From Jazz To Hip Hop
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From Jazz to Hip Hop
New genres of music often start off with an underground following. As the music evolves it eventually loses its subversive feel. It is no longer revolutionary nor a creative art form, thus it becomes a product of popular culture found amongst the demographics of MTV. One popular style of music that grew by countering American culture is jazz. Today jazz is often compared to hip-hop; both art forms have grown from an underground following to counter American culture. Furthermore, jazz has heavily influenced many of hip-hops elements found within the music. The cultural similarities and musical elements influenced by jazz have had a strong impact on hip-hop.
Those who consider themselves true members of the hip hop community understand that there is an entire culture that embodies the music. This culture consists of language, art, fashion, dancing and various other urban rudiments. According to R.. Reese, “The raw beginnings of contemporary [hip hop] music can be traced to the Bronx in the mid 1970s”. The urban black youth were using the art form to send messages of political disproval and tell stories of violence, and anything that had to do with daily life on the streets. Such motifs can relate back to many songs that incorporates vocals in a composition.
Jazz musicians would commonly incorporate stories of every day life growing up in Harlem. In a number done by Duke Ellington with singer Ella Fitzgerald called “Take The A Train,” the lyrics give a candid story of life growing up in the streets. Specifically in this song they are talking about getting home to Sugar Hill in Harlem. Although the lyrics are not the song is very playful using a trumpet to mimic a train with Fitzgerald singing, “scat.” She sings, “You must take the “A” train To go to Sugar Hill way up in Harlem If you miss the “A” train Youll find you missed the quickest way to Harlem.” There is not too much weight in this song; however, it gives a glimpse into the life of someone growing up in Harlem.
These candid life stories of Harlem have been influential into many hip hoppers. The Sugar Hill Gang, an American hip hop group. in the late 70s reached the charts by giving America a glimpse at urban street life through the incorporation of somewhat obscene lyrics. The 14min 37s song includes the phrase, “he cant satisfy you with his little worm but I can bust you out with my super sperm,” These were extremely indescent lyrics for the time that were not acceptable to American moralities. Today more modern hip hop artists express more intellectual issues. A popular underground artists known, as Saigon is an example of one artist who uses music as a platform to express emotions he encounters in everyday life living in America. In the song “Kiss the Babies,” he raps, “why am I wrong if I kill a nigga that punch me, but its right for you to blow up a whole country.” These lyrics express anger he has towards the American establishment, but specifically towards President George Bush. Feelings expressed through rappers are thoughts that counter mainstream American moralities. While many stay patriotic at times of war Saigon rebels with obscene vernacular towards the American establishment. Hip-hop is a rebellious art form. Saigon is one example of the countless rappers who speak what is on their mind. Similar to hip hop jazz has shown countless moments of rebelliousness.
Nowadays jazz has assimilated into American culture; however, at a time it was thought of as a rebellious art form. One movement in the history of jazz that countered mainstream popularity was the bebop era. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, two major contributors to bebop, had developed the form in order to give birth to a new style of jazz. Rebellious in nature, Dizzy would often get up on stage and tell jokes; sometimes he would even begin to scat. Gillespie and Parker were always defending their new development since Louis Armstrongs “hot jazz” opposed the bebop style. On stage Armstrong would mimic Parker and Gillespie. Nevertheless, the intentions of creating this new form sent a message to contemporary jazz musicians of the time. Prior to the establishment of bebop, Parker and Gillespie were members of well known bands. They were pressured by bandleaders like Cab Calloway and Earl Hines to play commercial style music. In order to break free from any constraints they would have to leave these well-known bands and make a stance. As a result they would rebel against the commercialized jazz by creating new sounds and leaving their groups. According to Gioia beboppers “relished the opportunity to make a statement with Ðtheir music, and the more difficult it was, the better-little wonder that the resulting bebop style was, in basketball parlance, Ðin your face” (p. 205). In the same manner hip hop uses words to express a rebellion that many are offended by. Furthermore beboppers take a step towards being perceived as intellectuals rather than entertainers. Hip-hop artists are musicians who use poetry to express an intellectual message similar to that of the beboppers development of new sounds.
Jazz has always been huge into the development of new sound or techniques. These techniques have been extremely significant to hip-hop. Jazz has always been heavy on rhythm, which was strongly influenced by African culture. According to Gioia, “an African ensemble would construct layer upon layer of rhythmic patterns, forging a counter point of time signatures, a polyphony of percussion” (p. 11). By constructing layers upon layers of rhythmic patterns syncopation was established. No longer did a rhythm have to play to a steady beat, it could be played against it. The incorporation of syncopation can be found in ragtime, be-bop, and various other jazz forms. The multiplicity of rhythms has become rather innate in hip-hop as a structural device for a composition. Similar to jazz, hip hoppers use instrumentation to play with a beat or against. RZA, a member of underground hip hop group Wu-Tang, incorporates syncopated rhythm onto his tracks. On the piece titled “Bebop a (Live at the Rooftop)” off the album “Bird Up” he uses syncopation as a structural device to pace his words. In this tune he uses a 4/4 time signature intertwining his words through and around the beat. His rhythm often changes pace playing against the beat; however, because the composition is 4/4 he is always able to catch himself.
One major influence that jazz has had on hip-hop is the element of improvisation. Revolutionary rule breaker Louis Armstrong gave rise to the master soloist. Although he was not the first to improvise, he phased out the