Popular Urban
Urban music is a genre of popular music that originated in African American communities in the United States. In the mid-20th century. The term “urban” refers to the music’s roots in city areas. Where African Americans and other minority groups were concentrated and where the music was created and nurtured.
Urban music encompasses a variety of styles, including R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and pop. The music is characterized by its use of electronic beats, synthesized instruments, and innovative production techniques. As well as its incorporation of elements of jazz, blues, and gospel music.
One of the defining features of this genre of music is its emphasis on rhythm and groove. With many songs featuring syncopated beats, complex rhythms, and intricate melodies. The lyrics of urban music often address social and political issues. Including race, poverty, and inequality, as well as themes of love, romance, and personal struggle.
ORIGINS OF the MUSIC
The origins of urban music started back to the African American music traditions of the early 20th century. Including blues, jazz, and gospel music. These genres provided the foundation for the development of R&B. Which emerged in the 1940s and 1950s as a style of music that combined elements of blues, jazz, and gospel with a strong focus on rhythm and melody.
In the 1970s, hip-hop emerged as a new form of urban music. With DJs and MCs using turntables and microphones to create a new style of music that incorporated spoken word poetry, electronic beats, and looping techniques. Hip-hop quickly became a cultural phenomenon, with a global following and a significant influence on fashion, art, and popular culture.
In the 1980s and 1990s, urban music continued to evolve and diversify, with the emergence of new styles such as New Jack Swing, neo-soul, and gangsta rap. These genres reflected the changing social and cultural landscape of America, with artists addressing issues such as crime, poverty, and social inequality in their music.
Today, urban music remains a dominant force in popular culture, with artists from all over the world creating innovative and exciting music that reflects the diversity and complexity of urban life. The genre has also influenced a wide range of other music genres, including pop, rock, and electronic music, and continues to evolve and push boundaries, creating new sounds and styles that reflect the ever-changing landscape of urban music.
