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African American Music Thesis

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Thesis Statement: The earlier forms of African American music - ragtime, blues, and gospel - have significantly impacted popular genres like hip hop, rock, and country music today, by influencing their rhythms, lyrics, and themes, and by carrying forward the legacy of African American musical expression. Outline: I. Introduction A. Background information on the historical significance of African American music in shaping popular genres B. Thesis statement II. Development of Early African American Music A. Ragtime B. Blues C. Gospel III. Impact of African American Music on Popular Genres A. Hip hop 1. Rhythms and beats 2. Lyrics and themes 3. Case study: Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" B. Rock 1. Blues roots and influences 2. Case …show more content…

From the early days of slavery and plantation life, African American people have used music as a form of resistance, community building, and creative expression, and their musical traditions have continued to evolve and impact the mainstream music scene across genres and generations. This essay explores the impact of earlier forms of African American music - ragtime, blues, and gospel - on popular genres like hip hop, rock, and country music, and how they shape contemporary musical …show more content…

Blues The blues is a genre of music that emerged from the Deep South in the late 19th century, and was characterized by its soulful vocals, expressive guitar playing, and melancholic lyrics. It was a genre that expressed the hardships and joys of African American life, and was often played in juke joints, churches, and street corners. The blues heavily influenced the development of rock music, and its legacy can be seen in the work of artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and John Lee Hooker. C. Gospel Gospel music is a form of Christian music that emerged from the African American church in the 1920s and 30s. It was characterized by its call-and-response style of singing, powerful vocal harmonies, and overtly religious lyrics. Gospel music was a means of expressing faith, hope, and social justice, and its influence can be seen in the work of artists like Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Kirk Franklin. III. Impact of African American Music on Popular Genres A. Hip

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As stated earlier, blues music grew out of post-Reconstruction African American communities. It was the black proletariat from the Southern United States that was the economic force behind performers such as Ma Rainey (Springer 34). While discussing Ma Rainey’s latest record sales, Sturdyvant reveals that he is disappointed by the sales data. Although Ma’s records are popular in Memphis, Birmingham, and Atlanta, they did not sell well in places such as New York City (Wilson 19). As a result, Sturdyvant expresses to Irvin his desire to began a career in a more “respectable” industry (Wilson 19).

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Izabella Argueta Professor Copeland Essay 9 MUSH 101 11/17/14 Essay 9 Music in the 20th century was changed by African and African-American in many ways. Due to several jazz type artists as well as adding African type music into the mix. Several types of music that are influenced by African styles include ragtime, blues, and jazz. Without this influence, music would not be what it is today.

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One of the most known examples of African American musical expression was shown through their spirituals, which brought them together. They often used their past or their surroundings to influence their expressions of themselves. Also, music took the path of soul and blues as it became more popular and accessible for African Americans to play together. Likewise, it opened up to blues and soul; later, it was

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Influences from popular African American blues artist were noted to have had a huge impact on Elvis’ music career. Although many people today claim that Elvis had initially ‘stolen’ the African American sound of blues, Elvis has never denied their impact on his career. He has always acknowledged and respected the fact that African Americans had been making a similar sound of music prior to the beginning of his career. Despite the assumptions made about this ‘stealing’ of sound, the interviews Elvis appeared in substantiated the fact that he wasn’t intentionally stealing their sound, instead incorporating it in music his own way. The fact that white covers of African American songs often outsold the original kept America segregated and created competition between the two races when instead, music should have helped create peace and respect within both

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obsessively revered and imitated African-American blues and rock musicians. This type of musical inspiration isn’t inherently bad—it’s practically unavoidable (Zimmerman 2014).” Are African American’s appropriating African Culture? During, the British colonization of American they were met with a number of conflicts.

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The four most popular categories of Black music are Blues, Jazz, Gospel, and Rhythm and Blues. The blues has deep roots in American history, particularly African-American history. Blues lyrics often deal with personal adversity, the blues is about overcoming hard luck, saying what you feel, and musical style which is expressed in songs that verse injustice or express longing for a better life and lost loves, jobs and money. The blues originated on Southern plantations in the 19th Century. Jazz is recognized around the world for its rich cultural heritage rooted in the African-American experience.

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