Rap metal | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | 1980s, United States |
Typical instruments | |
Derivative forms | Nu metal |
Other topics | |
Rap metal is a subgenre of rap rock and alternative metal music which combines hip hop with heavy metal. It usually consists of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk metal elements, rapped vocals and sometimes turntables. The term rapcore has been used in reference to rap metal.
Rap metal originated from rap rock, a genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with rock. The genre's roots are based both in hip hop acts who sampled heavy metal music, such as Beastie Boys, MC StreckerCypress Hill,Esham and Run–D.M.C., and rock bands who fused heavy metal and hip hop influences, such as 24-7 Spyz and Faith No More.Scott Ian of Anthrax (who helped pioneer the genre) believes Rage Against the Machine invented the genre.
In 1987, the heavy metal band Anthrax fused hip hop with heavy metal for their extended play I'm the Man, and then were teamed up in 1991 with Public Enemy for a remake of the latter's "Bring the Noise" that fused hip hop with thrash metal. Also in 1991, the thrash metal band Tourniquet featured the hip hop group P.I.D. on the song "Spineless" from their album Psycho Surgery. The next year rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot teamed up with Metal Church for his 1988 single "Iron Man", loosely based upon the Black Sabbath song of the same name. In 1990, the rapper Ice-T formed a heavy metal band called Body Count, and while performing at the 1991 Lollapalooza tour performed a set that was half rap songs and half metal songs. Stuck Mojo and Clawfinger, both formed in 1989 are considered to be another two pioneers of the genre.