Research paper on rap music

In America there are many cultures and sub-cultures. I believe that I am part of the Rap music culture. Rap has been an uprising musical form of art in the United States for over 30 years now. In my research, I will be exploring the origin of rap, the evolution of rap, the components of rap, including unique dress codes, messages sent via lyrics, rivalries among artist and a comparison between old school and new school rap. This culture is important to me because of my background; I am an African American, because of my demographics and it is widely followed trend.
From my superficial knowledge of rap, I believe it was originated from the basement of a building in Bronx, New York. After reading articles and watching historical documentaries on rap, I’ve learned that the origin of rap goes far beyond just a basement in the Bronx. An article by Joann Wood on Rap Music stated that “Rap and hip-hop music as we know it today actually began thousands of years ago in Africa with the “Griots”, who were village story tellers who played a simple handmade instrument while they told stories of family and village events.” So here we see that rap music travels all the way back to the mother land of Africa. This theory was also confirmed by a couple of other sources. Rap music had a very interesting journey before landing in the United States.
There is a unique connection however between the “Grios”, slavery, and the music form we now know as rap. “While rap's history appears brief its relation to the African oral tradition, which provides rap with much of its current social significance, also roots rap in a long-standing history of oral historians, lyrical fetishism, and political advocacy. At the heart of the African oral tradition is the West...

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...ughout 1995, eventually selling two million copies. With its success, Notorious B.I.G. became the most visible figure in East Coast hip-hop. He also became a target in a heated feud between the two coasts, Notorious B.I.G., and Tupac Shakur, former allies, became vicious rivals. Each rapper expressed their feelings by writing distasteful songs of one another’s affairs.
After the death of these two rappers the rap game changed drastically. Rap music was more radio friendly and club bangers. Here we see an evolution taking place yet again in rap music from dance tunes, to social messages, to gangsta rap and then to radio friendly music. This change also introduced females into the rap game. Rap music was dominantly filled with male rappers initially. By this time female rappers like Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Foxy Brown and Mc Lyte was highly involved in the rap game.