60’s to Hip-Hop

Hip Hop wouldn’t be the same without the 60’s.

This book delves into five compelling topics that explore the influence of 60’s music on the evolution of Hip-Hop music.

1. Motown.
2. Protest 2 Protest.
3. BreakBeat and Drumming.
4. Spoken Word and Poetry.
5. Sampling (Bonus – Scratching)

Motown, also known as the Motown Record Corporation, played a pivotal role in shaping the music landscape of the 1960s. Founded by Berry Gordy Jr. in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, Motown became one of the most successful and influential record labels of the era.

Motown developed a distinct musical style, often referred to as the “Motown Sound,” which combined elements of R&B, pop, soul, and gospel. The sound was characterized by catchy melodies, tight vocal harmonies, and a driving rhythm section.

Motown was one of the first successful African American-owned record labels, and it played a crucial role in breaking down racial barriers in the music industry.

Motown’s impact on the cultural and musical landscape of the time set the stage for the development of hip hop.

Motown’s success as a black-owned record label and its ability to achieve crossover appeal had a profound impact on hip hop artists. Motown’s achievements opened doors for African American artists to achieve mainstream success.

Motown’s extensive catalog of timeless hits provided a rich source of material for hip hop producers to sample (we will elaborate on this in a few pages).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmo3HFa2vjg&ab_channel=PublicEnemyVEVO

Protest 2 Protest

The 1960s was a time of significant social and political change, with movements like the Civil Rights Movement and the counterculture revolution. Artists of the era used their music to address social issues and express political ideologies.

This tradition of using music as a platform for social commentary and protest resonated with early hip hop artists, who also sought to give voice to marginalized communities and address social injustices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpqnyCrEFkQ&ab_channel=JamesBrown-Topic

Breakbeat and drumming styles were introduced and popularized in the 1960s primarily through the emergence of funk and soul music.

Funk music emerged in the late 1960s, characterized by its emphasis on rhythmic complexity and groove. Funk heavily relied on syncopated and polyrhythmic drumming patterns that created a strong foundation for the music. Drummers like Clyde Stubblefield (James Brown’s drummer) and Jabo Starks developed intricate and energetic beats, incorporating elements of jazz and R&B.

Another genre that contributed to the development of breakbeat and drumming in the 1960s was jazz fusion. Jazz fusion artists like Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, and Lenny White pushed the boundaries of drumming technique and introduced complex rhythms and unconventional time signatures.

In the early days of hip hop, producers relied heavily on sampling drum breaks from funk, soul, and other genres.

Breakbeat and drumming provide the rhythmic foundation for hip hop music. The beats and drum patterns in hip hop tracks are often constructed using sampled drum breaks or recreated breakbeat-style patterns. These elements set the tempo, groove, and energy of the music, serving as the backbone for rappers, DJs, and other performers to build upon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3xSXc1vy5I&ab_channel=MARIKODA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDu6w66F5dU&ab_channel=SebastianCorrinth

The modern form of spoken word poetry, as we understand it today, emerged during the mid-20th century and gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Arts Movement in the United States provided a platform for African American artists to express their experiences and activism through spoken word. Those poetic works were often accompanied by jazz music.

Spoken word and poetry have had a significant influence on the development of hip hop as an art form.

Spoken word poetry often incorporates rhythmic patterns, syncopation, and varied cadences. These elements heavily influenced the development of rap music within hip hop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-thjnXd1Gws&ab_channel=Hip-HopUniverseTV

Sampling has had a profound and transformative influence on hip hop music. It has played a pivotal role in shaping the genre, both sonically and creatively. Sampling involves taking snippets or portions of existing recordings, such as songs, beats, or melodies, and incorporating them into new compositions.

Sampling introduced a new dimension of musical innovation to hip hop. By drawing from a diverse range of genres, including funk, soul, jazz, rock, and electronic music, hip hop producers were able to create entirely new soundscapes.

Sampling revolutionized beat production in hip hop. Producers would extract drum breaks or rhythmic patterns from old records and use them as the foundation for new beats.

Sampling helped hip hop artists establish a strong connection to the cultural heritage of African Americans and other marginalized communities.

Sampling in music can be traced back to various points in history, but its use in the context of hip hop began to emerge in the 1970s. The technique of sampling in hip hop originated primarily in the South Bronx, New York City, during the early days of the genre’s development. Hip hop pioneers, such as Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa, played a significant role in popularizing sampling as a creative tool.

In the early days of hip hop, DJs would use two turntables to mix and blend records, extending the instrumental breaks of songs to create longer dance-friendly sections. This technique, known as “breakbeat” involved looping and repeating segments of funk, soul, and disco records to maintain a continuous beat. These extended break sections became the foundation for MCs (rappers) to perform over, giving rise to the rhythmic and lyrical elements of hip hop.

The practice of sampling expanded as hip hop evolved, with producers starting to manipulate and rearrange specific elements from existing records. The advent of drum machines and samplers in the 1980s, such as the Roland TR-808 and Akai MPC, further facilitated the sampling process. These devices allowed producers to capture and manipulate audio snippets, creating loops, and rearranging them to construct entirely new compositions.

Examples of Sampling

House of Pain – Jump Around

Sampled:

1. Bob & Earl – Harlem Shuffle (Sound Effects).
2. Chubby Checker – Popeye The Hitchhiker (Multiple Elements).

Disclaimer: some of the songs introduce samples from 70s songs.

In the early days of hip hop DJs and turntablists used scratching as a means of live sampling during performances. By manipulating the position and movement of the record on the turntable, they can sample short snippets of sound from one or multiple records.