Essay Sample on How the Current Influence of Jazz Has Influenced Rap and Hip Hop

Jazz has played an essential role in the restructuring of the music sector in American society. Jazz music began in the year 1913, as a slave anthems song that was inspired by ragtime music in the 1890s. Ragtime later evolved into Jazz music over a short period of time, a condition that transformed the music industry in the 1930s (Aidi and Hisham, 112). Jazz gave the artists a freestyle feel to express their emotions and concerns over a decade. The creation of swing bands brought a fresh outlook on the Jazz Revolution. In the 1940s, there emerged a Bebop music style that contained several tempos and intricate harmonies. Several artists emerged who transformed the Jazz music scene into a flexible method. Therefore, in the study, we will analyze how Jazz music led to the creation of hip-hop music culture.

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The first direct influence Jazz created on hip-hop was back in 1983 when Hancock produced his first song known as Rockit, which was an experiment combining both Jazz and electronic music. Rockit was created using a hip-hop vibe. After the release of the Hancock song, the hip-hop industry sector exploded because of the Jazz production technique, which was used in making hip-hop beats. The impact of Jazz can also be seen in the hip-hop tribe that is known as Quest Low-End Theory and Smooths Mecca (Aidi and Hisham, 116). The work of the following artists represented the wholesome view and nature of the hip-hop industry in America.

The Jazz also influenced the creation of hip hop style from the technique of freestyling improvisation. The hip hop beats production was influenced by the Jazz beats making an artiste come up with a flow of words making a song. Jazz music concentrates on the social and political challenges that affect the lives of an individual in the country. Hip hop was influenced by the creativity of Jazz music style; artiste used the platform in addressing their social injustices and political instability (Chang, Jeff, and Craig,58). The Jazz and hip hop was used as a tool in airing the oppression and pain African American was undergoing through to survive.

The Jazz beats have a massive connection with the hip hop tune; however, the growth of the mainstream Jazz has been fragile. The hip hop artiste uses the Jazz tone as a jumping-off point because of the groves and jazz baselines. Several hip hop artists embraced the Jazz beats such as Snoop Dogg, Q-tip, Luther Thomas, and Tom Browne.

With the growing culture in the hip hop style in the country, The Jazz influence was slowly diminishing from the eyes of the public. However, hip hop creation was still containing several elements of Jazz. The Jazz elements can be noted in the Kendrick Lamar song To pimp a Butterfly (Aidi and Hisham, 118). In this song, Kendrick more instills Jazz elements in hip hop as he addresses specific issues that affect the lives of the black communities in America. The new style hip hop continues broadcasting the Jazz beats that made the hip to possess a unique tone.

The evolution of hip hop was instigated by the introduction of the RH Factor album that Hard Groove, which involves contributions from well-known musicians such as Common Badu, Marc Cary, and D'Angelo. The song was produced with a soul Jazz band technique. The creation of the Rh factor shows the importance of Jazz music in the production of hip hop music.

However, the Jazz genre ha a massive impact on the growth and development of the Hip hop music in American music. The creation of swing bands brought a fresh outlook of the Jazz revolution. In the 1940s, there emerged a Bebop music style that contained several tempos and intricate harmonies. Several artistes emerged who transformed the Jazz music scene into a flexible method.

Works Cited

Aidi, Hisham. ""Verily, there is only one hip-hop Umma": Islam, cultural protest and Urban marginality." Socialism and Democracy 18.2 (2004): 107-126.Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/08854300408428402

Chang, Jeff, and S. Craig Watkins. "It's a Hip-hop World." Foreign Policy 163 (2007): 58. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/157523850aa4301fa80e800fe8657467/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=47510