Rap Vs. Hip Hop
Two of the more popular genres in the current pop radio format are hip-hop and rap. The two even have their own charts when it comes to radio play, as determined by Billboard. While there are several similarities between the two, there are distinct differences as well, both from a musical and lifestyle perspective.
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Definitions
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Hip-hop is portrayed more of a lifestyle and cultural movement, whereas rap is portrayed more as a musical act that falls, in part, within the hip-hop movement. Hip-hop is defined as more of an urban culture, one that is closely linked with rap music, as well as with the style (both fashion and cultural) of African-Americans in the inner-city. Rap, meanwhile, is defined more so as a slang term meaning to talk over the beat of rap music.
Billboard Charts
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Billboard, the definitive source for charting album sales and radio play, actually features separate radio/album charts for hip-hop and rap. Hip-hop, however, is packaged with R&B and features more pop-friendly artists like Whitney Houston, Maxwell and the Black-Eyed Peas. Rap, meanwhile, features artists like Jay-Z and Eminem. There is some crossover, however, as artists like Pitbull and Kanye West have featured songs that charted on the Hip-Hop/R&B and Rap charts.
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Rap as Part of Hip-Hop
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According to noted hip-hop historian Davey D, some view rap as a more disposable form of hip-hop, though he disagrees. "That's a false definition," he told Rap News. "One is part of a whole. Rap is part of a larger entity we call hip-hop, which is a culture."
Hip-Hop Styles
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Hip-hop and rap, in themselves, feature a number of genres. Among the many mini-genres within hip-hop and rap are Alternative (blends hard-core, gangsta and party rap), crunk (energy-driven hip-hop designed for the dance floor) and East Coast (featuring aggressive beats and jazz-infused grooves).
Hip-Hop as a Lifestyle
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While rap is defined more musically, hip-hop is more so viewed as a lifestyle. This lifestyle includes rap, break dancing, deejaying, and graffiti art. According to rap musician KRS-One, "Rap is something you do, but hip-hop is something you live."
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