Key Difference – Rap vs Hip Hop
Rap and hip hop are often considered as overlapping terms since they both belong to the urban music genre. However, rap refers to a type of music where words are recited rapidly and rhythmically with an instrumental backing, while hip hop is a music genre, an artistic movement, and a subculture. As the American rapper KRS-One has said, “Rap is something you do, but hip hop is something you live.”
Key Takeaways
- Rap is a type of music where words are recited rapidly and rhythmically with an instrumental backing
- Hip hop is a music genre, an artistic movement, and a subculture
- Rap is one of the four main elements of hip hop, but not all hip hop music includes rapping
What is Rap?
Rap has its origins in African American culture, with the West African griot tradition being considered as the earliest precursor to modern rap. Anthony “DJ Hollywood” Holloway from Harlem is credited with originating the style that later became known as rap. Rap can be divided into three components: content (what is said), flow (rhythm and rhyme), and delivery (tone and cadence). Some famous rappers in the modern music industry include Eminem, Drake, Lil Wayne, Rakim, Kayne West, Jay-Z, and Wiz Khalifa. Rap is often associated with and is a part of hip hop music, but its origins predate the hip hop culture.
What is Hip Hop?
Hip hop refers to a music genre, an art movement, and a subculture developed by urban African Americans in the United States. The hip hop subculture consists of four main stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing. Other elements include historical knowledge of the movement, beatboxing, street entrepreneurship, hip hop language, a percussive vocal style, hip hop fashion, and style. Although rap is often used synonymously with hip hop, rapping is not an essential component of hip hop music.
What are the Similarities Between Rap and Hip Hop?
- Both rap and hip hop are subsets of urban music
- Urban African Americans developed both in the United States
- Both incorporate DJing, turntablism, scratching, beatboxing
What is the Difference Between Rap and Hip Hop?
| Rap | Hip Hop |
|---|---|
| Rap is a type of music that includes words recited rapidly and rhythmically, typically with an instrumental backing | Hip Hop is a musical genre, an artistic movement, and a subculture |
| Rap is one of the four main elements of hip hop | Hip Hop has main stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, break dancing, and graffiti writing |
| Not all rap is hip hop | Not all hip hop music includes rapping; some may only have beat mixing, sampling, and scratching |
Summary – Rap vs Hip Hop
Hip hop and rap belong to the subsets of urban music. Although both these terms are used interchangeably, rap often refers to a type of music whereas hip hop is a whole subculture. Rap is one of the four main elements of hip hop. This is the difference between rap and hip hop.
