What is Rap, Famous Rap Star of our day

                                     What is Rap,Famous Rap Stars of our day

  

Figure 1:Grandmaster flash accepting an award

        Some kids might not have grown up with rap in their lifes, others have. There are many different types of rap music ranging from gangster rap to hip hop, to rap battles it comes in many forms. Today I will be talking about what is rap and how it has had such a big influence on young children growing up. Rapping is basically, "the muscial style of incorporating rhythmic or rhyme speech in a song"(1). This kind of rap came to fame during the 70s, 80s all the way up to present day. "Hip-hop originated in the predominantly African American economically depressed South Bronx section of New York City in the late 1970s. As the hip-hop movement began at society’s margins, its origins are shrouded in myth, enigma, and obfuscation" (1). The South Bronx was where it all started and where many myths and legends are born. One of the most influential rappers of the esrly to late 90's to come from this area of New York was Grandmaster Flash. He was known as one of the leading pioneers of Hip-Hop , cutting scratching and mixing(1). As seen in Figure 1 grandmaster Flash is recieving an award for his music. Grandmaster Flash was very popular while also being one of the greatest artists of all time. According to the New York Times,"Teenagers listen to an average 2.5 hrs of music per day"(2). Rap music has become so popular more and more teens are now listening more frequently at insane numbers. As his time as a rapper Grandmaster Flash had many hits, but his best one and probably his most popular one, Sugar hill. "reached the Top 20 on the R&B chart on its way to selling over 50,000 copies"(3). This was one of his more successful albums and its what started off his career with the Furious Five. In 2007 Grandmaster Flash and his group were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. the highest most prestigious award for a musical artist. As Grandmaster Flash was a star in the 90's, there were many that came after him who were as influential and great. But one stands out the most and I believe that Cardi B was the most influential artist as of right now to the younger audience. 
                                                       Cardi B:

Cardi B was born on October 11th, 1992 in Washington Heights Manhatten. Cardi B is known as one of the most influential female rap artists of all time. "she became the first solo female rapper to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album"(4). This was a breakthrough for many female artists that came after her. During her singing career Cardi B has had 3 #1 top hits. her most popular one "Bodak Yellow" was the one song that put her on the radar as the most popular female artist during the 2018 year. ", I don't dance now  I make money moves say I don't gotta dance ,I make money move. This was one lyric from this song and I chose this one because of the way she speaks to her audience, she had really cool ways of doing it. Just within this quote she talks about her time as a dancer and barely making a living doing that struggling to do that to now becoming a dancer and making all this money on her come up. I would say that Cardi B is the most influential artists to the younger generation because she can relate to many of them from the background she came from as she sings about. With the singing comes the fame, Cardi Bi has an estimated 7.2 million fans(5). Because of that Cardi B has become a sensation and inspiration to many younger teens and kids to adults, but she mainly appeals to the younger generation. "Cardi recently admitted that she may consider altering her persona in hopes of serving as a better role model for the youth" (6). With her music and her public appearances on television and in person Cardi B has become an inspiration to all and continues to inspires many others. As seen here in (figure 2) Cardi B is singing her Grammy nominated award Bodak yellow in concert. 

Figure 2: Cardi B Singing Bodak yellow. 

                                                                  

In conclusion, knowing that rap is one of the top music choices of this decade among the younger generation would you join? GrandMaster Flash being one of the rappers who started it all from inspiring many to Cardi B and her influence among the younger generation; they both had major impacts on the music industry and both have put Rap in the spotlight. 

                                                                   References:

1.) Rap(2019),Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/art/rap

2.) Under the influence of...music(Feb 5th, 2008)

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/under-t/he-influence-ofmusic

 3.) Allmusic(2019),Retrieved from 
   https://www.allmusic.com/artist/grandmaster-flash-mn0000738402/biography
4.) Allmusic(2019), Retrieved from 
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/cardi-b-mn0003493912/biography
5.) New Haven Independant(May30th, 2017) Retrieved from, 
https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/cardi_b_toads/
6.) Billboard (November 2nd,2017) Retrieved from, 
https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8022857/cardi-b-better-role-model-girls-instagram-post