I think that country has adopted some of the style of rap over the last several years. More songs with spoken words and/or simpler melodies and fewer harmonic vocals. Not all of it obviously, but enough to broaden the base. Credit to some very creative artists who managed to blend what were two very distinct styles.
Absolutely! Some of that adoption is what helped Country cross over - I think now the question is whether Rappers will (or should) incorporate elements of Country to make their own crossover move and regain some popularity.
I wonder if it would help them regain popularity. It worked for country because the number of people who liked it and started listening to country was greater than the number who stopped listening because of it. There's no guarantee it would happen that way with rap.
I'm curious to see where all this blending of styles leads. Are we headed to a future where all music sounds the same with elements from all styles mixed, or to even greater diversity of styles? I mean it's all obviously downhill from music's pinnacle in the 1980's*, but it'll still be interesting to see what's next.
Such a good point about the plus/minus of fans. I intentionally wrote the piece focusing on what the #1 Rap songs are rather than the
most popular songs that happen to be rap.
I do think that there are limits to what songs sound “pop” - and genre blending is a good possibility for something that fits the constraints of a catchy song and is still fresh.
Still, like you said, you could very well alienate more fans than you gain - I do still think that Luther is a good example of bringing acoustic (thought not country) sounds into Rap with big chart success. Janice STFU isn’t acoustic, but is low key in a way that seems to be working compared to Nokia or other older Drake hits
Cool use of the Spotify danceability score and such!
Your thoughts at the end, outlining a potential path forward for rap, are insightful. Recent years we have seen some more acoustic live performances in hip-hop get shining feedback, such as nobigdyl.'s annual "unplugged" concert where he plays new arrangements of his songs with an all-live backup band. It's sold out several years in a row, and he even released a successful live album from it. Your data here certainly helps illuminate why those performances, and similar, would resonate so well with audiences.
I think that country has adopted some of the style of rap over the last several years. More songs with spoken words and/or simpler melodies and fewer harmonic vocals. Not all of it obviously, but enough to broaden the base. Credit to some very creative artists who managed to blend what were two very distinct styles.
Absolutely! Some of that adoption is what helped Country cross over - I think now the question is whether Rappers will (or should) incorporate elements of Country to make their own crossover move and regain some popularity.
I wonder if it would help them regain popularity. It worked for country because the number of people who liked it and started listening to country was greater than the number who stopped listening because of it. There's no guarantee it would happen that way with rap.
I'm curious to see where all this blending of styles leads. Are we headed to a future where all music sounds the same with elements from all styles mixed, or to even greater diversity of styles? I mean it's all obviously downhill from music's pinnacle in the 1980's*, but it'll still be interesting to see what's next.
*Insert old man rant here. Lawn. Off.
Such a good point about the plus/minus of fans. I intentionally wrote the piece focusing on what the #1 Rap songs are rather than the
most popular songs that happen to be rap.
I do think that there are limits to what songs sound “pop” - and genre blending is a good possibility for something that fits the constraints of a catchy song and is still fresh.
Still, like you said, you could very well alienate more fans than you gain - I do still think that Luther is a good example of bringing acoustic (thought not country) sounds into Rap with big chart success. Janice STFU isn’t acoustic, but is low key in a way that seems to be working compared to Nokia or other older Drake hits
Cool use of the Spotify danceability score and such!
Your thoughts at the end, outlining a potential path forward for rap, are insightful. Recent years we have seen some more acoustic live performances in hip-hop get shining feedback, such as nobigdyl.'s annual "unplugged" concert where he plays new arrangements of his songs with an all-live backup band. It's sold out several years in a row, and he even released a successful live album from it. Your data here certainly helps illuminate why those performances, and similar, would resonate so well with audiences.
Thanks so much for the kind words, Darius! I'll definitely have to check out some video of those unplugged shows
I'm not a big country fan, but if real musical instruments are making a comeback, I'm all for it!
This was fascinating!
thanks for reading!!
I for one welcome the polkassaince!
you didn’t hear that Beyoncé Act III is polka?
finally the rumors get confirmed!!!