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Why Has Hip-Hop Music Become So Popular?

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Hip-hop music has become one of the biggest genres in the world today, and it looks like it is going to remain number one for a long time. But you may be wondering, how did it become so popular in the first place?

To understand the popularity of hip-hop, you need to explore its roots. The music was born out of anti-establishment ideals and is commonly referred to as an artistic creation of the African American community because of their historical exclusion from the mainstream culture in the United States.

While hip-hop is enjoyed by people from all backgrounds, it has remained a unique part of Black culture. This is because many artists write their lyrics based on the hardship faced by their communities and seem to have as much political value as artistic value.

Hip-hop music is more relevant today as the divide between rich and poor grows wider. As more injustices are witnessed by everyday people, hip-hop music becomes more relatable and therefore much more accessible.

There is no doubt that hip-hop music is only going to grow more in popularity before it suffers any kind of decline. That is just one musing on why hip-hop is so popular.

 

3 Best Hard Dance Events In Sydney

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If you are a hard dance lover in Sydney, then you no doubt want to know what the hottest spots are to go raving. It’s a real joy to attend the multitude of events around Sydney and the only hard part is trying to find the time and money to attend them all.

Let’s take a look at the best hard dance events in Sydney.

1.   Harder Styles United

Harder Styles United (HSU) is currently the #1 in the Australian hard dance scene and is responsible for major festivals like Midnight Mafia, Knockout Circus, and HTID (Hardcore Til I Die). HSU events are noteworthy for mostly being indoor festivals. Being indoors enables them to put on incredible laser shows at earlier times in the day, rather than going overnight like many other raves do.

2.   Oneseventy

While much smaller in scope than the previous entry, Oneseventy is where the heart and soul of the Sydney rave scene can be seen on display. An event with UK hardcore as its focus, it is known for having a bubbly atmosphere and is run by DJ JTS and DJ Technikore.

3.   Masif Saturdays

Masif Saturdays has been the #1 weekly hard dance nightclub in Australia for many years and is one of the most unique nightclubs in Sydney.

 

3 Modern Film Scores That Revitalised And Innovated Film Music

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Every now and then a film comes along that changes the way we perceive movies. It could be the cinematography; it could be the acting, or it could be the music. Here are 3 modern film scores that changed the art of scoring a film.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

While Charlie Kaufman’s eclectic screenplay and rhetorical style was the drawcard for “Eternal Sunshine”, Jon Brion’s film score is ground-breaking. By balancing the interplay of story and music, Brion’s powerful soundtrack blends tape loops, strings, treated piano and synthetic textures to bring a story of loss and reconciliation.

There Will Be Blood (2007)

When people talk about “There Will Be Blood”, a lot of it revolves around Daniel Day-Lewis’ lead performance. And rightly so because he is incredible in the film. However, Johnny Greenwood’s acclaimed film score does everything right by the film. The score often dictates the mood of each scene, as opposed to reinforcing it. Every discordant sound and rhythm builds tension and animosity. It’s brilliant.

The Revenant (2015)

Composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto, the score of “The Revenant” is enormous. While Sakamoto was well-known for his work with electronic music, director Alejandro Inarritu employed Sakamoto to create the musical ambiance for this sweeping historical epic. And he delivered.

 

Awesome Jazz Songs To Listen To

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Over the years there have been quite a few different jazz songs released into the world, by a number of different artists. Jazz is an amazing genre of music, and no matter whether you are an avid listener of jazz or not, you can probably still appreciate the beauty of the music.

There are a number of artists and their songs that have been able to stand the test of time. So, if you are a newcomer to listening to jazz, or you are a seasoned jazz listener, the songs in this article a worth a listen too. There are so many different jazz songs to choose from, and it was certainly difficult to narrow them down.

But, make sure you have a read on below for more information about awesome jazz songs that are worth having a listen to:

 

Body & Soul by Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Part of Tony Bennett’s Duets II album to celebrate his 85th birthday, Body & Soul is one of the great jazz songs that is worth listening to. Pretty much everything that Amy Winehouse touched turned to gold, and this tune was certainly no exception. Body & Soul was also covered by other artists like Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan.

 

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday

This song received praise far and wide; it was even inducted to Grammy Hall of Fame back in 1978. Strange Fruit covers issues that are still so prevalent today, like racism. Billie Holiday’s voice makes this song truly unforgettable and has even been covered by other artists like Robert Wyatt and Annie Lennox.

 

Minnie The Moocher by Cab Calloway

You simply cannot go wrong with Minnie The Moocher, it was released back in the early 1930s and sold over one million copies. You might have heard this tune from the 1980 film, The Blues Brothers, where Cab Calloway performs it. This song is fun and will certainly get you up on your feet.

 

So What by Miles Davis

Over the years Miles Davis has released a lot of work, while a lot of it is amazing, many believe his greatest to be his album Kind of Blue and it includes the single So What. All the different components of this song work together so beautifully and it is worth having another listen to if you haven’t listened to this track in a while.

 

My Queen is Harriet Tubman by Sons of Kemet

One of the fresh new jazz bands that are making waves in this genre. The band was even nominated in 2018 for a Mercury Prize. If you are looking for contemporary jazz, then you can’t go past Sons of Kemet or their track My Queen is Harriet Tubman. The band is able to incorporate a number of different genres into their music, which is one of the reasons they are so exciting.

 

Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie

Looking for a track that sets the standard of what jazz is? Then look no further than Dizzy Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia. This track became one of Dizzy Gillespie’s most popular and recognisable hits. There were even a number of different artists that created their own version of the song, but like a lot of things in life, nothing can beat the original.

 

Miles Runs the Voodoo Down by Miles Davis

Another Miles Davis song on this list, and for good reason too, it was a combination of a number of different genres and it all seemed to work so well. The album, Bitches Brew, become one of the most loved pieces of work by the great Miles Davis.

 

Top 3 David Guetta Songs And Remixes

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Along with Daft Punk and Tiesto, David Guetta is one of the founding artists in the EDM scene. While EDM artists like The Chainsmokers now monopolise the contemporary music scene, there was once a time when house music had to compete with the early 2000s and late 1990s rock – think Nickelback, Matchbox Twenty and blink-182. David Guetta’s tracks helped put the EDM scene on the map, and here are some of his best.

Titanium (2011)

Featuring vocals from Australian singer, Sia, “Titanium” was one of the biggest hits of 2011. The music video became insanely popular, churning out billions of views.

Play Hard (2011)

Guetta’s “Play Hard” is incredibly catchy, making it perfect for any Friday or Saturday night house party. Featuring Ne-Yo and Akon, “Play Hard” is an essential EDM track for your next house party mix.

Memories (2009)

“Memories” has arguably one of the best choruses in any EDM song. It was released as the fourth single of Guetta’s fourth studio album, “One Love”. It turned out to be a massive hit, becoming a top 5 hit in Austria, Czech Republic, Australia, Finland, New Zealand and Ireland. If you want a throwback to the late 200s EDM scene, this is the one.

 

Planning A Movie Marathon? Check Out These Country Music-Themed Movies For Your Weekend

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There have been some excellent, memorable movies about the world of country music and its stars. If you’re keen for a chilled, relaxing weekend filled with fantastic country music songs, then check out some of these popular country-style films.

Crazy Heart (2009)

Jeff Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Otis Blake, a down-and-out country singer trying to turn his life around. Primarily inspired by the life of Hank Thompson, the film is sad, yet ultimately uplifting and features some great, classic country songs.

Walk the Line (2005)

Starring Joachim Phoenix as the famed Johnny Cash, “Walk the Line” charts the ups and downs of Cash’s rise to stardom. It draws on tragedies throughout his life, including his turbulent relationship with fellow performer, June Carter. Overall, the film successfully explores the troubled soul behind one of country music’s most iconic performers with grace and class.

Nashville (1975)

Directed by Robert Altman, “Nashville” is a music ensemble satire, following the interconnected stories of various people involved in the country and gospel music scene. It received five Oscar nominations and 11 Golden Globe nominations (which remains a record for one film).

 

The 5 Main Periods Of Classical Music

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Want to learn more about classical music but don’t have time to read lengthy articles or encyclopedias?  If the answer is yes, you’re in luck! Read the following about the 5 distinct historical periods of classical music.

Gothic

This period took place between around 1100 and 1450 or the 9th century to the 14th century AD. The music was made up of primarily liturgical notes, the most famous example being Gregorian Chants that were named after the Pope, Gregory 1. The precursor to modern musical notation was also developed during this time.

Renaissance

Generally believed to exist in the 100 years between the 1400’s and 1500s, the renaissance period of classical music considered of madrigals and motets. Notable work was composed by artists like Giovanni Palestrina and Andrea Gabrielli.

Baroque

The period of classical music took place in the 1500s, 1600s and the 1700s. This was where the earliest operas were formulated. The music (and furniture) was extremely ornate in this part of history. The most notable composers of this period are Bach and Handel.

Classical

Between the 1700s and 1800s, this is the main period of classical music as we know it today. This is where the famous symphonies and concertos of composers like Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn were born.

Romantic

Extending from the 1800s to the early stages of the 1900s, this period was characterised by operas, ballets and symphonies. Notable composers are Tchaikovsky, Wagner and Brahms.

 

Kilo House’s New Track Marsha Doubles as Tribute To his Mother

Somewhat of a departure from the darker-themed tracks he’s best known for, trap artist Kilo House has produced a new track titled ‘Marsha’. The track samples the iconic “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” rant from the Brady Bunch, where Jan Brady (portrayed by Eve Plumb) whines about her older sister Marcia getting all the attention in the family.

Marsha is also the name of Kilo’s real-life mother, so it was undoubtedly fun for him make this track not only as a reference to an iconic TV show but also a tribute to a massively important figure in his life. The art for the track actually incorporates an image of his mother as a child playfully hiding behind a bush.

While he isn’t sampling anything dark and gritty with this track, the production is still super heavy. Kilo constructed the track so that the “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” is heard just before the drop.

The strings present in the intro and mid-intro sound great, and they have that grand orchestral feel that Kilo is adept at incorporating into his tracks. The atmosphere really sucks you in and keeps you listening right till the end.

The main drop features high pitch plucks that give the track a floaty feel while remaining grounded in the heavy bass Kilo is a master of. As an artist, Kilo has again impressed with his ability to experiment and keep every track unique without sacrificing the core appeal of his music.

The delayed second drop really adds some weight to the end of the track. As per usual with Kilo House, the percussion is incredibly clean and has a real punch that will give you goosebumps.

Ultimately, Marsha is very worthy addition to Kilo Houses’ catalogue of bass music gems, and there is no doubt that fans will eat it up.

 

3 Traits Needed To Be Successful In Hip-Hop

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If you want to be a rapper in the hip-hop scene, then there are some traits you will want to be sure that you have to succeed. Not just anyone can find success in the world of hip-hop, and you need to be sure you have what it takes.

Take a look at the following 3 traits you need to make it big in hip-hop.

1.   A relatable story to tell

The best hip-hop artists, like Tupac Shakur and Drake, all have a unique story to tell about personal hardship. This is what makes hip-hop relatable to and popular with everyday people.

2.   Lyrical/rhyming ability

To stand out as a hip-hop artist, you don’t just need a good voice – you need to talent to use it. Rhythm and flow are the names of the gap in the rap/hip-hop scene, so make sure you spend a lot of time mastering that aspect of it.

3.   Perseverance

Every single hip-hop artist alive with any success will tell you that they have faced a lot of negative feedback. The hip-hop scene can be very toxic with groups of fans going to war with one another about the quality of artists.

 

Why Is Hip Hop The Most Popular Genre In The World?

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With hip hop overtaking rock and pop as the most popular genre in the world, it is incredible to see how far it has come, from the days when rap was shunned as an underground political movement.

But how did it become so popular? Hip hop was always rising with popularity in the past 10 years, as it became more and more accepted.

But around 2016, once artists like Drake started to take off more, pop music started to fuse with rap music. Songs like ‘Hotline Bling’ topped charts, and the fusion between rap and pop was born.

More and more songs were released following this formula, and continued to top charts. The songs started to become club bangers, and people loved it. This fusion of the two genres paved the way for different rapping styles such as mumble rap, further increasing hip hop’s popularity.

Before we knew it, it was the most popular genre in the world.