Music : The Genre Of Music

Throughout the history of this country, the music of Afro-Americans has remained a strong influence upon our society and culture. Beginning with the music carried over from Africa with the slaves, up until now, with the new styles created by urban youth today, African-Americans have retained certain elements within their music which

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.

Controversial themes have always been explored in popular Black music. Because Black experiences influence Black mainstream culture (as with any culture), the social climate of historical eras influence how these themes are explored in popular culture, specifically in the form of music. The presence of controversial themes like racisms, sex and violence in black forms of music like the Blues, R&B/ Soul, Disco, Funk, and Hip-Hop are shaped by the happenings in the Black community during the time periods that each form was popular. Thus, the presence of such themes can be used to compare today’s popular culture, through Hip Hop and Contemporary R&B, with past popular culture, through

Despite hip hops popularity in our culture during the 1980’s many people disagreed with its messages and how it portrayed black youths. Many artist struggled with being good role models for African American youths. Money and fame got the best of most artists but the popularity of gangster life portrayed in hip hop was frowned upon. There was no turning back though for their talents won over American society and a new era was beginning. African Americans made music history and film history fighting against racial stereo types and set an example for younger

It is well known that racism was very present in the early days of Rock n Roll, but its direct long-term effect on music is significant. The attitude surrounding black music as an industry would change after slavery in segregated America. The very sounds being produced were heavily influenced by slave life. Along with this, music gained a new level of personal emotion due to the catharsis of the oppressed. Due to slavery, segregation, and racism in America during the early years of Rock n Roll, a large shift in the culture of the music industry, musical structure, and content occured.

The topic for this research paper was black music. I claim that as black music changed so did their behaviors. In my investigation i first researched the jazz styles. In this part of my research I investigated jazz style music. Did you know louis armstrong made jazz famous.In the second part of my research I investigated society based music.

Rhythm and blues was considered strictly black music. The black culture is a phenomenal subject representing the life style, imagination and accomplishments of people. One of the most outstanding and unique characteristic that makes this culture one of a kind is the music I has produced. Music has a common characteristic that is unique to all cultures throughout the world. Today, I want to focus on the comparing of two music styles Hip-Hop versus R&B and the influence that it has mad on the black culture.

After the 1980s blacks had finally made their own identities which were recognized through their talents. While creating black studies and preferring to be called African Americans instead of derogatory names such as a “Nigger” or “Negroes.” However, music symbolizes the younger generations in the 1960s, especially Hip Hop and Rap music. Hip Hop gives blacks authentic music they can relate to with the lyrics and their everyday life struggles. It also conveys attitudes in a specific art form. Rap music defines the artist’s character and allow them to speak from their hearts with passion. This music gives a voice to the poor, oppressed and younger youth against harassment while portraying the image of black people in poverty.

R&B was created by African Americans at the end of World War II (1941-45) and the early 1960’s from Soul music, Jazz, Gospel, Pop music and Blues as time went on R&B was born. In its earlier days, R&B Music was all about racial issues, and artists gave a lot of importance to the style and arrangement, which included different instruments and rhythms to produce different types of sounds. The result was lively music that had catchy lyrics and was widely used in dance parties. The music (even today) covers the topic of love, happiness, dancing, and relationships. In the early 60’s to present day there’s been great R&B artist from (Etta James, Jill Scott, Maxwell, usher, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Babyface, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, Isaac Hayes, Barry White, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, and Prince). These artists pave the way for new R&B artist today.

Not to say that music could have that much effect on our society but it could have been an indirect influence to the Black culture. Currently in the world, Black culture is inclining because the unity is being reassemble and great leaders like Barrack Obama and Michelle Obama are making that push to make sure the Black community stays strong, intelligent, respectful, and prideful. Their aspirations are greatly admired because much of the Black culture have begun to participate in certain events that requires more of the Black community to be responsible for. Voting especially began to incline due to the fact that Obama is black and we as a black culture wanted to once again make history by having a lead representative that could understand our perspective on most situations. Although Obama has did a great job rekindling the United States government from the corruption that it was going towards there is plenty more to be done. Which is why the black culture has to become more supportive and unified through the matriculations to the

“The music industry seems to allow very minimal Black cultural contribution to even do that, as opposed to the history of American music has told the same story over many times whereas African Americans creates a musical style or genre, only to later be replaced by white artists with more “mainstream” appeal. This trend can be seen in everything from Rock n Roll, Country music, Pop music to more recently Hip-Hop and RnB where white artists like Iggy Azalea, Macklemore, Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake dominates today’s Hip-Hop/R&B charts. White people may be able to participate in or appropriate “Black” styles, but they rarely innovate or enhance them, so the genre slowly withers away ( Clutch, 1).” This act all ties in with commercialization and the “Whites” using Hip Hop as a source of income to stay on top, and this goes back to back in the early eras when Euro- Americans came to the Americas and took control of everything driving the Native Indians, using Africans as slaves, and cultivating everyone to their

When people think of African American music it is most commonly associated with rap and R&B. However, most do not know that the influence of their music runs much deeper in the American history. As slaves were brought over, their music changed the styles and evolved much of the music that is heard today. From soul to blues, to even the overall-wearing hillbilly sitting on the porch playing his banjo, they were

Rhythm and blues, also known today as “R & B”, has been one of the most influential genres of music within the African American Culture, and has evolved over many decades in style and sound. Emerging in the late 1940's rhythm and blues, sometimes called jump blues, became dominant black popular music during and after WWII. Rhythm and blues artists often sung about love, relationships, life troubles, and sometimes focused on segregation and race struggles. Rhythm and blues helped embody what was unique about black American culture and validate it as something distinctive and valuable.

Afro-American music has a rich history in the United States and is vital when considering American music in general. There is a disagreement among scholars whether Afro-American music and its distinctive styles have positively affected race relations in the United States. Its history is so large that there is no doubt that there were, and continue to be, both negative and positive effects among the population. It is important to examine the entirety of black music in the U.S. from its African roots and subsequent slave music, to blues, ragtime, jazz, R&B, soul, and finally modern hip hop when examining its influences on society. It is no doubt the most significant and influential musical tradition for American music at large and had a large influence across the world.

Music is an important part of life. Its role as a form of art and entertainment is a significant one but more important is that it serves to reflect and reinforce societal norms and values. It is not only used to entertain but also serves as a form of social commentary (Baran, 2009). For instance, the emergence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in America after the Second World War was a means of advancing the black race and it helped blur the line between white and black as more young white people became aware of the distinctions that existed in the society. The Hip-hop and rap of the 1980s and 1990s had almost the same effect, awakening in Black Americans a sense of