An Overview of the Relationship Between Rap Music and Baltimore
Baltimore is one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the country. As a result, it should come as no surprise that this city has a long history of rap music as well. Often featured on Rap TV, rap music and Baltimore go hand in hand. Now, there is a new wave of rap music rising to the surface.
In the past, Baltimore was known for its club music. There was a lot of jazz music being played in the early 20thcentury. Baltimore also featured a disco wave in the 1970s. As 2000 approached, rap music started to become a big deal in the city of Baltimore. The city has served as the focus for a number of major movements in the world of music. Now, it appears that there is a new wave of rap music unfolding in the city that everyone should note.
Baltimore made a big mark in the world of rap music back in 2002 when B Rich came out with a hit titled “Whoa Now” that landed him a major deal with Atlantic Records. On the heels of this came East Baltimore’s Tim Trees, who created a hometown hit with the song titled “Bank Rolls.” The resonated with people throughout the city of Baltimore and landed him a record deal as well. There have been a number of major artists from the city of Baltimore who made their mark in the world of rap music as well. While rap in the city of Baltimore has diversified during the past few years, a new, youth movement is starting to gain traction.
Today, rap music throughout Baltimore is more varied than it has ever been in the past. There are two large categories. The first is called street rap music. This is street rap that adheres closer to what people think about when they envision rap music. The other form is called hipster rap or alternative rap music. This is different from street music and tries to focus on emerging trends in the world of rap music.
One of the biggest reasons why rap music has grown so quickly in Baltimore has been social media. The growth of social media has made fame and fortune attainable for young artists at a younger age. As a result, the city of Baltimore is finding new ways to distinguish itself in the world of rap music. Slang is starting to show up more often in rap music coming from Baltimore and these artists are helping to define a new scene. It will be interesting to see where rap music and the city of Baltimore go from here as the future unfolds.
Feature Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay