Jazz's Influence On Hip-Hop This National Jazz Month

Jazz's Influence On Hip-Hop This National Jazz Month

It's April...Let's get jazzy!

Kaitlyn Stivers
Kaitlyn Stivers Apr 9, 2019
151
views

Although commonly overlooked, jazz is a genre of music that played a vital role in shaping American culture. Jazz flourished in the 1920s and is known for its hectic tempo and beats that were reflective of the period of time. Although it seems that jazz is music of the past, it is a lot closer to us than we might expect.

Many popular genres of music today such as rock, reggae, pop, and rap have roots in jazz. Due to jazz's ability to blend together many different instruments and sounds there is a lot of room for other genres to borrow ideas and sounds. One of jazz's largest influences on the music industry has surprisingly been in the hip hop and rap genres due to frequent improvisation and emphasis on free styling abilities. In recent years, hip hop has borrowed more ideas from jazz. For example, Kendrick Lamar is one artist in particular that has been influenced by jazz and roots many of his songs in jazz characteristics.

So, next time you listen to a hip hop or rap song listen with a new appreciation for the origins of jazz in which the song came from. Happy April! Let's get jazzy!

Kaitlyn Stivers
Kaitlyn Stivers Apr 9, 2019
At Villanova University

Popular Right Now

19 Reasons Why The 'Part Tomboy Part Girly-Girl' Is The Best Type Of Girl

With us, you get the best of both worlds, the best of BOTH girls.
Catherine Anne Guarino
Catherine Anne Guarino Jun 30, 2015
22396
views

1. She has a guy's sense of humor so you will constantly be laughing together.

2. She knows how to handle your sarcasm, and she'll throw it right back in your face.

3. Your friends will love her because she is basically one of the guys (except for the facts that she smells good and shaves her legs).

4. She can kick your ass in dizzy bat, pool or maybe, on a good day, beat you in shot-gunning.

5. Little things don't bother her- she is rational and level-headed.

She knows how to put things into perspective and knows what is worth getting mad over and what just isn't.

6. BUT she also has a sensitive side... she knows the ways to your heart whether it is an amazing home cooked meal or a good back scratch.

She is always thinking of ways to make your day because she is thoughtful.

7. She will call you out on your BS, because let's be honest... someone has to.

8. She'll eat pizza and drink beer with you, and maybe if you are lucky she'll even smoke a cigar.

9. She cleans up nice.

Sometimes her hair is in a messy ponytail and a hat, but other times she looks like she just stepped off the red carpet.

10. She doesn't mind getting dirty.

She can spend a day on the boat, fishing and wakeboarding, hunting, shooting guns, or eating unlimited chicken wings with you.

11. She is go-with-the-flow and always up for anything and everything.

Festival? Amusement park? Concert? Drive-in movie? A day at the beach? Hell yeah, sounds awesome.

12. She likes to work out, but she isn't a health freak… sometimes you just gotta have a McChicken.

No regrets, you know what I'm sayin'?

13. She has an open mind about people, places, and trying new things.

You will never be bored with her.

14. She can get along with pretty much anybody.

15. She doesn't care what people think.

She'll be the first one on the dance floor at the wedding, but the same person who helps an older man carry his bags to the car at the mall.

16. Your sisters will adore her, but so will your brothers.

17. She isn't afraid to voice her opinion and stand up for what she believes in.

18. Not only does she not mind doing “guy things," but get this... she actually enjoys them and will do them with you.

She'll watch late night ESPN with you, play basketball in the pool, be player 2 in "Tony Hawk Underground," go fishing, dirt biking, you name it, she is down.

19. Safe to say, we're pretty word.

So word, in fact, we might even be going extinct... So, if we just so happen to grace you with our majestical presence, you better make damn sure you don't let us go.

Cover Image Credit: Catherine Anne Guarino
Catherine Anne Guarino
Catherine Anne Guarino Jun 30, 2015
At University of South Carolina

Related Content

Connect with a generation
of new voices.

We are students, thinkers, influencers, and communities sharing our ideas with the world. Join our platform to create and discover content that actually matters to you.

Learn more Start Creating

'The Farewell' Brings An Asian-American Narrative To Hollywood

I've never imagined that a story like this would make its way to Hollywood, and it's definitely a welcome change.

soniatam
soniatam May 20, 2019
54
views

The trailer for Lulu Wang's "The Farewell" was recently released. The film, based on Wang's own experience, stars Awkwafina as Billi, a Chinese-American woman who travels to China after learning her grandmother has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. "The Farewell" initially debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival in January, and currently holds a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

"The Farewell" is an exciting film for members of the Asian-American community, as it encompasses many of our own experiences in having family overseas. Having this Asian-American narrative portrayed in Hollywood is especially groundbreaking and important to the community. "Crazy Rich Asians" has received much well-deserved acclaim for its leap in Asian representation, but the film did not necessarily depict a completely relatable experience and was only one story out of many in the Asian-American community. There were aspects of the characters' cultures that allowed the Asian-American audience to connect with much of the film, but the upper-class narrative wasn't quite as accessible to everyone.

While "Crazy Rich Asians" portrays Asians in a way that is very much uncommon in Hollywood and American media in general and had a hand in helping to break stereotypes, "The Farewell" introduces a nearly universal first-generation American or immigrant narrative to Hollywood. In doing so, the film allows many members of the Asian-American community to truly see their own experiences and their own stories on the screen.

For me, the trailer alone was enough to make me tear up, and I've seen many other Asian Americans share a similar experience in seeing the trailer. The film reminds us of our own families, whether it's our grandparents or any other family living overseas. I've never imagined that a story like this would make its way to Hollywood, and it's definitely a welcome change.

"The Farewell," which is scheduled for release on July 12, 2019, depicts a family dynamic in the Asian-American experience that hits home for many, including myself. The initial critical response, especially towards Awkwafina's performance, is certainly promising and will hopefully motivate more Asian-American and other minority filmmakers to bring their own stories to Hollywood.

soniatam
soniatam May 20, 2019
At Rutgers University

Related Content

Facebook Comments