Hip Hop vs Rap: What is the Difference?
Don’t know the difference between hip hop vs rap? One of the most hotly debated topics when it comes modern music may well be the discussion over the difference between rap and hip hop.
Some would say that all hip hop music is rap but not the other way around, and in essence, you could agree. The best way to attempt to arrive at an answer is to look at the origins of both, though you will likely find that both styles of music were birthed from the same womb and have simply grown into different adults.
Rap
The first thing you must realize in this debate is that there are new and old forms of rap commonly referred to as Old School and New School. Old school rap can trace its roots back to Africa centuries before rap or hip-hop even existed. Many centuries ago, griots would deliver rhythmic stories over drums and or a few other instruments. Prominent blues artists have argued that as early as the 1920′s in this country the blues were being rapped.
Newer versions of rap have expounded on the original simple rhyme and rhythm giving it more of a lyrical flow and cadence. You could say that earlier forms of rap were closer in nature to hip hop than what you find today in the rap culture.
Over the years Rap has developed and embodies more of the Gangster style within it. This is the main difference between rap and hip hop. Rap has a rough, rugged, and sometimes downright ignorant persona.
Hip Hop
Hip hop is a broader term which I think holds Rap within it. In comparison to Rap, Hip Hop has much more substance to it. It’s far more lyrical and profoundly more deep. Both Hip Hop and Rap can be considered a way of life.
Two branches of the same tree.
When hip hop was in its infancy it was a tool used by former gang warlord Afrika Bambaataa to bring angry youths of the black and Latino neighborhoods out of the gangs and into a new way of life.
In addition to a distinct musical genre, clothing, graffiti and dance were central themes to the entire subculture. Much of the rhyming present in rap is also a part of creating the hip hop sound but as proponents will tell you hip hop is much more than a musical genre.
Afrika Bambaataa began to extol the virtue underlining the hip hop movement that included:
Deejaying
Emceeing
Graffiti
Break dancing (b-boying)
Knowledge- this was his unique addition to the founding philosophy of hip hop which he discovered on a trip to Africa, make love not war being the theme
Conclusion
Many people differentiate rap from hip hop saying that it rap is good entertainment while the latter includes a life philosophy.
It is sure that the debate about the differences in these two modern music genres will continue and followers of each will continue to argue their points. However, if you want to get the real skinny on the differences in music perhaps the best source is not from the experts and the artists but the fans.
One teenage girl explains the differences between the two very simply; hip-hop is Mos Def while rap is Lil Wayne!
Of course, in the end you will likely find that rap and hip-hop are like brothers, growing up in and around the same environment but going their different ways as they mature.
About the Author
MasAppeal shares more of his passion for the best underground rap and hip hop, visit his site at underground-hip-hop-spot.com
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80′s-90′s Old School Hip-Hip Megamix
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Fast Eddie Old School Rap-Funk Hip-Hop-House 12″ LISTEN $9.35 |
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KOOL MOE DEE – I Go To Work – OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP 12″ $9.99 |
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ICEY-JAYE “ICEY (SHE’S BAD)”—1989–OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP $2.65 |
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WHODINI Back In Black LP OOP mid-80s old-school hip-hop $5.99 |
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BEAT DIS~BOMB THE BASS~ELECTRONIC OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP~12″ $1.99 |
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BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL – VARIOUS – N/M 2 X LP HIP HOP $15.80 |
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RUN D.M.C. DMC Rock Box 12″ inch Single New & Sealed reissue Old School Hip Hop $0.99 |
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The Force M.D.’s 33 lp love letter old school hip hop $2.99 |
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NEWCLEUS Jam on Revenge Near Mint shrink 83 electro old school hip hop 12″ dance $7.95 |
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JIVE RAP ATTACK-WHODINI/JAZZY JEFF/GIFTED 4-YUGOSLAV LP 1985-OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $14.00 |
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OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP VOL 5 GREAT COMPILATION $21.00 |
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The Third Unheard 2LP old school CT hip hop POOKEY BLOW $22.99 |
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RAP-HIP-HOP OLD SCHOOL DISCO FOUR 12 INCH SINGLE PROFILE LABLE #7010 VG $9.99 |
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WAYNE & CHARLIE – Check It Out – OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP 12″ $8.99 |
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the SURF MC’s Surf or Die 12″ single 1987 WTF?! surf rap oldschool hip-hop!! $2.50 |
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TOO NICE “COLD FACTS”–1989–OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP LP!!! $1.65 |
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Kurtis Blow Deuce Old School Rap Hip Hop $4.00 |
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THE SEQUENCE ‘Funk You Up’~SUGARHILL 12″ hip hop rap funk hiphop 1979 old school $9.98 |
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ULTIMIX MEDLEY COLLECTION 4 LP ROCK OLD SCHOOL REGGAE HIP HOP FREESTYLE 70S NEW $24.99 |
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Old School Hip Hop Promo Vinyl 12″ UTFO “Leader Of The Pack” 1985 $4.00 |
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Old School Hip Hop Promo Vinyl 12″ Bon Rock “B-Boy” $4.00 |
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Old School Hip Hop Promo Vinyl 12″ The B-Boys “Rock The House” 1983 $4.00 |
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v/a OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP 12″ NEW VINYL Slick Rick Doug e Fresh Roc Biz Markie BDP $9.99 |
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Old School Hip Hop Promo Vinyl 12″ Eddie D & Galaxxy “Cold $ Cash Money” 1984 $4.00 |
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Old School Hip Hop Promo Vinyl 12″ Jazzy Jeff “We Just Want to Have Fun” Jive 85 $4.00 |
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U-KREW “Ugly” 1989 Old School Hip Hop Rap 12″ VG $4.24 |
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Platinum Hip Hop Hits-Old School Class [VINYL] Platinum Hip Hop Hits-Old School $69.26 |
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NM Run DMC 45 record “Walk this Way/King of Rock” old school rap hip hop $3.99 |
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Hakeem Hip Hop Reborn U.K. 12″ 1990 Old School $4.99 |
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BOOGIE BOYS – Share My World – OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP 12″ $8.99 |
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THE NEXT SCHOOL Settin an Example LP old school hip hop $9.99 |
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NU SOUNDS Condition Red 12″ old school hip hop Uni $6.99 |
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69 BOYS~KITTY KITTY~12 OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP RAP $8.99 |
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95 SOUTH~WHOOT THERE IT IS~12 OLD SCHOOL RAP HIP HOP $14.99 |
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Solo Sounds – We’re Chilly OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP / ELECTRO $14.44 |
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ICE CREAM TEE “CAN’T HOLD BACK”—1989—JAZZY JAY—OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP LP!!!!!! $14.99 |
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ROXANNE SHANTE’-Queen Of Rox 12-Inch Single OLD SCHOOL HIP_HOP $5.95 |
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STYLE & TARIQ “WHO DO YOU LOVE”—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $1.99 |
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CHUBB ROCK~TREAT EM RIGHT~12 HIP HOP – OLD SCHOOL VOL 6 $17.99 |
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B BOYS Two Three Break 12″ NEW VINYL Old School Hip Hop $11.99 |
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Ultramagnetic MC’s The Basement Tapes 1984-1990 LP MINT Old School Hip-Hop OOP! $9.99 |
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JUST ICE – BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL * HIP HOP RAP LP $23.53 |
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DEF DUO “YOU GOTTA BELIEVE”—1989—JAZZY JAY–OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP $2.65 |
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AUDIO TWO OG 87 12″ Make If Funky Old School Hip Hop NM $12.00 |
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V/A – Old School Vs. New School – HIP HOP ELECTRO 12″ $9.99 |
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Old School Hip Hop Vol 6 12″ Single $3.00 |
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NASIH & M-D-EMM – GET HIP TO THIS ( QUALITY OLD SCHOOL) $7.89 |
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JIBRI -I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU—4 MIXES—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP—(SEALED)!!! $1.45 |
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Tall Dark & Handsome old school hip hop LP B-BOY $7.99 |
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Old School Hip Hop Party 2003 Vinyl LP 2 Live Crew Banned in The U.S.A. LUKE $19.99 |
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Old School Hip Hop Booty Classics Throwback Vinyl LP Me So Horny $19.99 |
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RAPPIN’ 4-TAY “Off Parole” Old School Hip Hop 12″ VG $5.09 |
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FAT BOYS -BIG & BEAUTIFUL/ CRUSHIN’—-2 LP’S—-OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $12.99 |
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AMG “Butt Booty Naked” 1993 Old School Hip Hop 12″ NM $3.39 |
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Kool Moe Dee Vinyl Record No Respect Old School Hip Hop $9.99 |
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12” STREETBEAT UK From Bebop To Hip-Hop UK OLD SCHOOL $9.49 |
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Tha Alkaholiks Daaam! 12″ Single Old School Hip Hop Classic LP $7.99 |
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M-4 SERS orig press SHAKE IT UP & GET NASTY LP RECORD rap HIP HOP oldschool VG $16.49 |
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KROWN RULERS Paper Chase LP old school hip hop $9.99 |
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M.C. MC SHY D “Groove” 1990 Hip Hop Rap 12″ Near Mint Record Old School $25.49 |
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CAMILLE THE FUNKY DRUMMER “Attic Beats 1″ RARE! 12″ VG+ Old School HIP HOP $67.99 |
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EAZY E “Black Ni**a Killa” 1998 Hip Hop 12″ MINT SEALED Old School RAP NWA $21.24 |
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M.C. SHAN “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste” 12″ EX++ Old School HIP HOP Rap $25.49 |
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BOBBY DEEMO Party Rap 12” old school hip hop Buffalo 1981 Bugs-B-Skate Rap DEMO $12.98 |
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STEZO Crazy Noise LP Fresh old school hip hop Paul C $9.99 |
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COUSIN ICE “Firefly” 1985 Old School Hip Hop 12″ NM $6.79 |
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THE LATIN POETS “VIVA LA MUSICA”—-1988—BRONX MIX—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP! $2.99 |
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Rapologists The Hip Hop Beat 12″ Rare Old School Rap $9.99 |
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KID DEFF – ALL THE WAY LIVE—1989—OLD SCHOOL CHICAGO HIP HOP—RARE 12″ $1.65 |
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OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP CLASSICS FATBACK BAND T SKI VALL EP! $15.00 |
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PARTY TIME (CLUB MIX)~KURTIS BLOW~OLD SCHOOL~HIP HOP~12″~RAP $4.99 |
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Dirtbag – Here We Go WHITE LABEL PROMO NEAR MINT old school hip-hop $8.55 |
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SUAGERHILL GANG S/T LP NEW SEALED VINYL REISSUE OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $14.99 |
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NO SHOW~WE’RE TREACHEROUS~SYMBOLIC THREE feat. D.J. DR. SHOCK~OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $7.77 |
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VARIOUS: Old School Classics (rap/hip-hop vinyl LP) $15.00 |
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OLD SCHOOL RANDOM HIP HOP w/ BEATS 12″ 1989 NM (LISTEN) $7.99 |
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U-KREW If U Were Mine 12″ OOP old-school rap/hip-hop $4.99 |
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THE 2 LIVE CREW~ME SO HORNY~12 OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP RAP $17.99 |
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TONE LOC~WILD THING~12 HIP HOP RAP OLD SCHOOL $18.99 |
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Kool Moe Dee s/t NM LP Jive 1025 Old School Hip Hop / Early Rap $8.99 |
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UTFO – Lethal 1987 Select OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP $9.99 |
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Skinny Boys 33 lp skinny RARE old school hip hop rap nm $49.99 |
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M.C. DOWNBEAT -IT’S A SHAME—1989—OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP LP—-RARE!!!! $9.99 |
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A.N.M. Trigger Happy Cop old school hip hop RARE rap $9.99 |
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SCHOOLLY D Smoke Some Kill original JIVE 12″ old school rap/hip hop vinyl SEALED $15.99 |
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Cap C Crew Get Busy 12″ old school hip hop eric b rakim public enemy krs one lp $12.00 |
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GROOVE SOUND Old School Hip Hop EP / EPMD / DOUG FRESH $16.99 |
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NEWKIRK Funk City LP old school hip hop rap orig OBR $6.99 |
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NEWCLEUS Jam On It 12″ Record SUNNYVIEW 1984 Old School Rap Hip-Hop $17.92 |
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The French Breakery 80 samples hip hop breakbeat LP Gang Du dj old school 12″ $40.00 |
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NEWCLEUS “LET’S JAM”—-1985—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP/ ELECTRO RAP—-12″ SINGLE $5.95 |
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BREAKIN’ Original Soundtrack (OST) LP Record Old School Hip Hop $9.99 |
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BOOGIE BOYS -ROMEO KNIGHT—1988—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP LP—-VERY NICE!!!! $6.95 |
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KURTIS BLOW -AMERICA—1985—IF I RULED THE WORLD—OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP LP $4.99 |
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PRINCE EZE – BAD BREATH – V RARE NEAR MINT 1986 US CAPO OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP 12″ $34.79 |
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Whodini – Back In Black – OOP – Old School Hip – Hop $7.99 |