How Classical Music is Still Used in Hip Pop Today? - Paper Example

Introduction

The fusion of Classical and hip-hop are relatively natural. The fusion is considered alien to each other, yet they share same DNA (Darry). Like hip-hop, classical has its version as it borrows harmonies and melodies from folk music. Its rhythm is derived from chord instruments, drums, and bass (Berk 47). Hip-hop has the same desire as it is a typical beat established by drums and beats. The full sound achieved by classic and hip-hop music is an art that roots from traditional western music (Berk 47). Therefore, classical music is still used today because of the evolution it has seen that makes it one of the foundations of rap music.

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Classical music is the foundation of rap music that combines the live booing percussion, brassy horns, and soaring strings. Although the modern listener of hip-hop may not see the sonic echoes, pop music brings the melodic and harmonic debt to its older that has always been associated with classical music (Darry). Without classical musical architecture, there would be no hip-hop-the prodigy that gives someone like Adele the run for their money (Darry). This means classical music brings in the pop's weak and impoverished relation. Therefore, hip-hop has become creative satisfying and inspirational as classical music.

Classical instruments harpsichords, organ, and piano are also used in Hip-hop especially in concerts, orchestra and in solo performance or free-rap. This determines details of quality, pitch, and rhythm of the music. Classical music has brought a rhythm and improvisation commonly referred to as back-beat rhythm in hip-hop (Berk 52). Back-beat rhythm occurs when a tuning switch from the metric accent from the 1st and 3rd to the 2nd and 4th beat (Darry). By slowing down the beat and the ability to improvise based on classical chords and melody, hip-hop has become an outstanding characteristic of classical music.

Elite hip-hop musicians connect with classical music through communication with the audience. The cheers and polite applause of the classical realm make hip-hop to sound more upbeat and vibrant (Berk 46). This naturalization process cannot take the classical world out of hip-hop's book particularly when it comes to the audience. With the complex forms of instrumental music, the rapper usually aspires to connect their music with their intellectual means and complex emotions. This high technical achievement involves the technical art of classical music (Berk 52). Proficiency in understanding the harmonic and tonal principles, the familiarity with the style, and the knowledge of performance style intrinsic to particular musical works have become the essential skills classic music commonly seen among hip-hop rappers (Berk 48).

Conclusion

In summary, although the fusion of Classical music and hip-hop music is considered alien to each other, they have same desires. They may sound and feel different, but at the heart of it, they are highly identical. They both affect and transform people through joy, which opens their minds, hearts and entertains them. The modern listener of hip-hop may not be the sonic echoes; pop music brings the melodic and harmonic debt to its older that has always been associated to classical music. Without classical musical architecture, there would be no hip-hop-the prodigy. Therefore, the back-beat rhythm in hip-hop that slow down the beat and the ability to improvise based on classical chords and melody, hip-hop has become an outstanding characteristic of classical music.

Works Cited

Berk, Ronald A. "Music and music technology in college teaching: Classical to hip-hop across the curriculum." International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning4.1 (2008): 45-67.

Darry, Madden. "Hip-Hop Meets Classical." January 18, 2013. Berklee. Retrieved from https://www.berklee.edu/news/hip-hop-meets-classical. Accessed 21st May 2018.