24-08-2010, 20:33
Its not like hiphop producers have some secret beat making machine or software that is hidden from producers of other genres. The difference is the repetitve nature of hiphop beats. Other genres do not repeat the same instrumental phrases as many times or for as long as hiphop. Thus, a rapper is required to maintain the listener's attention long enough for the subtle characteristics of the "beat" to sink in. Other genres, like R&B, often utilize the same types of beats. But with a style like R&B, the beat must change to follow changes in the melody. So the melody becomes the listeners attraction instead.
By "beat" I am not only refering to rhythm, but also chord progressions or comping. Hiphop beat makers often incorporate loops or samples that contain some sort of chord or are in a specific key. So repeating the same progression over and over by looping, forces the melody to stay rooted in the same key.
Modern hiphop has incorporated melodic "hooks" or choruses which are essetially just a section of R&B. But the key element that makes it hiphop is the continuously repeating beat. The beat is not better than the beats of other styles. It is just repeated enough times for you to recognize all of the subtle charcteristics. In fact, early hiphop djs might take an old soul record and repeat the same 4 measures of it over and over. A rapper then "spits" his or her lyrics over it and by the end of tune the average listener has finally absorbed the brilliance that was Al Green or Ray Charles in the first place.
By the way, I am not discounting what the rapper does. In fact, I like hiphop for the lyrics. This post is for those (most) who listen for the beats.
By "beat" I am not only refering to rhythm, but also chord progressions or comping. Hiphop beat makers often incorporate loops or samples that contain some sort of chord or are in a specific key. So repeating the same progression over and over by looping, forces the melody to stay rooted in the same key.
Modern hiphop has incorporated melodic "hooks" or choruses which are essetially just a section of R&B. But the key element that makes it hiphop is the continuously repeating beat. The beat is not better than the beats of other styles. It is just repeated enough times for you to recognize all of the subtle charcteristics. In fact, early hiphop djs might take an old soul record and repeat the same 4 measures of it over and over. A rapper then "spits" his or her lyrics over it and by the end of tune the average listener has finally absorbed the brilliance that was Al Green or Ray Charles in the first place.
By the way, I am not discounting what the rapper does. In fact, I like hiphop for the lyrics. This post is for those (most) who listen for the beats.