Musicology Exam 3

Hi Rishi

Holland-Dozier-Holland (HDH)

Songwriting team behind The Supremes’ early success

Motown Sound of mid-1960s

Copyrighted in 1966

Motown Sound of mid-1960s

Emphasizes quarter note

Motown Sound of mid-1960s

Utilizes men’s and women’s groups for background vocals

Motown Sound of mid-1960s

Uses string accompaniment

Motown Sound of mid-1960s

Reverb

Motown Slogan

The sound of young America

James Jamerson

bassist for the “Funk Brothers” Motown backing band, played active bass lines

Marvin Gaye

Joined the Marquees

Marvin Gaye

Artist for “What’s Going on”

Stevie Wonder

Signs to Motown in 1961 at 11 years old as Little Stevie Wonder

Nina Simone

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

Soul Genre

Educational for the community on topics of struggle and survivorship

Aretha Franklin

Sang and played piano at father’s (Reverend C. L. Franklin) church

Aretha Franklin

First records with Columbia

Aretha Franklin

Moves to Atlantic Records and works with Jerry Wexler

“What’s Going on”

Vietnam War and present day issues

“What’s Going on”

Released when Motown had more money and could use strings

Stevie Wonder

1970s was a very good decade for his albums

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party

Political party affiliated with black voter registration effort in Mississippi

Fannie Lou Hamer

Founded Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party

Nina Simone

Mississippi Goddamn

Nina Simone

Aspired to be a classical pianist

Nina Simone

Initially performed at night clubs and began singing

Soul genre

Ties to black church and gospel singing

Soul genre

Influenced by jazz and r&b

Soul covers

Transforming previous genres/styles into soul

James Brown

Themes engaging with black life, making his music important to soul and black power. This was especially prevalent in the 60s-70s, during the same time as the push for black studies.

James Brown

Dubbed “Soul Brother No.1,

James Brown

First hit was “Please, Please, Please”

Michael Jackson

Jackson 5 formed in his youth

Michael Jackson

Signed to Motown in 1969 and had four consecutive hits

South Bronx

Home for people(s) of color and birthplace of hip hop

1977 Blackout

Lightning combined with technical issues resulted in all of New York City losing electricity for 25 hours. The increase in looting, arson, and violence during this time highlighted the socioeconomic issues in the city.

Flow, Layering, and Rupture

Coined by Tricia Rose as a way to define hip hop. Described as the following: rhythm/delivery of lyrics, inspiration from predecessors/peers, and breaking from established rhythm

DJ Kool Herc

Known as the founder of hip hop.

DJ Kool Herc

Technologically innovative, used two turntables in parallel when DJing

Break

Musical moments that feature percussion or rhythm instruments, typically between sections

Sampling

Extracting a sample from one recording to another recording.

Response Raps

Raps made in response to a previous rap, typically a diss or question

“Rapper’s Delight”

15 minute long song released by Sugar Hill Gang in 1979. First big rap hit, associated with early rap recordings.

“The Message”

Released by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (Kidd Creole, Keef Cowboy, Melle Mel, Scorpio, Raheim) in 1982. Associated with early rap recordings.

Lana “MC Lyte” Moorer

From Brooklyn, first female rapper to release a full album

Gangsta Rap

Subgenre of rap that was a commentary on conditions of life, typically for gangster members, in the 1980s

Gangsta Rap

Stronger imagery language than Conscious Rap

Conscious Rap

Subgenre of rap focused on activism and making the audience aware of the social, political, and economic hardships that they face

Conscious Rap

Subgenre of rap with the East Coast (New York) and West Coast (California) variants

NWA

Gangsta Rap group composed of Dr. Dre, Arabian Prince, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube

“Fuck tha Police”

Gangsta rap song released by NWA and written by Ice Cube, MC Ren, and the D.O.C. Protests police brutality, racial profiling, and systemic racial injustices

Public Enemy

Conscious Rap group composed of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, and Professor Griff. Partnership with the Bomb Squad production team led to famous works.

Tupac Shakur

Born in New York, and then moved to California to become a West Coast Conscious Rap artist, releasing 2Pacalypse Now in 1991

Tupac Shakur

Famous rapper involved in West Coast vs. East Coast feuds

Tupac Shakur

Moved to Gangsta Rap with All Eyez on Me in 1995

Notorious B.I.G.

Stage name for Christopher Wallace

Notorious B.I.G.

Grew up dealing drugs in Brooklyn

Notorious B.I.G.

Discovered and signed to Bad Boy Records, involved in the feud between the East Coast vs. West Coast

Notorious B.I.G.

Released Ready to Die in 1994 and Life After Death after he died in 1997

Queen Latifah

Stage name for Dana Owens

Queen Latifah

Brought black feminist themes to rap

Queen Latifah

Rap career begins with Ladies Fresh group

Queen Latifah’s black feminist themes

Counters the themes of masculinity, domestic abuse, and objectification of women in gangsta rap

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

Born in New York City

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

Co-founded Roc-a-Fella Records in mid-1990s

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

Founded Rocawear clothing brand

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

First album was Reasonable Doubt (1996)

Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter

Facilitated the consumerism transition from making the artist’s name, rather than the sound or aesthetics, marketable

50 Cent

From Queens, New York

50 Cent

Early music reflects gangsta rap trends

50 Cent

Discovered and signed by Eminem