By Berk OztunaLast Updated:May 12, 2022
Rap stands as an acronym for Rhythm And Poetry. The word ‘rap’ actually means striking a hard surface with a series of rapid audible blows to get attention. While Rhythm And Poetry is a good description, the word comes from “rapping,” of quick, loud blows.
The first time the verb “rapping” was used for talking or singing was in the early ’70s, when talking on a radio channel in a stylized manner was called “MCing” or “rapping.” The style got pretty famous among DJs, and they started mixing the beats from synths and samplers, and they eventually started rapping words in rhymes in unique ways.
However, there is an undeniable logic behind the Rhythm And Poetry description. As rapping is delivering a poetic and rhyming flow of words and sentences with a hammer-like rhythmic style, the description is ideal for it.
Contents
- The History Of The Word “Rap”
- Conclusion
The History Of The Word “Rap”
MCs and rappers use plenty of wordplays based on innuendo, alliteration, false rhyme, colloquialism, and every possible rhyming word to reflect their feelings and ideas. Also, many rappers call themselves poets and street preachers.
Like street preachers setting up their platforms, podiums, and little stages on the street to deliver their religious messages or civic pronouncements, rappers deliver their ideas and feelings in a similar style with beats and melodies in the background. This is a style from Caribbean islands where public political and religious speaking with sound systems is very common.
This rhythmic speaking culture of street preachers or so-called rappers in the 1960s influenced the character of hip-hop and made rapping a significant element in the genre. Rap records in the 1980s originated and were born thanks to this movement.
Given the staccato elocution of street preachers (rappers) in the 1960s, that rhythmic delivery became the typical character of rap records recorded in the 1980s and later.
Over the decades, rap became a vital style in hip-hop, and many artists performed the art form thanks to its unique non-sung lyric style combined with different music genres such as R&B, soul, jazz, and many more.
As many rappers consider themselves poets, it is often thought that the word RAP stands for Rhythm And Poetry or Rhythmic American Poetry. But that is just a description fans made with the letters in the word and has nothing to do with the actual meaning and origin of the word.
Conclusion
The word rap means to strike a hard surface with a series of rapid audible blows to get attention which was used for street preachers and public speakers in the 60s, a culture derived from Caribbean Islands. Later, as it fits the style perfectly, RAP started to be associated with the description “Rhythm And Poetry.” Even though it looks like a perfect acronym, it is not the root of the word.
FAQs
Rap is sometimes said to be an acronym for 'Rhythm And Poetry', though this is not the origin of the word and so may be a backronym.
Does rap stand for rhythm and poetry? ›
No, rap doesn't mean rhythm and poetry.
What is the full meaning of rap? ›
The word rap also means, "reputation,” like if you get a bad rap at school for sleeping in class. It's also "to talk at great length." And there's the musical rap, the “genre that includes talking rhythmically over a beat.” This meaning comes from African American slang for, basically, "talking.”
What does the term rap music refer to? ›
or rap music : a type of music of African American origin in which rhythmic and usually rhyming speech is chanted to a musical accompaniment. enjoys listening to rap. often used before another noun. rap music. a rap album/artist/song.
Is rap technically poetry? ›
Are they one and the same? Some may argue they are, while other distinctive elements like spoken or written word versus the addition of instruments may define the two separately. However, there's no denying rap and poetry belong in the same social circles, so to speak, and share a rich history as well.
Who is the top 1 rapper? ›
Top 50 Greatest Rappers of all Time
| Rank | Rapper (Stage Name) | Country |
|---|
| 1 | Eminem | USA |
| 2 | Jay-Z | USA |
| 3 | Kendrick Lamar | USA |
| 4 | Nas | USA |
46 more rowsMar 23, 2024
Formed in 1979, the Beastie Boys were one of the first white rap groups to gain recognition and critical acclaim. With their mix of punk rock and hip-hop, the Beastie Boys helped to bridge the gap between two seemingly disparate genres, paving the way for white rappers in the years to come.
What does rap signify? ›
Rap is not an acronym. The letters don't stand for anything. It can refer both to a genre of music (AKA hip-hop) or to a style of rapid verbal delivery, which can be found in multiple musical genres. The verb rap is polysemous, and can also mean to hit something quickly.
What does rap stand for in history? ›
Rap does not actually stand for "Rhythm And Poetry." The term "rap" has its own unique etymology and history. The word "rap" originated from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 1960s and 1970s and was used as slang to refer to a conversation or an exchange of words.
Who invented rap? ›
The story goes that on August 11, 1973 DJ Kool Herc, a building resident, was entertaining at his sister's back-to-school party, and tried something new on the turntable: he extended an instrumental beat (breaking or scratching) to let people dance longer (break dancing) and began MC'ing (rapping) during the extended ...
It was called "rap", expanding the word's earlier meaning in the African-American community—"to discuss or debate informally." The early rapping of hip-hop developed out of DJ and master of ceremonies' announcements made over the microphone at parties, and later into more complex raps.
Who is the king of rap? ›
| Artist | Title | Country |
|---|
| Eminem | King of Rap | United States |
| Enya | Queen of New Age | Ireland |
| Gloria Estefan | Queen of Latin Pop | Cuba/United States |
| Elvy Sukaesih | Queen of Dangdut | Indonesia |
4 more rowsHip-hop, or hip-hop music, also known as rap and formerly as disco rap, is a genre of popular music that originated in the early 1970s from African Americans and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the Bronx, a borough of New York City.
Is rap a genre or style? ›
The distinction is often made that hip-hop is a broader culture and phenomenon, and rap is just one (important) part of it. But first let's talk about the music. In the context of music and genre, the word hip-hop is often used as another way of referring to the musical genre also known as rap.
Is Kanye West a poet? ›
West demonstrated an affinity for the arts at an early age; he began writing poetry when he was five years old. West started rapping in the third grade and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade, eventually selling them to other artists.
Are rappers modern day poets? ›
Rappers have taken over the poetic landscape and are making the vast majority of the poetry that is not only being engaged with but also the vast majority of the interesting poetry. This is not to say that no contemporary poets are making skillful poetry, Warsan Shire and Richard Blanco but two examples.
What does rap mean in writing? ›
Read, Ask, Put in. my own words. Read, Ask, Put in my own words (R.A.P.) is a flexible three-step strategy that students use to improve reading comprehension through questioning and paraphrasing. Students read a passage or text and then ask questions to help summarize what they have read in their own words.
What does rap stand for in school? ›
Residential Academic Programs (RAPs) like the Stories and Societies RAP are one way first-year students transition to university life. Students take one course per semester in their residence hall with faculty who have offices in the hall. Your classmates are your neighbors.
Is rap a form of literature? ›
Rap, which has been around now for nearly half a century, has become the most popular form of American contemporary poetry today. Its powerful, lyrically complex rhymes and rhythms are heard and enjoyed globally.
Does rap always rhyme? ›
No, rap does not ALWAYS have to rhyme, but normally it does. Rapping is synonymous with rhyming because it's an integral part of the art form. More raps will rhyme, than not rhyme. But not every single line you write absolutely has to rhyme.
