Key Difference – Rap vs Hip Hop
There is often an overlap between the two terms rap and hip hop, which are subsets of urban music. This is because rap is one of the main elements in hip hop. The key difference between rap and hip hop is that rap is a type of music genre whereas hip hop is a music genre, an artistic movement as well as a subculture. As the American rapper KRS-One has said, “Rap is something you do, but hip hop is something you live.”
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Rap
3. What is Hip Hop
4. Similarities Between Rap and Hip Hop
5. Side by Side Comparison – Rap vs Hip Hop in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Rap?
Rap is a type of music where words are recited rapidly and rhythmically over an instrumental backing. This music has an African American origin; the West African griot tradition is considered to be the earliest precursor to the modern rap.
Anthony “DJ Hollywood” Holloway from Harlem is the person credited with originating the style that was later known as rap. Rapping is also known as rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing. Rap can be categorized into three components as content (what is said), flow (rhythm and rhyme) and delivery (tone and cadence).
Some famous rappers in the modern music industry include Eminem, Drake, Lil Wayne, Rakim, Kayne West, Jay-Z, and Wiz Khalifa
Figure 1: Lil Wayne
Rap is often associated with and is a part of hip hop music; however, the origins of rap precedes the origins of hip hop culture.
What is Hip Hop?
The term “hip hop” refers to a type of music, as well as an art movement and a subculture. Urban African Americans developed this music genre and the associated subculture in the United States.
Hip Hop subculture has four main stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements also include historical knowledge of the movement, beatboxing, street entrepreneurship, hip hop language, a percussive vocal style, hip hop fashion and style.
Figure 2: Four Main Elements of Hip Hop
Although the term rap is often used synonymously with hip –hop, rapping is not an essential component of hip hop music.
What are the Similarities Between Rap and Hip Hop?
- Both rap and hip hop are subsets of urban music.
- Urban African Americans developed both in the United States.
- Both incorporate DJing, turntablism, scratching, beatboxing.
Relationship Between Rap and Hip Hop
Rapping is a main element in hip hop, but not all hip hop music includes rapping. Some hip hop music only includes beat mixing, sampling and scratching.
What is the Difference Between Rap and Hip Hop?
Rap vs Hip Pop |
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| Rap is a type of music that includes where words are recited rapidly and rhythmically, typically with an instrumental backing. | Hip Hop is a musical genre, an artistic movement as well as a subculture. |
| Components | |
| Rap is one of the four main elements of hip hop. | Hip Hop has main stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. |
| Relationship | |
| Not all rap is hip hop. | Not all hip hop music includes rapping; some may only have beat mixing, sampling and scratching. |
Summary – Rap vs Hip Hop
Hip hop and rap belong to the subsets of urban music. Although both these terms are used interchangeably, rap often refers to a type of music whereas hip hop is a whole sub culture. Rap is one of the four main elements of hip hop. This is the difference between rap and hip hop.
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Image Courtesy:
1.’Lil Wayne 3.0’By Stalin981 – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia