# Hip-Hop — Genre

> Rhythmic vocal delivery (rap) over beats. African-American cultural origin, now global.

## Defining elements

- Rap as vocal delivery (rhythmic speech)
- Beat-driven (drums + bass + samples/synths)
- 70-110 BPM typical (or doubled feel)
- 4/4 time
- Sampling tradition
- Authentic cultural roots

## Sub-types

- **Boom bap** — classic 90s (J Dilla, Nas)
- **Trap** — modern southern (Future, Migos)
- **Conscious / political** — message-driven (Kendrick, J. Cole)
- **Cloud rap** — atmospheric (Lil B, A$AP Rocky)
- **Drill** — UK/Brooklyn aggressive
- **Old school** — pioneers (Run-DMC, Public Enemy)
- **Gangsta rap** — street narrative (NWA, Tupac)

## Typical instrumentation

Drum machine / sample beat + bass (808 or sample) + samples / synths + vocal

## Production characteristics

- Beat is foundation
- Sub-bass crucial
- Vocal forward in mix
- Ad-libs (background vocal accents)
- Sample-based or fully synth

## Lyrics direction

- Street narrative
- Social commentary
- Personal struggle / triumph
- Wordplay essential
- Internal rhymes
- Cultural specificity
- Flow varies (laid back, double time, etc.)

## For Suno

```
[Style: modern hip-hop, 95 BPM, A minor, boom bap drums + 808 sub bass + 
piano sample loop + male rap vocal mid-flow with occasional ad-libs, 
authentic feel]
```

## Examples

- Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, Kanye West, Tyler the Creator
- Azerbaijani: HOST group (Orxan Zeynallı, PRoMete, Qaraqan), Miri Yusif

## Avoid

- Generic / formulaic
- Stereotyping
- No flow variation
- Sing-rap without skill
