Preliminaries
The first song whose rhythmic style of singing predates rapping was already published in the 1920s. About 50 years later, the first historically known rap song was published.
Since then, this genre has undergone many changes and has been examined from diverse angles. Various cultural, historical and language-centered studies have been conducted on rap music. There is, however, little research particularly concerned with
the different musical categories of rap, vocal deliveries of rap and the usage and understanding of language in contexts of rap from a pragmatical point of view. To investigate some of the genres linguistic properties, the main focus of this paper will
be on the genres, prosody and pragmatics of rap music.
The paper is divided into five chapters and three major parts. After the introduction and some general thoughts about the history of rap music, the first major part deals with the generic classification of this genre in chapter three. A general overview of the
different genres of rap is given here by focusing on their musical, thematic and vocal style variations. It will be explored whether genres of rap are related to each other, overlap and whether each genre encompasses a different style of vocal delivery. All
the lyrics of the songs which will be mentioned and discussed in this thesis are available in the appendix accompanied by a CD of songs and files.
Taking into account the different vocal styles, which will be mentioned in chapter three, in chapter four, particular focus will be drawn to the prosodic variations of vocal styles, especially to stress. In this respect, an experiment has been conducted by
which prosodic differences of vocal styles will be discussed in chapter four. It is not the objective of this thesis to focus on the physical nature of musical sounds (i.e. instrumental sounds) of rap music or the musical styles of different rap genres.
[...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Preliminaries
- 2. A Brief History of Rap Music
- 3. Genres of Rap
- 3.1 Party Rap
- 3.2 Mack Rap
- 3.3 Jazz Rap
- 3.4 Reality Rap
- 3.5 Generalizations and Comparisons of Genres
- 4. Prosody of Rap
- 4.1 Experiment
- 4.2 Flow Diagrams
- 4.3 Analysis of Speech-Effusive Flow
- 4.4 Analysis of Sung Flow
- 4.5 Analysis of percussion-effusive Flow
- 4.6 Prosodic Similarities and Differences of Flows
- 5. Pragmatics of Rap
- 5.1 Speech Act Theory
- 5.2 Speech Acts
- 5.3 Word-to-world Direction of Fit vs. World-to-word Direction of Fit
- 5.4 Classification of Illocutionary Acts
- 5.5 Black Speech Acts
- 5.6 Dissing
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to define rap music through the lens of its genres, prosody, and pragmatics. It investigates the linguistic properties of rap, exploring the relationships between different rap genres, analyzing the prosodic variations in vocal delivery, and examining the pragmatic functions of language use within rap contexts. The study seeks to understand how these three aspects intersect to shape the overall meaning and impact of rap music.
- Genre Classification of Rap Music
- Prosodic Analysis of Rap Vocal Styles
- Pragmatic Functions of Language in Rap
- Interrelation of Genre, Prosody, and Pragmatics in Rap
- Historical Development of Rap Music
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Preliminaries: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the thesis, highlighting the existing gap in research concerning the genres, prosody, and pragmatics of rap music. It outlines the paper's structure, explaining how the investigation into genre classification in Chapter 3, prosodic analysis in Chapter 4, and pragmatic analysis in Chapter 5 will ultimately contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of rap as a linguistic phenomenon. The chapter emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the study, drawing connections between musical, cultural, and linguistic aspects of rap. The availability of accompanying materials (lyrics, CD) is also mentioned.
2. A Brief History of Rap Music: This chapter provides a concise overview of rap music's historical development, tracing its origins from earlier musical forms to its evolution into the diverse genre we know today. It highlights key moments and influential artists, including the early pioneers and the significant shift from the “old-school” to the “new-school” era. The discussion emphasizes changes in rhythmic style, musical complexity, and lyrical themes, setting the context for the subsequent analyses of rap's linguistic features. The chapter mentions songs like “Rapper's Delight,” “On the Road Again,” “Cement Mixer,” and “Here comes the judge” as examples illustrating the evolving nature of the genre.
3. Genres of Rap: This chapter delves into the various genres of rap music, examining their distinct musical, thematic, and vocal styles. It explores the relationships between different genres, investigating whether they are mutually exclusive or overlapping categories. The analysis examines how each genre might be associated with particular vocal delivery styles, contributing to the overall understanding of rap's diversity and the connections between its musical and linguistic properties. Specific examples of rap subgenres (Party Rap, Mack Rap, Jazz Rap, Reality Rap) are analyzed to understand their characteristic features.
4. Prosody of Rap: This chapter focuses on the prosodic features of rap vocal styles, specifically examining stress patterns and variations in rhythm. It details an experiment conducted to analyze the prosodic differences between various vocal delivery styles. The analysis focuses on different "flows" – speech-effusive, sung, and percussion-effusive – detailing their unique prosodic characteristics and comparing their similarities and differences. The chapter would likely utilize flow diagrams and numerical data to support the analysis of rhythm, pitch, and intensity.
5. Pragmatics of Rap: This chapter explores the pragmatic aspects of rap music, focusing on speech act theory and its application to rap lyrics. It investigates the usage and function of speech acts in different rap contexts, examining whether the conditions for performing these acts are consistently met. The chapter explores concepts such as "word-to-world" and "world-to-word" direction of fit, classifying illocutionary acts within rap and analyzing specific phenomena like "dissing" as a type of speech act unique to rap culture. The analysis likely connects the pragmatic analysis to specific examples found within rap songs.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Rap music, genres, prosody, pragmatics, speech act theory, vocal delivery, flow, rhythm, rhyme, linguistic analysis, musical analysis, cultural studies, historical analysis, old-school rap, new-school rap, speech acts, illocutionary acts, disses.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Linguistic Analysis of Rap Music
What is the overall purpose of this linguistic analysis of rap music?
This paper aims to comprehensively define rap music by examining its genres, prosody (rhythm and sound patterns), and pragmatics (how language is used in context). It explores the relationships between these three aspects to understand how they shape the meaning and impact of rap music.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The analysis includes an introduction (Preliminaries), a brief history of rap, a detailed exploration of rap genres (including Party Rap, Mack Rap, Jazz Rap, and Reality Rap), a thorough analysis of rap prosody (including different "flows" like speech-effusive, sung, and percussion-effusive), and a pragmatic analysis focusing on speech act theory and its application to rap lyrics (including "dissing").
What are the key themes or objectives of this research?
The key themes include genre classification of rap music, prosodic analysis of rap vocal styles, pragmatic functions of language in rap, the interrelation of genre, prosody, and pragmatics in rap, and the historical development of rap music. The main objective is to provide a holistic linguistic understanding of rap.
What is covered in each chapter?
Chapter 1 (Preliminaries): Introduces the research, highlighting the gap in existing research and outlining the study's structure. Chapter 2 (A Brief History of Rap Music): Traces the historical development of rap, from its origins to its evolution into diverse subgenres. Chapter 3 (Genres of Rap): Explores various rap genres, examining their musical, thematic, and vocal styles, and their relationships to one another. Chapter 4 (Prosody of Rap): Analyzes the prosodic features of rap vocal styles, focusing on stress patterns, rhythm, and different "flows," using an experiment and flow diagrams. Chapter 5 (Pragmatics of Rap): Investigates the pragmatic aspects of rap, applying speech act theory to understand the use and function of language in rap contexts, including "dissing."
What kind of methodology is used in this research?
The research uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining musical, cultural, and linguistic analysis. It involves genre classification, prosodic analysis (potentially including experiments and data analysis), and pragmatic analysis (using speech act theory).
What are some examples of rap songs mentioned in the analysis?
The analysis mentions songs like "Rapper's Delight," "On the Road Again," "Cement Mixer," and "Here comes the judge" as examples illustrating the evolving nature of rap music.
What are the key terms or keywords associated with this research?
Key terms include: Rap music, genres, prosody, pragmatics, speech act theory, vocal delivery, flow, rhythm, rhyme, linguistic analysis, musical analysis, cultural studies, historical analysis, old-school rap, new-school rap, speech acts, illocutionary acts, disses.
What materials are included to support the analysis (if any)?
The analysis mentions the availability of accompanying materials such as lyrics and a CD, which would presumably provide empirical data for the linguistic analysis.
What is the target audience for this research?
The target audience is likely academics and researchers interested in linguistics, musicology, cultural studies, and the analysis of popular music.
- Quote paper
- Said Abir Anbari (Author), 2010, The Genres, Prosody and Pragmatics of Rap, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/172290
