Queen Latifah - at The Greek Theater Sugar Water Festival.

Rap/Hip Hop

At a Glance

A form of pop music originated in the second half of the twentieth century in black urban communities, influenced by many previous genres. Rap is characterized by spoken or chanted poetry or intricately rhymed lyrics, usually improvised with a syncopated beat. Rap is often accompanied by well-known musical samplings from other artists.

Also referred to as hip hop, a term which refers to the spoken yet melodic sound of the music but also to an entire subculture with its own distinct lifestyle, attitudes, dress, and art, all of which have gained worldwide popularity. Rap and hip hop culture have also been the source of many words contributed to commonly used American English over the past several decades.

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