“Rappers Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang
The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” was the first song I picked for analysis, and it is a rap song. This lively song has a great tempo and a generally optimistic mood; the lyrics are all about having fun. It features many instruments, including handclaps, guitars, drums, and keyboards.
The rhythm of this piece of music was established by the piano and percussion. The handclaps are performed at a slower rate than the drum, which is played at a medium to rapid tempo. The piano is played at its slowest speed, while the guitar is performed more quickly.
This song’s meters are divided into groups of two and two. The handclaps remain constant throughout the song, but the drums alternate between two short notes and one longer note. Thus, the song’s rhythm corresponds to the disco style, as a regular clear rhythm alternates.
The next song in this style is “Jazzy Sensation” by Afrika Bambaataa and the Jazzy Five. The main elements of the rhythm are the constant use of the bass and the addition of small sounds. Thus, the song is created in a standard rap style that changes the tone of the sounds.
“Walk This Way” by Aerosmith
“Walk This Way” by Aerosmith is another tune I selected, representing a rock style. It features the I to IV progressions in verses and choruses, making it one of the band’s defining songs. The beat also shifts into a riff bridge, which adds a funk vibe and is a creative solution. Because pitch and frequency are correlated, the frequency attribute of pitch begins low and rises as the song progresses. The music combines rhythm and solo, created with the help of fast string skipping.
The rhythm of the selected rap songs is similar because they are performed in disco style, using quick and slow tempo instruments. In its turn, “Walk This Way” is dominated by the growth of frequencies from bass to treble. A common feature is a slight change of notes each time after the tempo. Moreover, both styles contain the author’s solutions, such as the transition to a riff bridge for a rock song and the play of frequencies in a rap style.