HIP HOP
Born: Bronx, New York City
Active: Worldwide
Notable Names: 2 Pac, DJ Kool Herc, Notorious BIG, Wu Tang Clan, Nas,
Story: Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic subculture that originated solely in an African-Americancommunity during the 1970s in New York City, specifically in Morris Heights, Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, B-boying and graffiti writing.
Recommended Videos:
Eric B & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The Technique
Sido – Mein Block
Sido – LL Cool J – I’m Bad
NTM – Thats My People
DUBSTEP
Born: South London, UK
Active: UK, USA, Germany, Japan,
Notable Names: Skream, Modestep, Benga, Skrillex, Zomby, Datsik
Story: Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London, United Kingdom. Its overall sound has been described as “tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals”.
Recommended Videos:
Benga – Smack Your Bitch Up
Skrillex – Ruffneck – Full Flex
Goth Trad – “Cut End
Kozzie – “Back Again”
AFRO BEAT
Born: Nigeria
Active: Nigeria, USA, Canada, UK
Notable Names: Fela Kuti, Mr. Something Something, Kola Ogunkoya, Tony Allen, Sonny Okosun
Story: Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Yoruba music, jazz, highlife, funk and chanted vocals, fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. Its main creator was the Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who gave it its name, who used it to revolutionise musical structure as well as the political context in his native Nigeria.
Recommended Videos:
Coming soon…..
NEO SOUL
Born: Phrase coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records.
Active: USA, UK
Notable Names: D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Maxwell,
Story: Neo soul is a term coined by music industry entrepreneur Kedar Massenburg during the late 1990s to market and describe a style of music that emerged from soul and contemporary R&B. Heavily based in soul music, neo soul is distinguished by a less conventional sound than its contemporary R&B counterpart, with incorporated elements ranging from jazz, funk, and hip hop to pop, fusion, and African music. It has been noted by music writers for its classicist influences, conscious-driven lyrics, and strong female presence.
Recommended Videos:
Coming soon…..
DRUM AND BASS
Born: Bristol, UK
Active: UK
Notable Names: Roni Size, Adam F, DJ Hype, Goldie
Story: Drum and bass also written as drum ‘n’ bass and commonly abbreviated to D&B, D+B or DnB) is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–180 bpm, occasional variation is noted in older compositions), with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. Drum and bass began as an offshoot of the United Kingdom rave scene of the very early 1990s. Over the first decade of its existence, the incorporation of elements from various musical genres led to many permutations in its overall style.
Recommended Videos:
BCee – “Chameleon”
Speech Debelle – Better Days featuring Micachu
Malik (MD7) – “I Bear My Soul”
DJ Marky & S.P.Y. – “Yellow Shoes”