Despite bad rep, rap stays steady

In its short 20-year history, rap has exploded in its popularity from exclusively African American audiences to include a more diverse following. This is one of the reasons why rap is now a favorite on Billboard and in Philadelphia.

James Kuhn assistant arts & entertainmenteditor

Many rap artists have received a great deal of media attention due to drug activity, being in gangs and death. This negative attention has given rap a bad reputation. On the contrary, though, many rappers and hip-hop artists promote women's rights and an end to racism in the country.

Rap music is said to have started in inner cities where disc jockeys would scratch records at block parties. People like DJ Hollywood and DJ Herc would mix records along with made up sounds so people could dance and jam.

Many African Americans were present at these block parties and were featured in many issues of "Rolling Stone" and "The Source" magazines. Many readers have voiced their opinions about rap being only for African Americans. On the contrary, rap artists like the Beastie Boys and House of Pain have diminished those opinions.

Today, rap is trying to reach beyond the African American community by diversifying concerts.

Rap groups and rappers like The Roots, The Pharcyde, Cypress Hill and Wu-tang Clan can be seen playing with rock and metal artists like Madonna, Sonic Youth, 311 and the Deftones.

Rap music came into the national music scene in 1979 when The Sugarhill Gang produced a song called "Rappers Delight."

Not until the early '80s did rap make it nationally on the Billboard charts.

Rap music has been getting more popular as the years pass. In 1993, over $780 million in rap music was purchased. In 1996, almost $1 billion in rap music was sold.

How has rap music stayed in such demand? Because more people than not have some type of interest in rap music.

"Rap music is just like rock music. There will always be some

To the following seniors who contributed to the

demand for it," Steve Browner, a salesperson at The Wall in the King of Prussia mall, said.

Some students, like senior Bill Matoney, believe that rap music is not original because of the popular use of sampling, which is using the beats of a prior song and turning it into your own work.

Other students, such as junior Victor Sgro, believe rap music is the best because you can chill out to the funky beat it offers.

Despite rap's lack of radio airplay, Power 99 FM is ranked number one according to Arbitron, radio's ranking system, in Philadelphia. Power 99 is strictly a rap and hip-hop station that focuses their attention on the people of Philadelphia. "Power 99 is the best because they stick to one kind of music. so you never have to change the station," sophomore Joe Devlin, who is an avid listener of rap music, said.

Popular music comes and goes, but rap music has done nothing but

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Contact Thomas McKee or Diane Grimaldi at 902-8412 or email at dgriwa!l@cabrini.edu by Monday, April 21 for more details.