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The History of |
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Gospel, Rap, and R&B Music |
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Ikeyonia Harper |
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Abstract |
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Research on music styles points to three genres of music: gospel, rap, and r & b. Questions such as, where did the music originate, who created the various types of music, and how long that certain type of music has been around are explored including the origination and the history of the different styles of music. Research was done on the relative to gospel music, Southern gospel music. Since rap music is a controversial matter, the pessimism and the optimism of rap is also researched. |
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The History of Gospel, R & B, and Rap music |
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Music is made by combining and balancing five basic elements, which are melody, tone color, harmony, rhythm, and tempo (Centurion ministry 2003).
According to Wynton Marsalis, music is sound organized in time.. It is a part of every day life. Whether it is in the car, at church, or in the privacy of our homes, people listen to music. Although the artist and styles of music has changed over the years, the history of music and where it originated is important. The history of gospel, rap, and rhythm and blues music are three styles of music that will forever be etched in the ever changing world of music (Marsalis, 2003). |
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Definition of Music |
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Finding the exact definition of music has left a permanent question mark in a person mind. The word itself comes from Greek mousike by the way of the Latin musica. It is ultimately derived from mousa, the Greek word for muse.In Greek times, the word mousike was used to mean any of the arts or sciences governed by the muses. Broadly speaking, music is any artful or entertaining arrangement of sounds, deliberate or otherwise (Wikipedia, 2003). |
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History of Gospel Music |
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The word gospel comes from 2 words, God andspel, the latter being the Old English word for story. Gospel is also the English Translation of a Greek word in the bible meaning to announce good news (Big Chalk, 2003). The modern day gospel music experience is less than 50 years old. Gospel music is the music of many African Americans that is ever changing.Many blacks from the south were starting to move from the south to other areas of the United States and along with them were their own forms of gospel music. |
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The second stage of music came in the 1930s, which is known today as the Dorsey Era. The Dorsey Era was named after Thomas Dorsey, The Father of Gospel. Thomas Andrew Dorsey was born on July 1, 1899. He was an American pianist, arranger, and composer. In 1932, after the death of his wife and his newborn son, he composed the popular and sorrowful hymn Precious Lord, Take my hand. After 60 years in the service of spreading the good news of the gospel through music, Dorsey died of the alzheimer disease in Chicago January 23, 1993
(Biography Resource Center, 2001). |
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In the 1940s, Gospel music changed. This is the time when choirs turned into gospel ensembles and quartets. The gospel groups traveled throughout the United States. By the ensembles and quartets traveling across the country, people demanded this sound even more. African Americans began to purchase gospel records soon after World War II.Again, the 1950s brought about more changes for the gospel era. As the ensembles and gospel quartets grew, the need for music also grew. During this era, pianos and organs were used. |
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African Americans and Gospel music |
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Slavery was an important issue facing churches, as slaves were allowed to meet for Christian services. Some Christian ministers wrote against slavery. Rural slaves used to stay after the regular worship services, in churches or in plantation praise houses, for singing and dancing. They also had meetings at secret places called camp meetings or ;bush meetings. At church, hymns and psalms were sung during services. The lyrics of Negro spirituals were tightly linked with the lives of their authors, slaves. While work songs dealt only with their daily life, spirituals were inspired by the message of Jesus Christ and His good news (Page wise, 2001). In the religious services in the Caribbean and Native American cultures they used drums as a way to express their love for God. The rhythmic beats and praise dances originated in the worship services of Ancient Egyptians. The same beats and dances that were created by the Caribbean and Native Americans have progressed into the worship services of not only Protestant churches but also the Catholic churches
(Centurion ministry, 2001). |
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History of Southern Gospel Music |
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Southern Gospel is an American style of music. Many have debated the fact because of the different influences. Southern gospel is at the very center of the ;melting pot. The important detail that African American gospel and Southern gospel have in common is that they all have the same kind of faith. |
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To explain the roots of southern gospel, one would have to explore all of the influences of southern gospel.One of the major influences southern gospel is African American music. The roots of this particular music go back farther than the turn of the century. They have extended over 400 years. The tribal African music was the first origins Southern Gospel and even gospel music. |
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Difference between Southern Gospel and African Gospel |
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African American music differed from European and white American music one major regard: secular music did not exist in African traditions.Europeans sang songs about love, war, and drinking. The music was first recognized as anthem music and was later known as spirituals and was much later known as gospel music
(Promise Records, 2003). |
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The music spread through several ways. Many of the songs and melodies were embraced by whites and began to greatly influence white religious and popular American music. The invention of recorded cylinders and records overshadowed sheet music sales of gospel music and much more, spread rapidly gospel music into homes. |
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More recently, cable television has helped the music hold its own and increase its viewers. The GMTN, Gospel Music Television Network has exposed the wonderful sounds of the southern gospel music. Exposer also has come from the Southern Gospel Hall of Fame and Museum, which opened in 1999 the grounds of Dollywood amusement park. Since the 1970s, Southern gospel has been more affiliated with the church (Star Tribune, 2002). |
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Modern day gospel music |
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Negro spirituals and traditional gospel gave birth to praise and worship music, which today has diversified beyond the confines of the churches into contemporary gospel, urban praise, gospel classicals and gospel instruments. For Clara Ward, a gospel musician,I am taking Gods word to His people wherever they were-even in discotheques. Some famous gospel singers in the new age of gospel music are Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Crystal Lewis, and Donnie McClurkin. Today gospel involves a host of rhythms from jazz to reggae, R and B to fun, and country to rock (Big Chalk, 2003). |
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The origin of R and B |
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Rhythm and blues originated from the massive social, industrial, and technological upheaval that took place in the United States prior to World War II. Many African Americans began to move to the northern cities to apply for high wages from the wartime employment opportunities that were available to them. To satisfy the new group of people moving into the northern region, the urban sound of rhythm and blues was developed. The invention of the tape recorder and the electric guitar influenced the style of rhythm and blues. |
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The Rise of Rhythm and blues |
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The rise of rhythm and blues in the aftermath of World War II became the most important wave of black music to join the mainstream music styles. The creation of Rhythm and blues passed the effects of ragtime, blues, and jazz. |
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Jerry Wexler |
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The question, where did Rhythm and blues come from, could possibly be floating around in ones mind. Thanks to Jerry Wexler, the term rhythm and blues was born in 1947. It was a steady diet of Hershey bars but Black music awakened dormant appetites. He is responsible for the discoveries of Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Otis Redding, Sonny and Cher, Ray Charles, and the Drifters. At the age of 82, Jerry Wexler is able to see and hear the music that he so loved (BMI Inc. 2003) |
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Recognition of R & B |
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When R and; B was recognized by Billboards, it was the signal of the acception of R and B to the music world. Black artists were recognized by the Harlem Hit Parade column in 1942. By the mid 1940s, jukebox popularity charts for the new sound of Rhythm and blues music had been added and retail charts soon followed (BMI Inc., 2003). |
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Origin of rap music |
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The year of 1950 brought about the sounds of Elvis and rock `n` roll and it was followed by the Motown sound of the 1960s. In the 70s, there was folk music and disco. In the 1980s was when the music genre rap came to be. Rap came from the African people and black people who were born in the United States in particular. Some of the origins of rap music can be traced back to Western Africa, when the slaves held the men of words in high honor.Another way that rap met the United States was when the slaves were brought over to the New World, they brought with them the beats they remembered from Africa and added American words to it. In Jamaica, the folk stories, called toasts are stories that are told in rhyme (Pagewise, 2003). |
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Street Art |
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Rap means to put forth in sharp, rapid speech or to utter in an abrupt fashion; a fast, rhythmic monologue over a prerecorded instrumental track (Word reference, 2003). After the making of doo-wop in the 1950s, rap soon became a street art. Rap began in inner-city school yards and street corners in the early 1970s. The early style of rap artists were put downs of other rappers or boastful tales. Block parties began to play the early forms of rap music in New York City in 1974 but the world had not yet discovered the unique sound of rap. |
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It was not until the Sugar Hill Gang created the Rappers Delight in 1979 that record labels took notice of the new sound. Some rappers during this time period were N.W.A, Ice-T, and Public Enemy. Rap and its close relative hip-hop have gotten its biggest publicity yet and mainstream acceptance. |
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Controversy surrounding rap music |
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Rap music has been considered controversial by those in the mainstream with recent criminal charges brought against rappers such as the late Tupac Shakur and Snoop Doggy Dog (Udel, 2003). The musical style of rap is not without its critics.In the 1980s, many raps were stories based the hard life in the ghetto, warnings about drugs, and teenage love and lust (Pagewise, 2003). |
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A law passed June 6, 1990 stated that children under the age of 18 would not be able to purchase a CD with explicit language or explicit lyrics. Also, songs that are created by rappers that have strong language or harmful references will have a sticker the front of them stating parental guidance/explicit lyrics. There have been plenty rap songs that have been banned from radio stations and TV stations across the world. |
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The PMRG (parents music resource group) was formed in Washington, D.C. in 1985 by Susan Baker and Tipper Gore, wife of then-senator Al Gore. The focus of the PMRG is to convince record companies to monitor and rate artists releases with a system similar to the MPAA system for movies. The PMRG has been going strong for the past five years.The name was later changed to the Parents Music Resource Center. |
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Optimism of rap music |
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As the world looks upon rap music as a sinful portion of music, the optimism of rap music has changed the mindset of the world towards rap music. According to Bill E. Lawson, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Delaware:
gangsta rap portrays urban life and its sometimes violent nature. It talks about people trying to have control over that environment, how they need to take certain persona. Rappers try to show that, in order to survive in such a violent atmosphere, people must look after their own self interests and do what is necessary to take care of them. This particular rap style proclaims that money and power are the basis for respect. For those who are involved in drugs and crime and killing, these raps are the expression of their lives. Gangsta rap can be positive if it makes listeners stop and think about what went wrong in American society. |
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Unlike other rap artists, Hill raps about the real lessons of life and what she has learned from life. Her album, a song entitled "That Thing " Hill makes references to the good and bad side of relationships.Her producer, Wyclef Jean, is also a positive rapper.Most of his songs preach about different experiences, but at the same time he finds a way to bond without cursing and calling women various names. His videos are also part of him that he chooses to share. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean refuse to bow down to the status of ordinary rappers. They will always maintain their individuality and positive image. |
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Modern Rap |
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As the world takes notice of the negative rappers, the positive rappers are being covered up by the negativity that the world sees. A positive rapper, such as Lauryn Hill, who starred in the comedySister Act 2, hooked up with Wyclef Jean and his brother. Together they formed the groupThe Fugees. She later went solo to form an album called The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. |
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Conclusion |
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If it was not for artists such as Kid Rock and Eminem, the rap scene is now being opened to not only African Americans but Caucasians as well. The female audience has grown steadily with the emergence of ladies behind the microphone like Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, and Lil Kim (Pagewise, 2001). Male and Female rappers are also bringing new messages of pride and optimism to rap music, as well as financial success to themselves and their recording companies. Rap music is now a billion-dollar industry. |
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According to Karen Freeman, managing editor of the Enterprise Journal newspaper, It (music) is the universal language and for me the best refuge from problems. Not only is it comforting, its interactive. I sing with the best of them: in the car, at my desk, at home-wherever. Music speaks to us many levels. It brings us to tears, makes us laugh, and calms our fears. The artists and their styles of music have made the bigger difference in the role that music plays in the lives of not only Americans but also people from all over the world. Music is a universal language that everyone can learn to enjoy, understand, and love. |
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References |
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Big Chalk. 2003). About gospel music. Retrieved April 24, 2003 from
http://www.bigchalk.com
Biography resource center. (2001). Thomas Dorsey. Retrieved April 24, 2003
From http://www.africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0554DorseyThomas.asp?
Campbell,S. (2002). Origins of southern gospel. Promise Records. Retrieved
April 16, 2003 from http://www.promiserecords.com/historypages/articles/roots
Cardenes, J.A.(2000). Rap limitations. Retrieved April 25, 2003 from http://www.juancardenes.tripod.com/id66.htm
Censorship of music. (2000). Retrieved April 17, 2003 from
http://website.lineone.net/~foxy282/censorship_of_music.htm
Centurion Ministry. (2001). History of Gospel Music. Retrieved April 22, 2003
from http://www.centurionministry.org/mind/music.asp
Dean, P. (1998). The r &b History File. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from
http://www.rhythmandblues.org.uk/pdhist.shtml.
Freeman, K. (2001, October 5). Music, perfect healer in our troubled times.Enterprise Journal.
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Pagewise. (2001). The history of gospel music. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from http://wv.essortment.com/gospelmusichis_rutg.htm
Pagewise. (2001). The history of rap music. Retrieved March 31, 2003 from
http://www.allsands.com/Music/Bio/historyofrapm_xrw_gn.htm.
Poltrok, G. (1994). Much more to rap music than what meets the ear. Newark,DE: University of Delaware
Southern Gospel Music Association. (2003). The purpose of the SGMA. Retrieved April 17, 2003 from http://www.sgma.org/about_us.lasso
Spiritual Workshop. (n.d.). Before 1865. Retrieved April 3, 2003 from http://www.negrospirituals.com/history.htm
Star Tribune. (2002). Amen !. Retrieved April 23, 2003 from http://www.grammy.com/features/1016_gospel.html
The rise of rhythm and blues. (1994-2003). Retrieved April 3, 2003 from http://www.bmi.com/library/brochures/historybook/blues.asp
THERE. (1995-2003). Jerry Wexler. Retrieved April 23, 2003 from http://www.there1.com/wexler.html
ThinkQuest. (1995-2003). Music styles r&b Retrieved April 23, 2003 from http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/styles/rb.htm
Wikipedia. (March 8, 2003). Music. The Free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 31, 2003 from http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_music
WordReference. (2003). Definition of rap. Retrieved April 24, 2003 from http://www.wordreference.com/english/definition.asp?en=rap |
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