The first time I heard anything about rap music was on the news. A reporter was on a roof top in Harlem where a bunch of black folks–mostly teenagers–were having a dance party. A DJ–I remember him being older than the crowd–was playing records on two turntables at the same time, using a mixer. The records–both 12″ inch singles– were of the same track, Rick James’ Mary Jane.
The song, already a funk masterpiece, was made even funkier by the DJ extending the thumping beat breaks, turning them inside and out in an improvisational groove solo that drove the crowd wild. He achieved this affect by deftly moving the records back and forth with his fingertips, alternating from one record to the other. The technique, I later learned, was called scratching.
In addition to the scratching, a singer was randomly, rhythmically chanting over the altered beats, “sweet Mary, go Mary, my Mary.” When the crowd began chanting along, the singer altered his cadence and went into his own improvisation of rhyming phrases, creating yet another layer of syncopated rhythm.
From the reporter, I learned that the singer wasn’t a singer. He was an MC and that the music the two were creating was called rap–and that it was taking New York City by storm.
That was in 1979. I was in eighth grade.
Like most white teenagers of my age, I didn’t take to rap music (today we call it hip hop)–or so I thought. In 1980, the new wave/pseudo punk band Blondie, released their Autoamerican album.
Blondie was one of my favorite bands. At that time I only listened to Top 40 radio and the band’s single The Tide is High, was riding high on the charts. Consequently, Autoamerican was one of my Christmas presents.
In those days I would play my favorite songs on an album over and over. If I was lucky, there’d be, maybe, two or three hits on an album.
In any event, after awhile, I’d tire of the same songs and I’d play the whole album. The song Rapture was unlike anything I’d ever heard.
By this time I was in high school. Some of the tough kids in my theatre class–kids that I, initially, was afraid of–derided the song. “Disco,” they said, scrunching up faces as they made obscene finger gestures.
But I knew Rapture wasn’t your standard disco tune because I loved disco. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack was one of my favorite albums, although by this time, I didn’t admit it. These were the days of a vehement backlash toward disco from white “rockers,” i.e.,”the tough kids.”
Although Rapture had the signature four-on-the-flour disco beat, I was cognizant that something else was going on. I thought the song was great. But I also thought it was weird.
For instance, I had no idea who Debra Harry was “rapping” about in the song’s infamous coda:
∗Fab Five Freddie told me everybody’s high
DJ’s spinnin’ are savin’ my mind
Flash is fast, Flash is cool
(∗Hip hop pioneers Fab Five Freddie and Grandmaster Flash)
And I couldn’t make heads or tails out of this:
∗And out comes a man from Mars
And you try to run but he’s got a gun
And he shoots you dead and he eats your head
And then you’re in the man from Mars
You go out at night, eatin’ cars
You eat Cadillacs, Lincolns too
Mercurys and Subarus
(∗Possibly alluding to the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton and Bootsy Collins and the graffiti art of Fab 5 Freddy and Jean-Michel Basquiat.)
Nor did it occur to on me that what I was listening to was a derivative of the rap music I’d seen and heard on the news only a year or so before. So firmly was Blondie entrenched in the new wave gray matter of my mind.
And though I considered Debra Harry ultra hip and glamorous, it’s no wonder that I didn’t recognize her homage. What she does on Rapture is no more rap than what Hank Snow does on I‘ve Been Everywhere.
By the mid 80s I was firmly immersed in rock-n-roll. So when one of my favorite bands, Aerosmith, reworked one of their best known songs, Walk This Way, with rap heavyweights Run DMC, I wasn’t impressed.
As for the Beastie Boys–I didn’t hate them, but I didn’t like them either.
It wasn’t until I began to work as a DJ in the latter part of the decade that my attitude toward rap/hip-hop began to change. If nothing else, I recognized the genera as an important weapon in my arsenal of tunes.
Then in the early 90s , I did a complete one-eighty when Dr. Dre dropped his Chronic album. That’s when I got hooked inside and outside of my profession.
Try as I might, there was no denying the contagious vibe and irresistible power of Nothin’ But a G Thang. Same thing with Snoop Dogg’s What’s My Name. These songs were my bazooka and my flame thrower.
When I hit play, the dance floor would explode with throbbing thumping bass and drum machine beats and writhing bodies, all the while Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg traded rhymes in lazy, menacing flows, as long on cool as James Dean–and a lot more dangerous.
Nowadays, a lot of things have changed. My daughter Blaine, wasn’t a year old when The Chronic came out. Now she’s twenty-nine. My daughter Zoe wasn’t even born yet. Now she’s got her associates degree and is contemplating going back to school. Fingers crossed.
I rarely listen to anything from Dr. Dre or Snoop Dogg. Or Aersosmith, for that matter.
But I do still listen to Outkast and the Notorious B.I.G. And I still listen to Blondie and Steely Dan. And Patsy Cline. And The Allman Brothers.
And I will always listen to Elvis and Fats Domino. I have listened to them all of my life. They were my mother’s favorites.
And I listen to Jazz. Occasionally I will even put together a mix.
I don’t make music, though some DJs do.
Absolutely, they do. They’re musicians.
Grandmaster Flash made music. Still does. Same goes for Kurtis Blow.
Jam Master J made music, until someone took his life.
Moby makes music. So does David Guetta.
And Francesca Lombardo.
Lot’s of DJs do.
This was a fascinating read Pam. I can’t say I have succumbed to the genre, but your suggestions and influences will get me onto something that’s good. That’s for sure!
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I appreciate that. For me, hip hop was an acquired taste. Now it’s like most other genres to me, some of it good, some of it bad. Thanks for reading.
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Great post 🙂 Your views on Hip Hop are interesting 🙂 As for myself, I love all kinds of music and thank you for that example at the end of the blog entry 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
P.S. here is a youtube video link to a classic by the great Iggy Pop 🙂
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Ah, yes…Iggy. I love Iggy Pop. I love The Stooges. Lust for Life was the album that turned me onto him. Great song. Thanks, John.
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Iggy Pop is on my playlist, too!
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Great post Pam….I love a lot of older rap myself….I crank up classic Ice Cube solo albums,I even got Lori digging Cube and older Ice-T and DMX (could have been one of the greats!!).
Michael Franti and Spearhead and of course the above mentioned Public Enemy also have a home on my stereo. I think rappers are like fine wine,the older they get,the wiser songs they write because at 40,they know life ain’t all about money,cars and women like it was when they were 22.
Two of the most unlikely bands I booked…..The Ohio Players and George Clinton. Both super nice people and George definitely knew how throw a show…..
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Yep. “I’m about to loose my $%@# up in here, up in here. I’m about to go insane up in here, up in here.” Good stuff.
The Ohio Players and George Clinton are boss. I’ve heard Clinton was nice…good to have that confirmed.
Thanks for reading, Michael.
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Forms of music like blues or rock listen to the heartbeat, they leave space and air for the narrator, for the echo in the head, and have to be repeated because the beat of the heart beats as rhythm. If there is nothing to say, if joy or grief is not felt deeply enough, it becomes boring and formulaic, and they have to be sold as hip-hop, dance floor or rap.
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Hip hop as a whole is not boring to me. I love a good hook and a solid beat. Music doesn’t have to be a mystical or spiritual thing for me to find it worthy. It doesn’t have to be profound for me to enjoy it. But hip hop and electronica and disco and house, etc., can be all of those things.
That’s my opinion. Thanks for reading.
–Pam
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I heard a lot of rap and dub poetry in the 80s, at that time politic and social engagement became a visual background in this music. Musicians like The Last Poets, Gil Scott-Heron or Lindon Kwesi Johnson are relics from this time.
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I don’t know these artists. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks for the recommendations.
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I try not to get caught in ‘genres’. If I like something, I like it, and don’t allow the genre to stop me listening because of my possible prejudice to it. (Country is a good example of that) I stil listen to Steely Dan once a week at least. Blondie never fails to entrance, and for Jazz I usually turn to favourites from Paul Whiteman, Chet Baker and Miles Davis. I also loved the Saturday Night Fever album, though I never liked the Bee Gees.
I was 26 years old when I bought it though.
As always, a rewarding and interesting read. Thanks, Pam, and for your audio too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, I’ve matured a lot, musically and in other ways–I hope–since I resisted hip hop. Now I just like what I like. That can be pretty much anything. Always appreciate your thoughts.
–Pam
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You pretty much know me and the answer…I have tried to like it…even in high school…I graduated in 85 and it was getting big. My tastes are thin but I try to stay open minded…I just never could get info it but I do respect all musicians…no matter what music they perform.
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I respect your opinion because you are respectful presenting it. Music is personal. So are films. And literature. I’m very conscious about insulting someone’s taste. I think you are too.
For years I wouldn’t touch a country album with a ten foot pole–any country album. I’m glad I don’t feel that way now–though I listen to very little of it. Still, there are those few artists and songs that appeal to me. Thanks for reading.
–Pam
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If we all liked the same thing we would be so boring.
This is why I blog and more importantly read blogs. I find out about new music to me…whether it be old or new and sometimes it sticks.
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True that.
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Excellent post, Pam. I read a really interesting book recently . Dead Precedents How Hip-Hop Defines The Future by Roy. Christopher. All about the connection between Hip-Hop and Sc-Fi. I think you might enjoy it. Regards Mark.
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Thank you Mark. I will look into it. You are kind to recommend it.
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There I was thinking you were about to review the film Wild Style (1983) but it went a different direction but still on the same pathway. Dare I say I maybe a little younger but I hit on to Hip Hop scene when I was 12 when it arrived here in the UK big time around 84. Just coming into my teenage years this was an exciting time. What’s weird I just wrote my music hip hop time line on a friends FB post. So quick cut and paste and a little edit time.
My 12’s were my Ultravox (I loved Ultravox 🙂 ) and synth-pop years. Then Hip Hop Arena “Beat This” was shown on BBC in 1984 that was the catalytic for us. Recorded it on VHS and watched it over and over. Then the Style Wars doc was played, then the two films Wild Style, Beat Street. Around the same time the legendary Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant Subway Art book started changing hands in the school yard and well that was it. From my late 12s till I was 16 it was hip hop and graff. Well with some soul music thrown in. Taking by rap days up to about 1988 then I’d found reggae and jazz and fusion and funk and……….. etc…
Loved reading the little music history timeline of Pam. Really great to read. Debbie Harry was so hot, still kind of is! looks side to side. LOL. Fab Five Freddy super cool.
“”””These songs were my bazooka and my flame thrower.””””” Please tell me you act out these in mime behind the decks when dropping those record bombs on the dancefloor. HAHA
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Yep. You’re probably five to six years younger than I am. You were one of those kids I was shaking my head at back in the day…”Those youngsters, they like that crap rap,” is what we’d say. We were stupid.
Nooo…I was a stoic DJ. Robotic, is probably more like it…Ha! But I could pack a dance floor and keep bumping through the wee hours…And I could MC a wedding, so there’s that…Ha! We out! Thanks for reading, Mikey.
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Shaking your head at LOL…
But you soon grew up cool Pam that’s for sure 🙂
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Ha!
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It’s always interesting to learn things about the people whose blog you enjoy reading.
Wow Pam, just wow!
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Thanks June. I’ll take the wow!–even though I don’t deserve it.
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Of course you do…!
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I always learn so much from you, Pam. I’ll have to make use of my paid Pandora account and listen to the artists you talked about. I could never get past the violence I always perceived in Rap, so never gave it a chance. I’m up for learning, though.
Grace and peace to you…
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Well, You won’t like Dr. Dre and Snoop. For me, it’s about the rhythm and the flow; the beats. I don’t pay a lot of attention to what they say, except for the hook. I always get the clean edits but some of it is still pretty raunchy. Here’s some Christian hip hop artists that are very good–LeCrae, KB, Andy Mineo and Chance the Rapper has some very good mainstream stuff. I think you’ll like these musicians. Let me know.
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Thank you, Pam – I feel privileged to have your advice, not only because you are an expert on the music, but you also know me and where I’m coming from. It means a lot to me!
One of the preachers at my church preached about the movie Straight Outta Compton a couple of years ago. I’ve been meaning to watch it ever since. Have you seen it?
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I haven’t. But I’ve heard a lot of very good things about it. Perhaps you could see it and write me about it?
Some very good inner city dramas that I’ve seen are Menace II Society, Boyz n the Hood, Dead Presidents, Fresh and Clockers. These dramas all have realistic street language and mature themes, but they give an insight into a world that most white folks do not experience. To me, these films incite empathy and affirm our shared humanity.
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I’ve made it about a third of the way through Straight… I don’t often have a 3 hour chunk of time, so having to do this in shifts. Interesting so far…
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A girl in high school told me about SugarHill Gang back then, and that was the first taste. Like you, I’ll listen to almost anything once, and I don’t dismiss music by genre. But I listened to very little rap and hip-hop until my son embraced it. I introduced him to the Beatles and Pink Floyd and he played for me Eminem (which he didn’t know I already listened to) and Tyler the creator, among others.
p.s. sounds like I am a few years older than you 🙂
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How about that. I always thought you were younger. I don’t know why. I guess I think everybody’s younger these days…and most everybody is. Ha! I’m 54.
Anyway, I am awed by Eminem’s talent. His command of the English language. His sense of rhythm and rhyme. It’s amazing. He can be misogynistic, and I shudder at that, but I will never deny his genius or the glimpses he allows of his kindness. He’s complicated. Like Tupac. Sometimes he can possess an almost feminine empathy, only two turn around and spit in the face of womanhood. It’s frightening. Confounding and illuminating. And it’s art.
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I don’t use as much profanity–always saw it as being a bit lazy, but I agree, he gets to the heart of the matter 10/10. He broke my heart twice–with the song about his mother, then the song for her later, apologizing
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It’s been forever since I thought about the weirdness of the “Rapture” lyrics, and I never thought about Blondie in connection to Rap. I have to admit, I’m still a little stuck in the nineties when it comes to music. Dr. Dre and Snoop still show up on my playlists. Fun post!
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I’m all over the place when it comes to music. But, then again, I have to be. 90s music is boss. Pearl Jam. Nirvana. The Breeders. No Doubt. It was a good time. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for reading.
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