Brown. (Harver 5) There was a great demand for the R&B type of music, but there.
were no local Jamaican bands that could play this type of music as well as the black .
American artists. As a result, "sound systems" (comprised of DJs, roadies, engineers, .
bouncers) nightspots were set up.
Steven Haver in his book, "Hip Hop; the Illustrated History of Break Dancing, .
Rap Music and Graffiti said, .
There are four areas which Jamaican "toasting" and American rap music have .
in common. First, both types of music relied on pre-recorded sounds. Second, both types .
of music relied on a strong beat by which they either rapped or toasted. American rap .
music relied on the strong beat of hard funk and Jamaican "toasting" relied on the beat .
from the Jamaican rhythms. Third, in both styles the rapper or toaster spoke their lines in .
time with the rhythm taken from the records. Fourth, the content of the raps and toasts .
were similar in nature. For example, there was boast raps, insult raps, news raps, message .
raps, nonsense raps, and party raps there also existed toasts that were similar in nature.
Rap music as well as other various types of music have changed dramatically over .
the years. "If parents in the 50's didn't like Elvis gyrating hips, those same people would .
be astounded at how rapidly artists have reached the "anything goes" period of the 90's.".
(Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, 1999). During the last decade critics have .
brought up controversial lyrics in some artists styles, like Eminem and vulgar and violent .
language, or the Dixie Chicks recent speak out against the president. The rising question .
has been bought up of just how much of his music is effecting the youth of today? Are .
children becoming more violent or sexually active because of what they see and here in .
today's music? .
"As shocking as they are I think music has taken its toll on America's youth, .
such high-visibility incidents are just the tip of an iceberg.
