Hip Hop Music Is Infused With Motown’s Sound
Hip Hop Music Is Infused With Motown’s Sound. There would not be hip-hop without R&B music. In fact, American music owes its revolution.
Motown Was The Template For Hip-Hop Culture
Hip Hop Is Infused With Motown’s Sound. There is no way hip-hop can deny its origin without Berry Gordy. While not many hip-hop artists mention Gordy, it’s his ingenuity. That is, as it relates to music. Hitsville USA propelled music into the stratosphere.
Multi-talented artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and others were trendsetters. Furthermore, Motown’s music is in our musical DNA.
Not only that but just as hip-hop influences social and cultural norms, it started with Motown. Listen to how Life Magazine describes Motown’s influence,
From the day in January 1959 when he opened shop in downtown Detroit, Gordy had dedicated his life to Motown, ignoring the odds and naysayers to shape a business that would change the contemporary culture. You know the names: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5. You know the songs: “Please Mr. Postman,” “Heat Wave,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “My Girl,” and “What’s Going On.” It was music that not only dominated the charts for more than a decade, it gave shape to the national conversation. While civil rights protesters in the 1960s and ’70s voiced Black demands for full equality, it was Motown’s music that brought African American voices and faces into homes across the nation, introducing baby boomers and their parents to Black culture.”
There is no denying Motown’s phenomenal impact on modern culture. Furthermore, society at large has been affected. We can say, Motown is the blueprint for music. Also, as reported by Revolt, Motown became the hall of fame.
Not to mention, it is the heartbeat of American pop culture. To its credit, Motown has produced over 180 No. 1 hits. And, Motown has been instrumental in creating the careers of many music artists.
Some of our most legendary R&B artists such as The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. More importantly, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye’s music purchased the consequence on young people in the 70s.
One of the most prolific songs of our time “What’s Going On” is still relevant today. When Gaye wrote the song, he was met with pushback from Gordy. However, he did not relent. Whenever I hear the song it reminds me of needed change.
Of course, Stevie Wonder has one of the greatest voices of all time. It was his song “Living in the City” that shed light on black people’s plight. We must not forget to mention, sampling.
A lot of rappers have sampled music from Motown. For instance, Run DMC sampled “The Temptation’s (“1972) classic song “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
Sean”Diddy” Combs and The Notorious B.I.G featuring Ma$e sampled Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out.”
The Notorious B.I.G. – Mo Money Mo Problems (Official Music Video) [4K]
This is a prime example of Motown infused with hip-hop. It was pure genius to add the legendary Diana Ross voice. More recently, Stevie Wonders’s “Love In Need Of Love Today” became rapper/mogul Jay-Z’s testimonial.
Jay sampled it on his song “Smile.” What. more can I say. These two musical genre’s have emerged into the today’s sound. Never before, has any other music influenced more than one generation.
At the present time, female rappers mimic Motown’s girl group “The Supreme’s” style. Conversely, it’s Berry Gordy’s business model that has been copied. Andre Harrell, Sean Combs, and Jay-Z use his business model.
Without a doubt, Motown has made a mark on hip-hop that can’t be erased. By the way, NBA YoungBoy and City Girls are Motown’s new generation of artists.
The Hip Hop News Uncensored. It’s the Leader in Hip Hop content on YouTube
