Rap rock is a
cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of
hip hop with various forms of
rock. Rap rock is often confused with
rap metal and
rapcore, subgenres that include
heavy metal-oriented and
hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively. These styles became the basis for
nu metal.
History
Proceeding the development of rap rock, some rock bands had experimented with
old school hip hop influences, such as
Blondie and
The Clash. In 1986,
Run-D.M.C. collaborated with
Aerosmith on a remake of the latter's earlier song, "
Walk This Way", first released in 1975. The success of the remake helped bring hip hop into popularity with a mainstream white audience.
, formerly a
hardcore punk group, began working in the hip hop genre. Their debut album,
Licensed to Ill, largely featured a rock-based sound.
Detroit rapper
Esham became known for his "acid rap" style, which fused rapped metal-influenced lyrics with a sound that was often rock and
heavy metal-based,
and is considered to be an influence on the development of rap rock and rap metal.
Rappers who sampled rock songs included
Ice-T,
The Fat Boys,
LL Cool J,
Public Enemy and
Whodini.
Rap rock began to enter the mainstream arena in the 1990s. Rock bands such as
24-7 Spyz,
Faith No More,
Living Colour,
Rage Against the Machine and
Red Hot Chili Peppers fused rock and hip hop influences.
The soundtrack album for the 1993 film
Judgment Night featured 11 collaborations between hip hop and rock musicians.
Urban Dance Squad mixed
funk, heavy metal, hip hop and punk.
Biohazard is also considered to be a pioneering act in the genre.
Cypress Hill's
Black Sunday featured a rock-based sound and artwork which, according to
Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey, resembled that of heavy metal bands.
Beck's successful 1994 single "
Loser" incorporated hip hop influences,
including an imitation of
Chuck D's rapping style.
Rap rock gained mainstream popularity in the late-90s. Among the first wave of performers to gain mainstream success were
311,
Bloodhound Gang, and
Kid Rock. Rap rock would become the basis for the
nu metal genre. Although the popularity of these styles is believed to be declining,
some believe that rap rock may regain popularity, with younger music fans discovering bands in the genre.
Characteristics
Rap rock is varied in sound, with performers incorporating influences from various genres, including
alternative rock,
,
,
,
heavy metal,
or
pop.
In
The Violent World of Moshpit Culture, Joe Ambrose describes
rapcore as "a mixture of white rap and hardcore".
describes
rap metal as having "big, lurching beats and heavy, heavy riffs" that "occasionally [...] [sound] as if the riffs were merely overdubbed over scratching and beat box beats",
and described rap rock as having a more organic sound,
characterizing many songs in the genre as rock songs in which the vocals were
rapped rather than
sung.
Allmusic also states that the rhythms of rap rock are rooted in that of hip hop, with more funk influences than normal hard rock.
, which fuses
punk rock with hip hop, sometimes incorporates
reggae and heavy metal influences. According to
Rolling Stone writer Rob Kemp,
Incubus' 1997 album
S.C.I.E.N.C.E. "links
funk metal to the rap metal".
Kottonmouth Kings perform a style which they refer to as "
psychedelic hip-hop punk rock".
incorporates
country and
Southern rock influences, and is backed by a 10 piece band, while
Everlast fuses
blues and rock with hip hop, performing with a live band that includes a
DJ.
The lyrical themes of rap rock vary. According to Allmusic, "most rap-metal bands during the mid- to late '90s blended an ultra-aggressive, testosterone-heavy theatricality with either juvenile humor or an introspective angst learned through alternative metal".
Although some
alternative metal and
nu metal bands incorporate hip hop beats, rap rock bands were always fronted by rappers.
Rap metal vocalists mix rapping and
screaming.
