RAP

Characteristics:
1. Instruments Turntable, synthesizer, drum machine, sampler, drums, guitar, bass, piano,
beatboxing, vocals
2. Dynamics There are several selections where the singer will exhibit their lyrics in a soft,
quite manner, then dynamically increase the volume with certain accents on different beats.
3. Tempo For, there are several artists that rap fast on a slow beat, while other rap slow on a
fast beat
4. Form Form includes components such as repetition, contrast, and variation. When artists
want to make a certain line more heavily weighted, they tend to repeat it.
5. Structure Every rap song consists of three basic parts: intros, choruses (Hooks) and verses.
6. Rhythm Rhythm is synonymous with rap music and there is a constant beat which is
repeated (ostinato) that rap songs have.
7. Lyrics The lyrics in rap are made up of rhyming couplets although the poetry used doesn't
have to always fully rhyme

Some groups/artists that perform rap include: Macklemore &Ryan Lewis, Iggy Azalea, Nicky
Minaj, Wiz Khalifa, Snopp Dog, Eminem, 2Pac, B.o.B and Kanye West
Examples:
1. Excerpt from Black Widow by Iggy Azalea
Rhythm played by drum pad/machine as an ostinato
Clapping as an ostinato
Some of the lyrics are non-rhyming couplets

2. Excerpt from Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Saxophone as an ostinato
The rap is at a slow steady pace, whereas the beat is faster
Snare Drum as an ostinato
Consists of Intro, Verse then Chorus

3. Excerpt from Airplanes by B.o.B
Electric guitar as an ostinato
Piano as an ostinato
The rap is fast, the beat is slow