Bounce music
Encyclopedia
Bounce music is an energetic style of New Orleans hip hop music which is said to have originated as early as the late 1980s, but is typically believed to have begun with the 1991 single "Where Dey At" by MC T.Tucker and DJ Irv. A highly influential cover of "Where Dey At" was also released by DJ Jimi in 1992.
style party and Mardi Gras Indian chants and dance call-outs that are frequently hypersexual. These chants and call-outs are typically sung over the "Triggerman beat," which is sampled from the songs "Drag Rap" by the Showboys, "Brown Beat" by Cameron Paul, and also Derek B's "Rock The Beat". The sound of bounce has primarily been shaped by the recycling and imitation of the "Drag Rap" sample: its opening chromatic tics, the intermittent shouting of the word "break," the use of whistling as an instrumental element (as occurs in the bridge), the vocoded
"drag rap" vocals and its brief and repetitive melody
and quick beat
(which were produced with use of synthesizers and drum machines and are easily sampled or reproduced using like-sounding elements).
. Throughout this decade, the Take Fo'
record label has dominated the genre with artists such as DJ Jubilee, Choppa, Baby Boy, Lady Unique, Da' Sha Ra' and Willie Puckett. Overtly queer "sissy bounce" or "sissy rap" performers such as Katey Red, Big Freedia
and Sissy Nobby have also made significant contributions.
Like crunk
, Miami bass
, Baltimore club
and Juke music, bounce is a highly regional form of urban dance music. Nevertheless, bounce has influenced a variety of other rap subgenres and even emerged in the mainstream. Atlanta's crunk
artists, such as Lil' Jon and the Ying Yang Twins
, frequently incorporate bounce chants into their music (such as "shake that thing like a salt shaker") and slang (such as "twerk"). Mississippi
native David Banner
's hit "Like A Pimp" is constructed around a screwed up
sample of the "Triggerman" beat. The mixtapes of Three 6 Mafia
's DJ Paul
also prominently feature traditional bounce sampling. DJ Paul
, a native of Memphis, TN, has, in fact, been one of the most prominent purveyors of bounce outside of Louisiana, having incorporated its features into tracks produced for La Chat
, Gangsta Boo
and his own group, Three 6 Mafia
. Another significant mainstream record influenced by bounce music was Beyoncé
's 2007 release "Get Me Bodied
".
Perhaps the most well known majordomo of bounce music has been Cash Money Records
and their former in-house producer Mannie Fresh
. Mannie Fresh began producing for MC Gregory D in the late 1980s, but in the early 1990s was signed to Cash Money and produced all of their albums. After Cash Money signed a national distribution deal with Universal Records
in 1998, the label's music began to reach much wider audiences. The label's Hot Boys
(Juvenile
, B.G.
, Lil Wayne
, and Turk
) and Big Tymers
(Mannie Fresh
and Baby) released platinum albums and had several nationally charting hits using the bounce style. This was the genre's first major mainstream exposure.
In 2010, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art
in New Orleans featured an exhibition entitled "Where They At: New Orleans Hip-Hop and Bounce in Words and Pictures", examining bounce's origins, development, and influence.
Structure
Bounce is characterized by call and responseCall and response
Call and response is a form of "spontaneous verbal and non-verbal interaction between speaker and listener in which all of the statements are punctuated by expressions from the listener."...
style party and Mardi Gras Indian chants and dance call-outs that are frequently hypersexual. These chants and call-outs are typically sung over the "Triggerman beat," which is sampled from the songs "Drag Rap" by the Showboys, "Brown Beat" by Cameron Paul, and also Derek B's "Rock The Beat". The sound of bounce has primarily been shaped by the recycling and imitation of the "Drag Rap" sample: its opening chromatic tics, the intermittent shouting of the word "break," the use of whistling as an instrumental element (as occurs in the bridge), the vocoded
Vocoder
A vocoder is an analysis/synthesis system, mostly used for speech. In the encoder, the input is passed through a multiband filter, each band is passed through an envelope follower, and the control signals from the envelope followers are communicated to the decoder...
"drag rap" vocals and its brief and repetitive melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
and quick beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
(which were produced with use of synthesizers and drum machines and are easily sampled or reproduced using like-sounding elements).
Influence
The genre maintains widespread popularity in New Orleans, LA and the southern United States and has a more limited following outside of the Deep SouthDeep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
. Throughout this decade, the Take Fo'
Take Fo'
Take Fo' Records is an independent record label from New Orleans which specializes in Bounce Music. The label was founded in 1992 by Earl J. Mackie and...
record label has dominated the genre with artists such as DJ Jubilee, Choppa, Baby Boy, Lady Unique, Da' Sha Ra' and Willie Puckett. Overtly queer "sissy bounce" or "sissy rap" performers such as Katey Red, Big Freedia
Big Freedia
Big Freedia is the stage name of Freddie Ross, an American musician known for work in bounce music. In 2011 Freedia was named Best Emerging Artist and Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist in January's Best of the Beat Awards. The album Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1 was nominated by the 22nd GLAAD Media Awards in 2011...
and Sissy Nobby have also made significant contributions.
Like crunk
Crunk
Crunk is a music style that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-to-late 1990s and gained mainstream success around 2003–2004. Performers of crunk music are sometimes referred to as crunksters. An archetypal crunk track most frequently uses a drum machine rhythm, heavy bassline, and...
, Miami bass
Miami bass
Miami bass , is a type of hip hop music, that became popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Its roots are directly linked to the Electro-funk sound of the early 1980s, pioneered by Afrika Bambataa & The Soulsonic Force and later on by UK-based musician Paul Hardcastle...
, Baltimore club
Baltimore Club
Baltimore club, also called "Bmore Club" or "Club Music" is a breakbeat genre. As blend with hip hop and chopped, staccato house music, it was created in Baltimore, Maryland, United States in the late 1980s by 2 Live Crew's Luther Campbell, Frank Ski, Big Tony , Scottie B...
and Juke music, bounce is a highly regional form of urban dance music. Nevertheless, bounce has influenced a variety of other rap subgenres and even emerged in the mainstream. Atlanta's crunk
Crunk
Crunk is a music style that originated in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid-to-late 1990s and gained mainstream success around 2003–2004. Performers of crunk music are sometimes referred to as crunksters. An archetypal crunk track most frequently uses a drum machine rhythm, heavy bassline, and...
artists, such as Lil' Jon and the Ying Yang Twins
Ying Yang Twins
The Ying Yang Twins is an Atlanta-based American crunk rap duo consisting of Kaine and D-Roc . The group debuted in 2000 and rose to mainstream popularity in 2003 collaborating with Lil Jon in his single "Get Low"...
, frequently incorporate bounce chants into their music (such as "shake that thing like a salt shaker") and slang (such as "twerk"). Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
native David Banner
David Banner
Lavell Crump , better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000...
's hit "Like A Pimp" is constructed around a screwed up
Chopped and screwed
Chopped and screwed refers to a technique of remixing hip hop music which developed in the Houston hip hop scene in the 1990s...
sample of the "Triggerman" beat. The mixtapes of Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia are an Academy Award-winning, American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 as Triple 6 Mafia, by DJ Paul, Juicy J, & Lord Infamous, the group at its most featured six members including; Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca...
's DJ Paul
DJ Paul
Paul Beauregard, better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is one half of the current Memphis-based rap group Three 6 Mafia. He is also the half brother of former Three 6 Mafia member Lord Infamous. He won an Academy Award for Best...
also prominently feature traditional bounce sampling. DJ Paul
DJ Paul
Paul Beauregard, better known by his stage name DJ Paul, is an American rapper and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee. He is one half of the current Memphis-based rap group Three 6 Mafia. He is also the half brother of former Three 6 Mafia member Lord Infamous. He won an Academy Award for Best...
, a native of Memphis, TN, has, in fact, been one of the most prominent purveyors of bounce outside of Louisiana, having incorporated its features into tracks produced for La Chat
La Chat
Chastity Daniels, born June 30 1979 , better known by her stage name La Chat is a hip hop and Crunk artist from Memphis, Tennessee. She is best known for her period as an artist on the Hypnotize Minds roster, and made regular guest appearances on many releases by other associated acts such as Three...
, Gangsta Boo
Gangsta Boo
Gangsta Boo, also known as Lady Boo was the first female member of the Memphis, Tennessee-based rap group Three 6 Mafia...
and his own group, Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia
Three 6 Mafia are an Academy Award-winning, American rap group originating from Memphis, Tennessee. Formed in 1991 as Triple 6 Mafia, by DJ Paul, Juicy J, & Lord Infamous, the group at its most featured six members including; Crunchy Black, Gangsta Boo and Koopsta Knicca...
. Another significant mainstream record influenced by bounce music was Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
's 2007 release "Get Me Bodied
Get Me Bodied
"Get Me Bodied" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. The song was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Sean Garrett, Solange Knowles, Angela Beyince, Makeba Riddick, and Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean, and produced by Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé and Sean Garrett, for Knowles' second solo studio...
".
Perhaps the most well known majordomo of bounce music has been Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
and their former in-house producer Mannie Fresh
Mannie Fresh
Byron O. Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is currently an artist and hip-hop producer who records for Def Jam South and his own division Chubby Boy Records...
. Mannie Fresh began producing for MC Gregory D in the late 1980s, but in the early 1990s was signed to Cash Money and produced all of their albums. After Cash Money signed a national distribution deal with Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
in 1998, the label's music began to reach much wider audiences. The label's Hot Boys
Hot Boys
The Hot Boys is a music American hip hop group active from 1996 to 2001 and reformed in 2007. The group consists of rappers formerly on the New Orleans-based record label, Cash Money Records. The members are Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk.-History:The members of the group were rappers, Lil...
(Juvenile
Juvenile (rapper)
Terius Gray, better known by his stage name Juvenile, is an American rapper, He is also a former member of hip-hop group the Hot Boys . At the age of 19, he began recording raps, releasing his debut album Being Myself in 1995...
, B.G.
B.G. (rapper)
Christopher Dorsey , better known by his stage name B.G. , is an American rapper and actor, from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his music career signed to Cash Money Records in 1993 with Lil Wayne as half of the duo The B.G.'z...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, and Turk
Turk (rapper)
Tab Virgil, Jr., better known by his stage name Turk , is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his time with Cash Money Records and with the Hot Boys. His debut album Young & Thuggin became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard 200 and pushed his album to Gold sales in the...
) and Big Tymers
Big Tymers
The Big Tymers were an American rap duo active from 1997 to 2005 from New Orleans, Louisiana. The Big Tymers consisted of Cash Money Records co-founder, Baby and former Cash Money in-house producer, Mannie Fresh. Baby later changed his stage name to Birdman after the group was dissolved...
(Mannie Fresh
Mannie Fresh
Byron O. Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is currently an artist and hip-hop producer who records for Def Jam South and his own division Chubby Boy Records...
and Baby) released platinum albums and had several nationally charting hits using the bounce style. This was the genre's first major mainstream exposure.
In 2010, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is located in New Orleans, within the Central Business District adjacent to Lee Circle. It is associated with the University of New Orleans...
in New Orleans featured an exhibition entitled "Where They At: New Orleans Hip-Hop and Bounce in Words and Pictures", examining bounce's origins, development, and influence.
Artists
- 3rd NFantry
- 5th Ward Weebie
- 9th Ward Tea
- 10th Ward Buck
- B.G.B.G. (rapper)Christopher Dorsey , better known by his stage name B.G. , is an American rapper and actor, from New Orleans, Louisiana. He began his music career signed to Cash Money Records in 1993 with Lil Wayne as half of the duo The B.G.'z...
- Baby Boy Da PrinceBaby Boy da PrinceLawrence Cennett, better known by his stage name Baby Boy da Prince is a rapper from New Orleans. His rap career began at the age of 16 opening for No Limit Records in his hometown. He was first signed to the Take Fo' Record label in 2002, with his debut album "Like Dat". The name "Baby Boy" was...
- Big FreediaBig FreediaBig Freedia is the stage name of Freddie Ross, an American musician known for work in bounce music. In 2011 Freedia was named Best Emerging Artist and Best Hip-Hop/Rap Artist in January's Best of the Beat Awards. The album Big Freedia Hitz Vol. 1 was nominated by the 22nd GLAAD Media Awards in 2011...
- Calliope Priest
- ChoppaChoppaDarwin Turner, better known by his stage name Choppa, is a New Orleans rapper.-Career:Choppa was contracted to several record labels.He was signed to P. Diddy's record label, Bad Boy Records, in 2005.In 2006 he signed to the record label Cash Money....
- Deja Vu Get Cha Blunt
- Dime Gyrl Drell
- DJ Jimi
- DJ Jubilee
- Elm Boy Peg
- The Faster Boyz
- Fly Boy Keno
- Gotty Boi Chris
- Hot Boy Johnny
- Hot Boy Ronald
- Joe Wit Da Dreads
- Josephine Johnny
- JuvenileJuvenile (rapper)Terius Gray, better known by his stage name Juvenile, is an American rapper, He is also a former member of hip-hop group the Hot Boys . At the age of 19, he began recording raps, releasing his debut album Being Myself in 1995...
- Kane & Abel
- Katey Red
- KC Redd (deceased)
- Kirby Wit Da Dreaz
- Kilo
- Lil WayneLil WayneDwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
- Magnolia ShortyMagnolia ShortyRenetta Yemika Lowe-Bridgewater , known by the stage name Magnolia Shorty, was an American rapper in the New Orleans-based bounce music scene. She and Ms. Tee were the first women signed to Cash Money Records...
(deceased) - Majah Onna Trakk
- Mannie FreshMannie FreshByron O. Thomas, better known by his stage name Mannie Fresh, is currently an artist and hip-hop producer who records for Def Jam South and his own division Chubby Boy Records...
- Mr. Ghetto
- MC Shakie
- Messy Mya (deceased)
- Monster Wit Da Fade
- MC Gregory D
- N.O. Meazy
- Nicky B.
- Partners-N-CrimePartners-N-CrimePartners-N-Crime is a rap group from New Orleans, Louisiana, made up of Kango Slim and Mr. Meanor , friends raised in the 17th ward of New Orleans. Prime Time joined the group later on. The two earned a local buzz performing at various New Orleans talent shows, and eventually signed to Big Boy...
- Pimp Daddy (deceased)
- Rickey B
- Sissy Nobby
- Soulja SlimSoulja SlimJames Tapp, Jr. , better known by his stage name Soulja Slim, was an American rapper who achieved massive success on Master P's No Limit record label. He also achieved fame throughout New Orleans and Nation Wide from his work done with B.G., UNLV, and other local artists. He is known for writing...
(deceased) - TurkTurk (rapper)Tab Virgil, Jr., better known by his stage name Turk , is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his time with Cash Money Records and with the Hot Boys. His debut album Young & Thuggin became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard 200 and pushed his album to Gold sales in the...
- U.N.L.V.U.N.L.V. (group)U.N.L.V. are a hip-hop group from New Orleans, Louisiana, originally consisting of rappers Tec-9, Lil Ya, and Yella Boy. Their name is an acronym for "Uptown Niggas Living Violently". They were one of the first artists signed to Cash Money Records, where they recorded four albums from 1993 to 1996...
- Vockah Redu
- Willie Puckett
- T.T. Tucker
External links
- Alison Fensterstock, "Sissy Bounce Rap from New Orleans", Norient, August 19, 2010.
- 'Magnolia Shorty' Death of Bounce Music Superstar Magnolia Shorty
- Punks Under Pressure, http://www.vimeo.com/18940761, a documentary featuring Sissy Bounce stars Katey Red, Big Freedia, and Sissy Nobby, Fly Boi Blazyah and Rusty Lazer.