ROCK & POP FUNDAMENTALS
“Some people have a hard time explaining rock ‘n’ roll. I don’t think anyone can really explain rock ‘n’ roll.” – Almost Famous
While it’s growingly impossible to define the ever-changing landscape of rock and pop, we can safely say what we do know it is – fashion, attitude, language, lifestyle and above all else – song. Rooted in 40s and 50s rhythm and blues and country, with cues from folk, jazz and classical music, rock and pop went electric and left both a massive wake and an open door. Today it’s omnipotent, taking on anything and everything.
Our dynamic collection of artists such as The Doors, Black Sabbath, The Monkees, Stone Temple Pilots, Chicago, The Ramones, continues to break stylistic boundaries and sonic barriers.
R&B/SOUL FUNDAMENTALS
“If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.” – Aretha Franklin
Building off street jazz and church gospel, the syncopated sounds of Rhythm & Blues could be heard far and wide in post-WWII African American communities – from the rural farms of the Mississippi Delta to the Windy City and everywhere in between. Fitted with flatted chords, storytelling and revelations, R&B gave way to poppier incarnations Funk, Doowop, and perhaps most importantly Soul, with it’s secular testifying, handclaps and call and response phenomenon.
At Rhino, King and Queen Of Soul Otis and Aretha set the pace, Curtis brought the funk, Ray made the rhythm jump and countless blues masters and girl groups paved the way for decades to come.
RAP & HIP HOP FUNDAMENTALS
“The first time around you didn’t quite understand our new style of speak. (Don’t worry we can fix that right now)” – De La Soul from Plug Tunin’
In the 1970s urban youth put a unique twist on the African-American and West African traditions of talking blues and jazz poetry when they took to the streets with little more than rhythmic vocal style and a few simple backing beats. The evolution brought on a whole new culture complete with beat-boxes, turntables, samples and synthesizers but all a good freestyler needs is microphone.
We deliver to you the fast and furious lyrical stylings of forefathers Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash, the jazzy vibe (vibe) and rhythms of De La Soul, the undeniably smooth sounds of Digital Underground, ODB and more.
