Igbo rap | |
---|---|
Stylistic origins | Hip hop, Igbo traditional music, African American music |
Cultural origins | Late 1990s Southeastern Nigeria (especially Enugu) |
Typical instruments | Rapping, vocals, keyboard, sampler, drums |
Fusion genres | |
Igbo highlife | |
Other topics | |
Igbo rap is a Nigerian style of hip hop music that originated in the Igbo-dominated southeastern region of Nigeria and has become more popular since 2000. The style draws its main influences from Igbo traditional music and African American music. Aside other derived styles, it can be combined with highlife, R&B and afro-soul. [1] Most artists and groups who perform Igbo rap usually deliver their lyrics in the Igbo language, although on some occasions, Igbo is blended with Pidgin English. [1]
Early pioneers in the scene include Mr Raw (formerly Dat N.I.G.G.A. Raw), Massai, Slowdog, MC Loph, Big Lo and 2Shotz. Today, many musical acts like Phyno, Ugoccie, BosaLin, Nuno Zigi, Zoro, Ifex G, Hype MC (who is the younger brother of Mr Raw), K-Large (who is considered the fastest Igbo rapper) Chimason and Tidinz are considered Igbo rap artists. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [1]
Rapping is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The components of rap include "content", "flow", and "delivery". Rap differs from spoken-word poetry in that it is usually performed off-time to musical accompaniment. Rap is a primary ingredient of hip hop music commonly associated with that genre; however, the origins of rap predate hip-hop culture by many years.
Hip hop music has been popular in Africa since the early 1980s due to widespread African American influence. In 1985, hip hop reached Senegal, a French-speaking country in West Africa. Some of the first Senegalese rappers were M.C. Lida, M.C. Solaar, and Positive Black Soul.
The music of Nigeria includes many kinds of folk and popular music, styles of folk music are related to the multitudes of ethnic groups in the country, each with their own techniques, instruments, and songs. Little is known about the country's music history prior to European contact, although bronze carvings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries have been found depicting musicians and their instruments. The country's most internationally renowned genres are Indigenous, Apala, Ogene, Fuji, Jùjú, Afrobeat, Afrobeats, Igbo Highlife, Afro-juju, Waka, Igbo rap, Gospel, Yo-pop. Although Nigeria have over 250 ethnic groups but the largest ethnic groups are the Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Traditional music from Nigeria and throughout Africa is almost always functional; in other words, it is performed to mark a ritual such as the wedding or funeral and not to achieve artistic goals. Although some Nigerians, especially children and the elderly, play instruments for their own amusement, solo performance is otherwise rare. Music is closely linked to agriculture, and there are restrictions on, for example, which instruments can be played during different parts of the planting season.
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