Project Title:

The Essence of Rap

Essential Question(s):

What are the common instruments/aspects of music that place punk rap, emo rap, mumble rap, lyrical rap, melodic rap, etc all in the same musical category and how can I explore these elements to create a song that captures the essence of rap?

Statement of Purpose

For my Senior Project, I will spend my time studying lyrics, instrumentals, and the history of rap music in order to identify the true core of rap music. Upon doing so, I will create my own song with these core elements.

Overview:

Since the beginning of high school, music and specifically rap music’s been a big influence on me seeing as I spent about 3 hours on the train every day going to and from school. While I would occasionally do homework, a majority of the time I would listen to rap music that would make me think or make me hype for the sake of staying up, aware, and safe. As a freshman, my musical tastes revolved around Xxxtentacion and drake and music that was more mainstream and I put less thought into the complexity of lyrics nor the storytelling aspect of it.  My passion for rap music has grown exponentially since then seeing as rap music has become more popular and therefore all the different sub-genres are truly emerging. I’ve begun to listen to Kendrick Lamar, j cole, Lil uzi vert, future, Tyler the creator, etc., and overall expanding my music taste within rap music. Because of this gradual change in my taste in music, I began to wonder how all of these artists were considered “rappers”. By studying this music and doing deep analysis, I will not only recognize common aspects and instruments, but I will learn how to use them for my own song. The academic challenge of this project will definitely be the musical analysis of the beats as well as the analysis of the more experimental and lyrical sub-genres. Furthermore, my approach to each sub-genre will have to be different because there are different things to look for. This project will definitely challenge me because rather than listening for pleasure I’ll be listening for substance. This project will be a compound of my upperclassmen literature classes in understanding poetry, expression, and ways in which one speaks about their identities. And lastly, i will be using both critical thinking and creativity in analysis and creation.

How will you measure your success?

I’ll measure my success by how well I feel I analyzed the music and lyrics to understand the messages the artists are trying to convey, as well as my ability to decontrust the composition and mimick it for the tools and patterns to make my own beat. I will measure my success in the final project by how much people from different sub-genres can enjoy it. If these different listeners can all come together, it means that there is something for everyone to like and that I’ve truly captured the essence of rap.

Learning Goals

My learning goals include understand what specific qualities in an article of music place it into the rap music category. I will do this through studying lyrics, melody, flow, rhyme scheme, instruments beat patterns, and mixing as it exists today and in its entire history. After gaining an in-depth understanding of how music works and the common elements in all forms of rap music, I intend to create my own song. By combining these elements, I hope that this song can capture the true core of rap music. 

Resource List

Consider this the bibliography of Senior Project. What resources have you identified to push your understanding? List publications, institutions, media, books, websites, people with whom you have connected, etc that relate to your project. Include the book you will be reading.

• https://www.npr.org/series/4823817/the-history-of-hip-hop
• https://www.uhhm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RHH_EducationResourceGuide_TheFoundation.pdf
• https://www.masterclass.com/classes/timbaland-teaches-producing-and-beatmaking
• https://teachrock.org/lesson/swing-down-afrofuturism-flight-in-the-black-imagination/
• https://www.udemy.com/course/master-the-art-of-rap-and-song-creation/

Daily Plan & Schedule/ Documentation Plan

This is the appropriate documentation plan because it allowx for me to have notes for every genre and separate the notes by rapper, then song, then lyrics and instrumental.

Material Needs

Access to the highschool music room with enough time to record a song

Backup Plan

How can I get in touch with mydominican culture through music and cooking cultural foods?

Cost would depend on the cost of foods, spices, and seasonings, all of which I’m unclear on