Rap vs. Hip Hop — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on January 24, 2024
Rap is a vocal style involving rhyming and rhythmic speech, while Hip Hop is a broader cultural movement encompassing rap music, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti art.
Difference Between Rap and Hip Hop
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Rap is a music genre focused on rhythmic and rhyming speech, often involving complex wordplay and storytelling. Hip Hop, however, represents a broader cultural movement that includes not only rap music but also other elements like DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti.
The essence of rap lies in its lyrical content and flow, with a strong emphasis on the artist's verbal ability and creativity. Hip Hop as a culture transcends music, embodying a lifestyle and an art form that reflects and influences fashion, language, and social views.
Rap music is one component of Hip Hop, often serving as the movement's most recognizable and mainstream element. Hip Hop, in its entirety, represents a cultural revolution that began in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York, symbolizing a voice for the marginalized and a form of expression.
In rap, the focus is on the performer's ability to deliver lyrics with rhythm, rhyme, and a unique personal style. Hip Hop culture encompasses a wider artistic spectrum, promoting creative expression through various mediums like music, dance, and visual art.
Rap, as a musical form, can exist independently of Hip Hop culture, though it is commonly associated with it. Hip Hop, on the other hand, is an umbrella term that captures an entire subculture, including but not limited to rap music.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Vocal style with rhyming, rhythmic speech
Cultural movement including music and arts
Main Elements
Lyricism, flow, beats
Rap music, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti
Focus
Verbal skill and wordplay
Lifestyle, artistic expression, social influence
Origins
Part of Hip Hop music genre
Started in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York
Independence
Can exist outside of Hip Hop culture
Encompasses a wide range of artistic forms
Compare with Definitions
Rap
Musical Style: Rhyming lyrics delivered rhythmically.
Eminem is known for his fast-paced rap style.
Hip Hop
Cultural Movement: Encompasses music, dance, art, and fashion.
The hip hop festival celebrated all elements of the culture, from music to graffiti.
Rap
Verbal Art Form: Focuses on wordplay and lyricism.
Tupac’s rap often told stories about life in the streets.
Hip Hop
Social Influence: Impacts societal views and trends.
Hip hop has significantly influenced modern fashion and slang.
Rap
Performance Technique: Delivery of lyrics over beats.
The artist captivated the crowd with his dynamic rap performance.
Hip Hop
Music Genre: Includes rap as a key component.
Classic hip hop tracks often feature influential rap verses.
Rap
Cultural Expression: Reflects personal and social issues.
Kendrick Lamar uses rap to address social and political issues.
Hip Hop
Artistic Lifestyle: Represents a way of life and expression.
His clothing and language reflect his deep connection to hip hop culture.
Rap
Artistic Skill: Showcases the artist's verbal dexterity.
Her rap battles are famous for her quick wit and sharp rhymes.
Hip Hop
Expression Medium: Platform for voicing social commentary.
Hip hop has been a powerful medium for discussing social justice issues.
Rap
To hit sharply and swiftly; strike
Rapped the table with his fist.
Hip Hop
A style of music usually based on rap and often including elements of other styles such as funk or rhythm and blues.
Rap
To utter sharply
Rap out a complaint.
Hip Hop
An urban youth culture originating in the 1980s in New York City, involving such forms of expression as hip-hop music, b-boying, and graffiti art.
Rap
To criticize or blame.
Hip Hop
Of or characteristic of hip-hop culture.
Rap
To strike a quick light blow
Rapped on the door.
Hip Hop
An Afro-American urban youth culture based on rap music, breakdancing etc.
Rap
(Slang) To discuss something freely and at length.
Hip Hop
(music) A form of popular and dance music featuring strong percussion and a powerful rhythm, usually accompanied by rapping.
Rap
To perform rap music.
Hip Hop
To move by hopping or with a hopping motion.
Rap
To perform as rap music
Lyrics that were rapped.
Rapped the chorus of the song.
Hip Hop
To perform hip-hop music.
Rap
A quick light blow or knock.
Hip Hop
An urban youth culture associated with rap music and the fashions of African-American residents of the inner city
Rap
A knocking or tapping sound.
Hip Hop
Genre of African-American music of the 1980s and 1990s in which rhyming lyrics are chanted to a musical accompaniment; several forms of rap have emerged
Rap
A reprimand.
Rap
A sentence to serve time in prison.
Rap
(Slang) A negative quality or characteristic associated with a person or an object.
Rap
The least bit
I don't give a rap about office politics. I don't care a rap what you do.
Rap
(Slang) A talk, conversation, or discussion.
Rap
A form of popular music developed especially in African American urban communities and characterized by spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics with a strong rhythmic accompaniment.
Rap
A composition or performance of such music.
Rap
(countable) A sharp blow with something hard.
Rap
(slang) Blame for something.
You can't act irresponsibly and then expect me to take the rap.
Rap
(informal) A casual talk.
Rap
Rap music.
Rap
A song, verse, or instance of singing in the style of rap music.
Rap
An appraisal.
Rap
A positive appraisal; a recommendation.
Rap
A lea or skein of yarn that forms the standard length taken from the reel, 80 yards of worsted or 120 yards of silk or cotton.
Rap
(historical) Any of the tokens that passed current for a halfpenny in Ireland in the early part of the eighteenth century; any coin of trifling value.
Rap
A whit; a jot.
I don't care a rap.
That's not worth a rap.
Rap
Acronym of record of arrest and prosecution
Rap
A charge, whether or not it results in a conviction.
Rap
(intransitive) To strike something sharply with one's knuckles; knock.
Rap
To strike with a quick blow; to knock on.
Rap
(metalworking) To free (a pattern) in a mould by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
Rap
To utter quickly and sharply.
The sergeant rapped out a word of command to the troops.
Rap
(ambitransitive) To speak (lyrics) in the style of rap music.
He started to rap after listening to Tupac.
He rapped a song to his girlfriend.
Rap
To talk casually; to engage in conversation.
Rap
(transitive) To seize and carry off.
Rap
(transitive) To transport out of oneself; to affect with rapture.
Rap
A lay or skein containing 120 yards of yarn.
Rap
A quick, smart blow; a knock.
Rap
A popular name for any of the tokens that passed current for a half-penny in Ireland in the early part of the eighteenth century; any coin of trifling value.
Many counterfeits passed about under the name of raps.
Tie it [her money] up so tight that you can't touch a rap, save with her consent.
Rap
Conversation; also, rapping.
Rap
A type of rhythmic talking, often with accompanying rhythm instruments; rap music.
Rap
To strike with a quick, sharp blow; to knock; as, to rap on the door.
Rap
To strike with a quick blow; to knock on.
With one great peal they rap the door.
Rap
To free (a pattern) in a mold by light blows on the pattern, so as to facilitate its removal.
Rap
To snatch away; to seize and hurry off.
And through the Greeks and Ilians they raptThe whirring chariot.
From Oxford I was rapt by my nephew, Sir Edmund Bacon, to Redgrove.
Rap
To hasten.
Rap
To seize and bear away, as the mind or thoughts; to transport out of one's self; to affect with ecstasy or rapture; as, rapt into admiration.
I'm rapt with joy to see my Marcia's tears.
Rapt into future times, the bard begun.
Rap
To exchange; to truck.
Rap
To engage in a discussion, converse.
Rap
To perform a type of rhythmic talking, often with accompanying rhythm instruments. It is considered by some as a type of music; see rap music.
All they could rap and rend and pilfer.
A judge who rapped out a great oath.
Rap
A reproach for some lapse or misdeed;
He took the blame for it
It was a bum rap
Rap
A gentle blow
Rap
The sound made by a gentle blow
Rap
Voluble conversation
Rap
Genre of African-American music of the 1980s and 1990s in which rhyming lyrics are chanted to a musical accompaniment; several forms of rap have emerged
Rap
The act of hitting vigorously;
He gave the table a whack
Rap
Strike sharply;
Rap him on the knuckles
Rap
Make light, repeated taps on a surface;
He was tapping his fingers on the table impatiently
Rap
Perform rap music
Rap
Talk volubly
Common Curiosities
What does Hip Hop culture include?
Hip Hop culture includes rap music, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti, and a specific lifestyle.
Is Rap the same as Hip Hop?
No, rap is a musical style within Hip Hop, which is a broader cultural movement.
Who are some pioneers of Rap?
Pioneers of rap include artists like Grandmaster Flash, KRS-One, and Rakim.
Who are influential figures in Hip Hop culture?
Influential figures in Hip Hop include Afrika Bambaataa, DJ Kool Herc, and The Sugarhill Gang.
How has Rap evolved over the years?
Rap has evolved from simple rhymes to complex lyricism, embracing diverse themes and styles.
Can Rap be instrumental?
Rap typically involves vocal performances, though instrumental tracks can support or inspire rap.
What are the key elements of Rap?
The key elements of rap include lyricism, flow, and rhythm.
Is breakdancing a part of Rap?
No, breakdancing is part of Hip Hop culture, not specifically rap.
Can you have Hip Hop without Rap?
Yes, Hip Hop encompasses more than music, including elements like dance and art.
What social impact has Hip Hop had?
Hip Hop has influenced fashion, language, and highlighted social and political issues.
What themes are common in Rap music?
Rap music often explores themes like social inequality, personal struggles, and success stories.
Does Hip Hop only include music?
No, Hip Hop includes various art forms like music, dance, and visual art.
How do Rap artists contribute to Hip Hop?
Rap artists contribute through their music and lyrics, often reflecting the essence of Hip Hop culture.
How has Hip Hop influenced popular culture?
Hip Hop has influenced popular culture in areas like fashion, language, and entertainment.
Is Hip Hop a global movement?
Yes, Hip Hop has become a global movement, influencing and incorporating diverse cultural elements.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
