Introduction
Jazz and hip hop have similarities both in origin and musical aspects. Jazz and hip-hop have become symbols of black resistance, and for a long time, they have been the only means of self-expression. Each emerged from the pain and suffering of black Americans who felt second-class in both the 10s and 70s of the last century, and each of them was a unique language in which these people spoke.
Musical Connections of Jazz and Hip-Hop
Initially, jazz and hip-hop served as entertainment, allowing workers to relax from a hard day with pleasant motives. Both genres originated as the music of the streets and the voice of the people. One of the most important distinguishing features of the genre is jazz improvisation: the ability to immediately issue melodies with constantly changing rhythmic patterns. This is one of the most important characteristics of jazz, which appeared due to its folklore roots. Hip-hop has successfully adopted this fundamental characteristic: verbal improvisation is freestyle; rap battles are built based on freestyle and preliminary factual preparation. The very manner of reading rap owes its appearance to talking blues: the rhythmic recitation of text to guitar music.
Such a proximity of jazz and hip-hop has led to interesting collaborations. Herbie Hancock, a recognized jazz classic, also significantly contributed to the development of hip-hop. Hancock wrote the track “Rockit” for the album “Future Shock,” which is a rousing electrofunk with a synth melody.
“Future Shock” is the thirty-fifth studio album by Herbie Hancock, released in August 1983 by Columbia Records (Wendell, 2011). It was his first release from the electro-funk era and an early example of instrumental hip-hop. Thanks to Herbie Hancock, the nascent hip-hop gained recognition in the highest circles of the music industry. This track and the album show a considerable influence of jazz on the hip-hop genre. It was an experiment that combined jazz and electronic music but still resulted in a song with a hip-hop vibe.
A work like “Rockit” is not just an experiment but a natural outcome of developing two genres with a similar history and musical language. The fusion of the melodiousness of jazz and the energy of freedom of hip-hop prompted the artist to create a collaboration that gave rise to the emergence of an entire genre. This album and the track, in particular, are key to understanding the connection between the two musical directions. This mixture of elements symbolizes the transition to the mutual integration of the two genres in order to talk about universal and sharply social issues.
Over time, hip-hop became more common, and jazz gave way to a new trend. However, a few elements of hip-hop have survived that exemplify the influence of jazz, one of the most obvious being the sheer number of samples used from the jazz genre. From rhythms to accompaniment, jazz music is looped, edited, and glued together to provide the perfect canvas for hip-hop lyrics. Both hip-hop and jazz embody the power of improvisation, and there is a major parallel between the two. In jazz, improvisation occurs when different instruments spin a sequence of chords to express themselves individually, while hip-hop uses improvisation by performing spontaneous verses.
The jazz genre is further developed in other directions and goes into the underground. Jazz rap itself is often combined with hardcore rap; the Roots combine elements of jazz and rapcore in their work. Hip-hop has a direct influence on jazz, transforming it and adapting it to a modern sound. Thus, jazz remains relevant today, adopting different sounds and style elements, but retaining its long history.
Conditions for Creating Music of Two Genres
Jazz and hip-hop have become a means of expression for the most widely oppressed group. Jazz arose due to the synthesis of African and European culture with the participation of African American folklore (Dunkel 32). The history of jazz originates at the beginning of the 20th century in the United States. Jazz has now taken its place in the realm of high art. It is considered prestigious, influencing the development of world musical culture.
Jazz and hip-hop proclaimed the equality of all before art, despite the predominant use of cheap instruments. The founders of both genres came from the lower classes, proving that everyone can create and deserve to be treated well. Therefore, in both genres, there are many acute social topics, and a great place is given to the self-expression of the performer.
Jazz originated in the United States as a result of the fusion of several musical cultures. In the history of jazz, for the first time, an instrumental style that originated in New Orleans is considered. For the first time, this music appeared in the composition of street brass bands. On February 26, 1917, five white musicians from New Orleans recorded the first phonograph record (Atajanovich 343).
Before the release of this record, jazz remained a marginal phenomenon, musical folklore. The main features of future styles were found: the uniform pulsation of the double bass and drums, the manner of vocal improvisation without words using separate syllables, and blues occupied a significant place. The recognition of jazz as significant music has been part of the success of African Americans in the fight for their rights.
The history of the appearance of hip-hop is inextricably linked with socio-cultural factors. Hip-hop originated in the Bronx, New York, in the early 1970s (Aprahamian 299). Its development reflected the adverse effects of post-industrial decline, political discourse, and a rapidly changing economy. Conditions worsened in areas mostly populated by African Americans, leading to an increase in crime and poverty. As a result, urban youth took to the streets for recreation and self-expression.
The nascent hip-hop movement turned desperation and racial barriers into numerous creative outlets. The most famous hip-hop pioneers are DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash (Aprahamian 300). Synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines became cheaper and more accessible, marking a new musical milestone. What started as a local movement to provide sanctuary for African Americans in New York has become a global phenomenon. Hip-hop continues to be a dominant force influencing culture around the world.
Relevance of Jazz Today
Looking at the history of jazz and hip-hop, it becomes clear that history has a tendency to repeat itself. In the beginning, jazz and hip-hop became a way of expression for people whose voices were suppressed and who did not want to be heard. In modern times, jazz not only remains relevant but also transforms its elements into many other styles. In the example of jazz, the younger generation can see the importance of defending their interests and feel the bitter history of African Americans’ fight for equality.
Conclusion
The history of jazz is inextricably linked with the history of the struggle of African Americans against oppression. The theme of struggling for social justice will forever remain relevant. Jazz has greatly impacted the development of other musical genres, such as hip-hop. Both genres, which arose as protest and self-expression, have common musical canons, the main of which is improvisation. Both directions will remain significant in musical and socio-cultural history.
Works Cited
Atajanovich, Botirov Jasurbek. “The relevance of the subject. Fundamentals of variety-jazz musical styles“. International Journal of Culture and Modernity, vol.11, no.1, pp. 341-348, 2021, Web.
Aprahamian, Serouj. “Hip-hop, gangs, and the criminalization of African American culture: A critical appraisal of Yes Yes Y’all.” Journal of Black studies, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 298-315, 2019, Web.
Dunkel, Mario. The Stories of Jazz: Narrating a Musical Tradition. Austria, Hollitzer Wissenschaftsverlag, 2021.
Wendell, Eric. Experiencing Herbie Hancock: A listener’s companion. Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.