Jazz Rap--What is it, Really?

Have you ever heard the term jazz rap, but never really understood how it would work as a genre? Jazz and rap may seem like two conflicting genres, but when fused together they create the most beautiful, unique sound and rhythm. Emerging in the ‘80s, the subgenre was introduced through rap lyrics and beats over samples of jazz records. The jazz typically sampled here was familiarly cool jazz, soul jazz, or hard bop, taken from artists such as Art Blakey and Dizzy Gillepsie. Although no one artist invented jazz rap, famous rap artists and groups such as A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, and Digable Planets popularized this style of music.

The two genres originated in different places and time periods, but their histories merge through their rich African American culture and influence. Jazz was born in New Orleans in the late 19th century, while rap was born in the South Bronx in the 1970s. Because rap was such a new genre at this time, its rhythm, melody, and groove were all heavily inspired by other genres and artists. Rap shared a cultural and ethnic history with jazz, so musically the two kinds of rhythm were able to merge smoothly as rap artists experimented outside of their usual loops. Both genres share a deep history of African American struggle and resilience, together creating a powerful message through the unique jazz chord progressions layered with rap beats and spunky or sentimental lyrics. In addition, rap is a very percussive form of lyric that can cleverly mimic the complex time signature and tempo of jazz percussion.

Rap itself originated from MC’s looping instrumental bits of existing songs to create a repetitive foundation to dance or rhyme to. These loops were not necessarily limited to a specific genre, so depending on the style, many different kinds of feelings could be evoked. Similarly versatile, jazz can be upbeat or toned down, so rappers and MC’s have many opportunities to play with the instrumentals. In addition to sampling, many rappers collaborate with jazz artists to create a piece together, not inspired by already existing work. A famous example of this kind of collaboration is in the production of the song “Jazz (We’ve Got)” by A Tribe Called Quest. Tribe worked with double-bassist and jazz artist Ron Carter to create a foundation for Q-Tip’s clever rhymes. This piece is also a great example of how jazz improvisation and rap freestyling work together, their comparing spontaneity and unpredictability adding to the creative performance. Some other songs that I recommend (aside from “Jazz (We’ve Got)” above) are “Breakadawn” by De La Soul, “The World is Yours” by Nas, “Don’t Sweat the Technique” by Eric B. & Rakim, and “Betrayal” by Gang Starr. Overall, jazz rap is a unique subgenre that acts as a medium for rap and jazz artists alike to honor their culture and heritage, explore complex rhythms, and innovate in the music industry.