In the past, as long as you kept up to date with the latest Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift lyrics, as well as Kardashians news and Starbucks menus, you could get away with being a typical white girl without knowing much about hip hop. Sure, you might have heard a few Kanye West songs in the club here and there, but other than that, hip hop was not really in the mainstream music scene. But recently, hip hop and rap have become a lot more common as rappers like Kanye West, Drake, Desiigner (Panda anyone?), and more drop albums filled with summer hit upon summer hit. Whether you like it or not, I think we can all agree that rap music is one of the biggest hit making genres at the moment, and as a white girl, it is your job to be informed. Here’s what you need to know:
The beginning
Rap music started out as part of the hip hop movement in the United States in the 1970s. Hip hop’s early evolution occurred as sampling technology and drum-machines became widely available and affordable. Rapping developed as a vocal style in which the artist spoke along with an instrumental or synthesized beat. Notable artists at this time included DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Fab Five Freddy, Marley Marl, and Afrika Bambaataa. The Sugarhill Gang’s 1979 song “Rapper’s Delight” is widely regarded to be the first hip hop record to gain widespread popularity.
Now that you have a bit of background knowledge about the genre, let’s look at three rappers you should be aware of in 2016:
Kanye West
Can you really identify as a “typical white girl” if you do not know who Kanye West is? Kanye Omari West aka Yeezy aka Pablo aka Kim Kardashian’s husband aka Taylor Swift’s bff (not really) aka USA’s next president is without a doubt one of the biggest and most influential rappers of our time. Whether you love him or hate him, there is really no escaping him, his music, or his personal life, controversial statements, and celebrity feuds. You either see him as the biggest genius ever or just a really big asshole. But either way you have to admit that he knows how to get the media’s attention and stay on everyone’s mind, whether it’s by his talented lyrics or questionable statements.
Albums: Late Registration (2005), Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), MyBeautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016)
Hit singles including: Famous (2016), Ni**as in Paris (2011), Gold Digger (2005)
Author’s personal favorite: Blood on the Leaves (2013)
Drake
If you haven’t been living under a rock these past few months, surely you have heard some hits from Drake’s new album “Views” playing everywhere you go. First came “Hotline Bling” with all of its crazy dance moves, and then followed the summer hit “One Dance.” How can you not love Drake? The 29-year-old Canadian rapper is not only a phenomenal hit-maker, but also just the cutest guy ever and allegedly Rihanna’s boyfriend (again). #goals anyone?
Albums:Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care (2011), Nothing Was the Same (2013), If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (2015), What a Time to Be Alive (2015), Views (2016).
Hit singles including: One Dance (2016), Hotline Bling (2016), Started from the Bottom (2013)
Author’s personal favorite: The Resistance (2010)
Kendrick Lamar
Maybe not as mainstream as the previous two, but just as important, especially culturally, is Kendrick Lamar. His musical approach is a lot more politically charged and his lyrics have gained him a lot of attention and critical success. The past year has definitely been a big one for him; he was nominated for 11 and received 5 Grammy awards for To Pimp a Butterfly, appeared on the Time 100 list of most influential people in 2016, and played at Obama’s Fourth of July Party to name a few. You’ve probably heard a few of his biggest hits over the years, but be sure to check out more of his music!
Albums: Overly Dedicated (2010), Section 8.0 (2011), good kid m.A.A.d City (2012), Welcome to Compton (2014), To Pimp A Butterfly (2015), untitled unmastered. (2016).
Hit singles including: A.D.H.D (2011), King Kunta (2015), Swimming Pools (Drank) (2012)
Author’s personal favorite: Backseat Freestyle (2012)
The list of important, successful, and influential rappers you should know about could go on forever, but in my opinion, these three are a good place to start. There is a lot to learn about hip hop but, in the end, you will learn best by listening. If you want a more in-depth look at the genre, make sure to check out some old-school tracks from way back when it all started, as well as some less mainstream rappers, and of course some female hip hopers as well, like Lauryn Hill! As a typical white girl, Kanye West, Drake and Kendrick Lamar is a good place to start, in addition to the latest hits playing on the radio. But if you want to check out a broader variety of hip hop, check out this playlist I created with a good mix of old and new, mainstream and lesser known tracks.
