Hip-hop is a genre of music that uses a variety of instruments. These include samples, Drum machines, Records, and vocal melodies. These instruments are used to create hip-hop music, and this article will discuss the most common ones used in this genre. There is also a section on the history of hip-hop.
Samplers
Samples are an integral part of Hip Hop, and have been used for decades. Famous examples include the Wu-Tang Clan, N.W.A, Nas, and 2Pac. They also influenced other artists such as Jay-Z, DMX, and 50 Cent. Even today, artists like Drake and Travis Scott still use samples in their music.
While sampling is not a new technique, the techniques used to incorporate samples have undergone a significant evolution over the last decade. While samples used to merely be used to supplement a track, producers have begun using them in more creative ways. Today, samples are available on YouTube, and many famous artists use them in their music. For example, Kanye West sampled audio from a viral video of a child preacher – a decision which eventually led to legal action by the preacher’s parents.
Drum machines
Drum machines are a popular tool for hip-hop producers. Early hip-hop producers used sampled beats from R&B and funk. The drum machines used to produce these sounds had three elements: drums, percussion, and bass. Drum machines were expensive, but many producers used them on high-budget tracks. The Roland TR-808 was a popular drum machine used by rap artists.
Drum machines were first introduced in the 1980s. A disgruntled pianist in Los Angeles developed a bumper sticker with the slogan “Drum machines change the music industry.” Public Enemy, a group of producers from the late ’80s, used drum machines to revolutionize the sound of pop music.
Records
Records are a vital part of hip hop’s cultural heritage. The genre’s popularity helped keep record stores open during lean times. DJs bought 12-inches to scratch, and producers raided crates for samples. Until CDs, vinyl was essential for scratching. Nowadays, there is very little practical use for the format, but it has served its purpose. DJs used to buy obscure white-label records, but now they simply get their favourite hits via email.
Hip hop uses records extensively, and many of the records that influenced the genre were originally released over a decade ago. The disco hit “Good Times” by Chic was famously sampled in a track by Run-D.M.C., while the same song was featured in Kwame’s Ownlee Eue. In fact, Grandmaster Flash was spinning two copies of “Take Me To The Mardi Gras” before it became a rap record, and called it “The Bells.” Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” incorporates as many as 21 samples.
Vocal melodies
Vocal melodies in hip hop are becoming increasingly popular. While old school rappers often relied on a professional singer to lay down the chorus, newer rappers are creating vocals that are based on their own vocal talent. Some examples of this are P. Diddy’s “Bad Boy 4 Life,” which uses the main guitar theme to create a group chant that’s one of hip hop’s most memorable hooks. Another example is Nate Dogg, who wrote some of the best hip hop hooks in the late ’90s and early ’00s. In 50 Cent’s “21 Questions,” the chorus echoes the lead guitar melody.
Vocal melodies in hip hop are created when rappers alter the pitch of their voices at specific points in a flow. The change in pitch indicates a separate rhythmic layer. For example, in Kendrick Lamar’s guest verse “Deep Water,” the rapper alters the pitch of syllables to create a secondary rhythmic stream.