How Jazz Music is Embedded in Hip-Hop Hip-hop and jazz, while distinct in their characteristics and historic contexts, have shared a deep relationship for generations and continue to shape contemporary music. Besides the two originating in different eras and environments, they both have roots embedded in African American culture and are forms of artistic expression and cultural resistance. This essay will explore the ways in which jazz has influenced and become embedded within hip-hop, impacting musical vocabulary, lyric content, and significance in culture. ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION Born out of the melting pot of New Orleans, in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries, Jazz, is a curation of African rhythms, blues, ragtime and European harmonies. Its improvisation, syncopated rhythms and emphasis on personal expression became prominent in the genre. Jazz has served as a cultural expression for African Americans, and has provided a platform for social commentary and artistic innovation. During the 20th century, hip-hop emerged from the streets of New York, more specifically the Bronx during the 1970s. This initially all started with MCing, graffiti art and breakdancing. Hip-hop quickly evolved into a global cultural phenomenon that embodies the struggles and aspirations of urban youth. Despite temporal and geographical disparities, jazz and hip hop share roots in African American culture and serve as modes of …show more content…
Hip-hop producers often sample jazz records, taking out instrumental hooks, melodies and drum brakes to create new compositions. Sampling became integral to hip-hop production, and allows artists to pay homage to jazz legends while still creating something new and fresh for the new generation. Artists like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Gang Starr developed sampling into what it now is. They would seamlessly blend jazz samples with their own