Short Essay questions

1) Explain at least 2 forms of “outsider music” that emerged in 1970s American popular music. How did their music represent a distinct shift away from the mainstream? Use specific examples.
The 1970s show the introduction of various musical forms in American popular music, reflecting a diversification and dramatic shift in which the restlessness and consumerism of the black audience; led to the burnout and abandonment of conventional music styles; where the white Americans long-held the European tradition to support form and style. Rock’n’roll that was synonymously discrete metamorphosed into rock music that included various styles such as punk rock, and heavy metal music. The voice in heavy metal music was subordinated to the band’s overall sound.
The Bread and America groups produced soft rock music, developed from pop rock, producing hits such as “Make It With You.” Country music too evolved into a new style called outlaw country, which gravitated towards rock with lyrics aimed at the alcohol and drug-related criminal antics of the bands, such as Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye drew inspiration from socio-political events of the time and psychedelic rock to produce soul hits on social commentaries.
2) How did the “British invasion” impact popular music in the United States? In what ways were British invasion groups based on previous American popular music? Use specific examples.
The British Invasion was a movement that started with the Beatles in January-February 1964 (“I Want To Hold Your Hand” appeared on the Billboard’s Top Forty charts) where various UK bands created an uproar and large following in the US.

Millions of American music lovers would succumb to the ultra vires of the different British sounds. The Rolling Stones, Who, Searchers, Animals, and Dave Clark Five amongst many others soon followed tract, and together, conquered American charts. Their sounds, ethos, and music style became a model for American bands striving to match their success. San Francisco’s Beau Brummels and Texas’ Sir Douglas Quintet bands secured their presence in American charts by adopting British-sounding names.
The generational gap widened, hysterical young girls, boys valuing long haircuts; groups that had created a musical sensation among teens like Instrumental Surf and Vocal Girl would come to an abrupt end; crippling the R&B favorite acts of Fat Domino and Chubby Checker all following the craze over any group that sounded English and youthful. American rock music was of influence to The Zombies and The Who music acts; the Beatles incorporated rock’n’roll genre whose appeal and influence had been lost.
3) Compare and contrast the racial politics of early rap music (e.g. Public Enemy) and “gangsta” rap (e.g. NWA). Use specific examples.
Early rap music by artists like Public Enemy, Grandmaster Flash, and Queen Latifah was a distinct genre to articulate the experiences, aesthetics, and cultural of the Black people. Towards the late 1980s, the largest rap music audience was among the young blacks and suburban white youth “white Negro phenomenon.” It defined the anger of the urban underclass, the feeling of oppression and rebellion. It was the representation of urban young populace views, about joblessness, disempowerment, and poverty which is still a significant phenomenon among them to this date. It represented the resistance through communicative practices against racism in America and the Euro cultural dominance, to establish an idealized sense from their chaotic lives.
“Gangsta” rap was born in the mid-1980s as a result of shifting political reforms and attitudes, typical of the economically neglected, disenfranchised, and ethnically isolated societies. It glorified drugs, anti-authoritarianism, exorbitant sexuality, and lawlessness through portraying gangs, violence, sexism, and guns portrayed by acts such as N.W.A and Schoolly D with their “Fuck Tha Police” and “PSK What Does It Mean.” It communicated the inner cities youth’s plight, bringing to attention the issue of police violence, whom they saw as harassing and exploiting them instead of protecting them.