Genre Research

Hip/Hop

Genre Conventions• Poverty- Artists describe working class roots and how the environment

they live in can often lead to crime and violence.

• Struggle- Artists explain the way they have to struggle to get noticed in the industry, or to make a name for themselves.

• Crime/Violence- A substantial amount of Hip/Hop artists have aggressive lyrics and videos that emphasise the violent conventions of the genre

• Drugs- Drugs such as cannabis, cocaine and crack are mentioned in a huge amount of songs within the genre, the distribution of drugs is also a common theme

• Clothing/Wealth- The need to boast amount expensive, stylish clothing is a popular convention of the genre, it ties in with the need to show they have escaped their working class background.

Typical Lyrics- Hip Hop• Notorious B.I.G- Juicy

“It was all a dream, I used to read word up Magazine, Salt ‘n’ pepper and heavy D up in the limousine”- Discusses how his lifestyle has changed from ghetto to Lavish

• Odd Future

“OF Shit that’s all I got, to my little brother Frankie to my little brother Tac, to the Father figure rock to that skatey nigga Lac”-Discusses how he and his friends are working class and that their friendship is their strongest asset

• Chief Keef- I don’t like

“Snitch Nigga’s, that’s the shit I don’t like”- Discusses dislike for criminal informers, portraying his criminal lifestyle. Inclusion of the word ‘Nigga’ is common in Hip/Hop lyrics and emphasises both ‘ghetto’ and aggressive themes

• Eminem- Brain Damage

‘Brain Damage, ever since the day I was born, drugs, is what the used to say , I never knew which way I was going but everywhereI go they keep playing my songs’ – Discusses how he is an outcast in society and the references to drugs relates the common Hip/Hop themes of crime and narcotics.

• WU TANG CLAN- C.R.E.A.M

‘Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M get the money, dollar dollar bill’. – Portrays ghetto lifestyle and explains how theworking class ‘ghetto’ attitude evolves around the lack of money individuals have and their poverish life's.

Indie Rock

Genre Conventions• Love/Heartbreak- Lyrics and videos often surround the theme of love, and

pain caused by relationships and break-ups. The male dominated genre has a unique twist on the theme of love that is not seen in more female dominated genres like mainstream pop.

• Youth- The theme of youth and coming of age is a popular convention of the indie genre

• Friendship- As the majority of indie artists are formulated of male musicians, friendship is a key convention of the genre

Typical Lyrics- Indie/Rock Joy Division- She’s Lost Control

‘Confusion in her eyes, that says it all. And she’s clinging to the nearest passer by, she’s lost control. And she’s gave away the secrets of her past, and said I’ve lost control again’ – Portraying the story of a couple dealing with an affair, also hints on themes of mental illness that is common in Indie/Rock.

• Blink 182- I miss you

‘Hello there, the Angel from my nightmare. The Shadow of the background of the Morgue, the unsuspecting victim of darkness inthe valley, we can live like jack and sally in the if we want’ – Supernatural themes of death and crime (victim). Themes of love and despair.

• Arctic Monkey- Riot Van

‘Up rolled the riot vans and sparked excitement in the boys, but the policemen looked annoyed, perhaps these are ones they should avoid’

• King of Leon- Charmer

‘She stole my Karma, She’s such a charmer’

Again references to broken relationships and emotional pain that reoccurs throughout the Indie/Rock genre

Folk MusicElectro/Techno

Typical Lyrics/ Sound Types- Electro/Techno

• As our genre of electro/techno is mainly a formation of different beats and sample types lyrics are not such a significant factor within the genre.