From mltsnt Sent Wed, Apr 21st 1999, 02:51
From mltsnt Sent Wed, Apr 21st 1999, 02:51
At 08:30 PM 4/20/99 -0400, Sam Frank wrote: >> >> "Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's not a rap song to be >> heard, janky remixes aside, where the beats don't define to the last letter >> the method of rapping on top." >> >> i agree...but that's putting the cart before the horse...the producer is being >> paid by the MC to make a beat that define the MCs flow. > >Then why is every rapper going out of their way to fit their rhyme style >around Timbaland's beats? Obviously it cuts both ways. definetly, for example according to the interviews i've read, DJ Primier ALWAYS suits his beats to the MC, on the other hand, often you'll see one say 'yeah me and <insert producers name> were digging through his tapes and we picked this one out'. But afterwards I'd assume the track would have to be retooled a bit to fit the rhymes (drop outs, etc.) >However, one of >the great things about pop hip-hop is how willing even established artists >are to adapt to new production, new beats, new sounds. When a new sound >acquires some sort of critical mass, MCs will get on board with the >producers. yeah, but i think they're just changing up their rhyme style to fit the trends not the producers (although it could be said they go hand in hand). Also, you mention Timbaland, but when i think about it, none of the people i've heard work with Timb outside of his Missy/Magoo scene have really changed up their style to fit his rhymes. Maybe Jay Z? I've only heard that one single with the Jaz on it, but he just kinda sped up his standard rhyme patterns. The Timb track on the new Nas album is pretty much standard post-illmatic Nas. Even when the Supafriendz did the remix over that Aalyiah beat (the one with the crying baby that was a huge hit over the summer), their style pretty much stayed the same. In terms of style, the whole thing switched up with Rakim. He was the first to do that sort of multisylable thing that has been standard through most of the 90's. With the exception of the whole Freestyle Fellowship/Project Blowed style (which never really caught on, except when Bone Thugs bit it), I really don't think there has been very many advances in terms of delivery since the Ra. Listen to any early 90's stuff then pull out something released recently, in terms of lyrical arrangements nothing has changed much. HOWEVER, the production is noticably different. So i really don't think it's production, rather, the situation for which the track was created, dancefloor friendly stuff ala "Planet Rock" can consist of 'zah zah zah zah zah', and basically it's got a nice beat, but the crowd'll keep moving (see: puffy). But when it comes to home listening it gives the MC the oppurtunity to be more complex. >The question is, without the Bomb Squad, would Chuck have rhymed >the way he did? definetly, he's still the same person, same influences, and most importantly, same anger. Sure, it would have sounded corny over Timbaland beats, but he would still be just as pissed off. Also, i don't think it's really apropriate to mention PE in the progression of hip hop, since them seem to exist outside of it, as no one has ever really touched what they were doing, in terms of production or pure emotion. Sadly, (like IDM) hip hop grows from people biting others styles with slight, rarely the out there innovation that PE/Bomb Squad. And nobody bites PE. Period. .....