I think I will start with overview of overarching theme of the essay, and the overall idea of the analogy between rhythm and relationships, and how peoples perceptions of these vary very significantly dependant on both their previous exposure to/ understanding of different rhythms and time signatures. Bring this into the broader analogy of cultures perceptions of other cultures and the frequent assumption that the other is inferior rather than just different.
The western exception and idea of high level music being based on melody, complexity, technical skill, and a high level of music writing, whereas in other cultures, aspects such as Rhythm, improvisation, repetition and oral communication are places at a higher value. The western mindset always being that they are the most intelligent and correct way of thinking (combined with severe ignorance and prejudice), has led to many misinterpretations of other culture’s music, as well as ways of life. The western mentality has always been that they are the most developed and advanced and that they were doing other countries a favour by bringing over western culture and ways of doing things, assuming that the existing practices and culture must be inferior and primitive. An example of this being the case is how the western view on illiteracy in other countries has always been how unfortunate they are, but that is only based on the western world forcing a dependence on literacy by imposing the western ways on these cultures, and stripping them of resources that previously allowed self sufficiency and self reliance.
I also want to touch on the idea of the loop and repetition in hip hop – significantly people such as Roc Marciano, KA, Nicholas Craven and Conductor Williams, who have all played significant roles in the resurgence of a classic hip hop sound – stripping back the beats to just loops/ chops from soul records and keeping the beats relatively minimal with little to no added drums or sounds.
Even in beats with more sounds and drums, looping and repetition itself has always been a very prominent characteristic in Hip Hop, which has been overlooked as lazy and repetitive and as being musically inferior to creating a piece of music from scratch. However repetition is something that has always been valued higher in the music/ cultures of the African Diaspora, and less valued by the conventional western mindset on music.
Given that in African traditions there is a greater tradition of oral communication rather than things being written down, it would make sense that repetition may become ingrained in the culture and music, as repetition is the method of which things become more deeply remembered, and further understood
‘Rap’s rhythms – “the most perceptible, yet least material elements”- are its most powerful effect. Rap’s primary force is sonic, and the distinctive, systematic use of rhythm and sound, especially the use of repetition and musical breaks, are part of a rich history of New World black traditions and practices. Rap music centres on the quality and nature of rhythm and sound, the lowest, “fattest beats” being the most significant and emotionally charged.”‘ (pg.64, Black Noise, 1994)
‘Rap music revises black cultural priorities via new and sophisticated technological means.’ (pg.65, Black Noise, 1994)
contrast between the conventions, feelings and associations with different aspects of rhythm, such as the use of repetition. Looped choruses, verses, samples and drum breaks are a frequent element of hip hop, yet in a genre like Jazz, repetition comes more in the form of phrases or melodies that may be repeated but transposed, or an idea repeated in the form of a call and response communication between musicians. However since it is live and often improvised, jazz would not repeat something in the exact same was as it once was (as might happen in hip hop) rather it develops the second iteration of the idea into something else.