Record Company: Universal Records
Date of Publication: September, 2004
Catalogue #: 437511
"Over and Over Again" represents a crossover hit for country music star Tim McGraw and the rapper Nelly. This song demonstrates the intermingling between rap and country music, which are two extremely distinct and different genres. As unlikely as this combination is, McGraw and Nelly were able to create a song that is enjoyable for fans of both rap and country; thereby, uniting the two different cultural groups in mutual appreciation.
Listen to "Over and Over Again": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voHt52tsT1U
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nelly_featuring_Tim_McGraw_-_Over_and_Over_CD_cover.jpg
Gin & Juice- The Gourds
Song Title: Gin & Juice
Artist: The Gourds
Album: Gogitchyershinebox EP
Record Company: Watermelon Records
Date of Publication: September 8, 1998
Catalogue Number: 3922
In this cover of the song "Gin & Juice" by Snoop Dogg, the Gourds use an unusual technique to mix the two songs. Unlike the other songs on my playlist, the Gourds sing Snoop Dogg's lyrics in "Gin & Juice" and create background music to go along with the lyrics. The song is extremely comical in that it blends the normally un-offensive tone of country music with the explicit lyrics of West Coast Rap. Overall, the song signifies hip hop's influence on other musical genres, and demonstrates a common bond between two vastly different cultures.
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TheGourds.jpg
Listen to "Gin & Juice" by the Gourds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SunrKwykK_Y
Listen to "Gin & Juice" by Snoop Dogg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czyfws7OLCs
Encore- DJ Danger Mouse
Song Title: Encore
Artist: Jay-Z & the Beatles
Album: The Grey Album
Record Company: Bootleg (Released by DJ Danger Mouse)
Date of Publication: 2004
This song uses an acapella version of the song "Encore" from Jay-Z's Black Album and couples it with a sample from the song "Glass Onion" from the Beatles' White Album. Although DJ Danger Mouse is responsible for the mix, Jay-Z released the acapella versions of his songs from the Black Album in an effort to foster the creation of mash-ups. The video for the song portrays Jay-Z performing in front of screaming Beatles fans, which suggests that the two groups share the same fan base. Due to their distinct genres, this shared fan based seems unlikely; however, it reinforces the idea that hip-hop is broadening its appeal and intertwining with popular culture.
Watch the "Encore" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXLp2z6xL4
Numb/Encore- Lincoln Park & Jay-Z
Song Title: Numb/Encore
Artist: Lincoln Park & Jay-Z
Album: Collision Course EP
Record Company: Roc-A-Fella, Machine Shop, Warner Bros, Def Jam
Date of Publication: November 30th, 2004
Catalog Number: 48962
The album Collision Course was a collaboration between Lincoln Park and Jay-Z in an effort to create a popular music CD. The CD simply mashes up Lincoln Park's hard rock music with Jay-Z's rap verses, yet it demonstrates the idea that collaboration between different genres is entering the mainstream. The two groups appreciate the uniqueness of their music; however, they also embrace the universal bond that all forms of music share.
Listen to Numb/Encore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRNeI2oLBXw
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Collision_Course_CD-DVD_cover.jpg
We Built This City- The Diplomats
Song Title: We Built This City
Artist: The Diplomats
Album: Diplomatic Immunity
Record Company: Roc-A-Fella Records
Date of Publication: March 11th, 2003
Catalogue #: 063211
Diplomatic Immunity was the Diplomat's debut album and its purpose was to attain commercial success. The album is rich in samples like "We Built This City", which implies that rappers cannot enter the mainstream without sampling popular hits from the past. The sampling in this song can be seen as a way of appealing to a broader audience while still keeping the characteristics of a rap song. The song demonstrates the rap group's desire to be unified with popular music, and is attempting to forge a bond between the two genres.
Listen to "We Built This City" by the Diplomats: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFVf2pjOhIo
Listen to "We Built This City" by Starship: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH-UqB7uYiE
Photo Source: http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00008GQ9Y.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Dead or Alive- The Diplomats
Song Title: Dead or Alive
Artist: Camron ft Jim Jones
Album: Come Home With Me
Record Company: Roc-A-Fella Records
Date of Publication: May 14th, 2002
Catalogue Number: 586876
This song samples "Lazarus" by Buffy Sainte Marie who was a Canadian folk singer of Native American heritage in the 1940s. Buffy Sainte Marie earned much acclaim in her efforts to preserve Native American folk music. The fact that Cam'ron is sampling from such an obscure genre of music shows the versatility of rap and the wide range of influences that affect rap music. The producer's decision to use a sample from a scarcely known song in an obscure genre demonstrates rap's ability to be all-inclusive and reinforces the idea of a universal musical bond.
Listen to "Dead or Alive" http://www.imeem.com/people/Ag6wEt/music/XhhYnauO/camron-dead-or-alive-feat-jimmy-jones/
Listen to "Lazarus": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtTljD9Ds6w
Photo Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Come_Home_With_MeCam.jpg
S.C.O.M.- Fort Minor ft Juelz Santana
Artist: Fort Minor ft Juelz Santana
Album: We Major EP
Album: We Major EP
Record Company: Machine Shop Recordings
Date of Publication: October 26th, 2005
Catalog Number: PRO-A-101815-B-SR1
This song represents a clear combination of hard rock, punk rock, and rap merged into one. The song samples the 1988 hard rock hit "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, and the lyricists are Juelz Santana and members of the alternative hip-hop band Fort Minor. Fort Minor is considered "alternative" hip-hop in that it combines punk rock with rap. Juelz is considered purely a rapper, but the fact that they are on the same track re-inforces the merger of punk rock and hip-hop. In one of Juelz's lines, he states, "Plus I fuck with the white boys/skaters and bike boys/Who may act different but the struggles alike boy." This lyric shows the influence of rock on rap artists, and the merging of the two cultural identities through music.
Listen to S.C.O.M.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lav7t1cNEcQ
Lyrics to S.C.O.M.: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/fortminor/scom.html
Listen to Sweet Child of Mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-AYAv0IoWI
Apologize Remix- Lil Wayne and Bun B
Song Title: Apologize Remix
Artist: Lil Wayne and Bun B
Album: The Product 2
Record Company: N/A
Date of Publication: 2007
Although the title of the song is "Apologize Remix", this song sounds more like Lil Wayne's interpretation of the song "Apologize" by One Republic. The rap remix is much faster than the original version, and uses a computer generated voice for the chorus. Lil Wayne's lyrics were created specifically for this song, and "Apologize Remix" appears to have taken the song "Apologize" and converted it to the hip hop genre.
Listen to Apologize: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePyRrb2-fzs
Listen to Apologize Remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZgf_dSkZTI
Photo Source: http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/31159/2000585622836061035_rs.jpg
Something You Forgot- Lil Wayne
Song Title: Something You Forgot
Artist: Lil Wayne
Album: The Drought is Over 2
Record Company: Universal Records
Release Date: 2007
Catalogue Number: N/A
The Drought is Over 2 was a mixtape that received a lot of praise and was considered among the best albums of 2007 by Rolling Stone . The purpose of the tape was not necessarily commercial success like Lil Wayne's other CDs; instead, it was a chance for Lil Wayne to experiment with music. The song that "Something You Forgot" samples is not well-known by today's listener and is a slow love song. The fact that Lil Wayne samples the song shows the versatility of hip-hop and his expertise in combining rap with any type of music.
Listen to "Something You Forgot": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tk1n6kukNk
Listen to "What About Love?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBqU8FOE0uk
Photo Source: http://www.tradebit.com/usr/djmixtapez/pub/9002/The-Drought-Is-Over-2.jpg
Change Africa/Bittersweet Symphony- Jay-Z
1. Song: Bittersweet Symphony
Artist: Jay Z vs The Verve
Album: N/A
Record Company: N/A
Date of Publication: 2007
2. Song: Change Africa
Artist: Jay Z vs Toto
Album: N/A
Record Company: N/A
Date of Publication: September 5th, 2007
Catalog Number: N/A
These two songs demonstrate the importance of "bedroom DJs" and filing sharing through the Internet, while also challenging the listener to decide which genre of music is superior. Because of the availability of music on the Internet, "bedroom DJs", or DJs who are not professional, are able to mix popular songs with rap for recreation. The songs include aspects of both Jay-Z's lyrics and the lyrics from the original song; therefore, the creator of the mash-up is asking the listener to decide which version is better. One of the golden rules of remixes and remakes is that they must improve upon the original. Through the inclusion of segments from the original, the listener can truly decide what is the superior version.
Listen to "Change Africa": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qFTDGZn3wQ
Listen to Africa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPT_3PEjnsE
Listen to "Bittersweet Symphony Remix": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOUmZIXeljI
Listen to Bittersweet Symphony": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx3m4e45bTo
Electric Feel- MGMT ft Jim Jones
Song Title: Electric Feel (remix)
Artist: MGMT ft Jim Jones
Album: Oracular Spectacular
Record Company: Sony/Columbia
Date of Publication: October 2nd, 2007
Catalog Number: 719512
In the song "Electic Feel Remix", we see mutual cooperation between MGMT of the indie pop genre and the rapper Jim Jones. In the remix, almost the entire song remains unchanged except for Jim Jones' verse at the beginning and end of the song. Since almost nothing was changed, this song represents less of a desire for commerical success than an example of mutual admiration between the two artists. These types of remixes foster cultural integration and promote diversity as mainstream.
Listen to "Electric Feel Remix": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMVcJmDxZuQ
He's A Star- Juice
Song Title: He's A Star
Artist: Juice
Album: N/A
Record Company: N/A
Date of Publication: 2007
Catalog: N/A
This song demonstrates hip-hop's continuing trend of moving away from the gangster image of the early 90s. The song samples "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton and sharply contrasts the bad guy image that many rappers try to convey. The music in the song is dominated by the piano and provides a soft melody that can be distinguished as stereotypically femine. Overall, the song erases stereotypes and provides an alternative to the macho identity of numerous rappers.
Listen to "He's a star": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-bnsPdzxT4&feature=related
Conclusion
In conclusion, the songs that I have selected in this blog represent the cultural intermingling of various different ethnic groups through the combination of rap music with different musical genres. Throughout the American musical tradition, sampling and mash-ups have a rich history. In the past, musicians such as Charles Ives were hesitant to acknowledge the influence that black music had on their compositions due to their desire to segregate themselves from minority groups. In the present day, musicians from different genres and ethnic backgrounds encourage collaboration and are influenced greatly by one another. In this selection of music, I have tried to illustrate this integration by providing musical examples of the interaction between rap artists and artists of various genres. As America continues to become more culturally cohesive, I believe that this trend will continue creating more genres while simultaneously unifying us in musical appreciation.
Bibliography and Further Exploration
Bibliography
Further Exploration
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sounds_of_Science
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance_(Bubba_Sparxxx_album
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grey_Album
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mo_Money_Mo_Problems
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_McGraw
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(music)
Further Exploration
- Siva Vaidhyanathan. Copyrights and Copywrongs: The Rise of Intellectual Property and How It Threatens Creativity. NYU Press, 2001
- Rojas, Pete “Bootleg Culture”. Aug 1st 2002. Salon Magazine. San Francisco, California. http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2002/08/01/bootlegs/index.html
- Jeremy J. Beadle (1993). Will Pop Eat Itself? Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-16241-X.
- Roseman, Jordan (2006). Audio Mashup Construction Kit. ISBN 0471771953.
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