There are certain criteria that make an emcee an emcee. As Rakim put it, emcee means MOVE the CROWD. To explain, an emcee is able to control a crowd of any demographic or type, where as a rapper may only be able to relate to a particular type of audience. In addition, an emcee can write and freestyle, and views both of these attributes as necessary skills of an emcee. A rapper may not view freestyling as a necessary skill. It's been claimed by many critics of rappers that they can't freestyle well, if at all.
The Difference Between an Emcee and a Rapper. There are certain criteria that make an emcee an emcee. As Rakim put it, emcee means MOVE the CROWD. To explain, an emcee is able to control a crowd of any demographic or type, where as a rapper may only be able to relate to a particular type of audience. In addition, an emcee can write and freestyle, and views both of these attributes as necessary skills of an emcee. A rapper may not view freestyling as a necessary skill. It's been claimed by many critics of rappers that they can't freestyle well, if at all. An emcee can rhyme about anything, they have multiple topics of discussion in their works. A rapper usually sticks to one or two subject areas and rhymes about these continually. An emcee can rhyme to any beat or nothing at all. Further, a superb emcee will be able to talk about why the beat is good, bad or not present. A rapper needs a beat, usually a dope one (dope being relative and based on the rapper's standard). Also, a rapper gets paid to rhyme, it's more of an occupation than anything else. An emcee knows the true history of Hip Hop culture, exudes this culture through their artform and views themselves as a member of the culture. A rapper may or may not know the history of the culture or view themselves as a part of it. The Difference Between a Dee Jay and a Disc Jockey (DJ). A Dee Jay prefers to use turntables as their primary means of playing music. A DJ (disc jockey) will use any equipment necessary to play music be it laptops, CDJ's, Computers, tape players, mobile devices etc etc. A Dee Jay does not have a set playlist, they have the power to play anything they like. A DJ has to prescribe to a set playlist. They don't have the same freedom. To add, a Dee Jay intends to expose self and their audience to new styles of playing (cutting, mixing, scratching), new sounds (all genres are available for play) and new music. A DJ plays music in a conventional way. The songs they play usually are from a particular genre and already known by the majority of their listeners. A Dee Jay possesses, either a working knowledge of-or in their immediate grasp-or within their collections: breakbeats for B-Boys and instrumentals or breaks for emcees. A DJ usually doesn't have knowledge or possession of these. A Dee Jay can alter their sounds to fit the intended recipients. A DJ is unaware, unconcerned with or unable to do the same. A Dee Jay knows the history of the culture and views themselves as a member. A DJ may not know the culture's history or view themselves as a member. The Difference Between a Writer (Graffiti) and an Artist (Graphic/Visual). A writer, also commonly called a graffiti writer, consistently writes under an alias name or icon/character. An artist may or may not write under an alias. The writer's name holds significant meaning and is either given to or chosen by the writer. An artist's name may or may not hold meaning, or wasn't given to or chosen by them. The writer's alias tends to serve as the center piece for all public displays of their works. In other words, the name-its letters and the creative way they are put together act as the focal point in their work of art. An artist usually has characters or tangible items as their center pieces and signs their name in small letters at the bottom corner. Signatures for writers are called tags and these also have unique and elaborate styles. The artist definitely doesnt use letters of the alphabet as their major form of creation, where as a writer does. For a writer, learning and mastering letter styles is the foundation of their art form. A writer uses spray paint as their primary material for creating public pieces. An artist uses any and all types of materials for creating their works. A writer has to create burners (elaborate pieces on a public mobile or immobile medium like concrete walls and train cars) and bomb (the actual process of making a burner in public view) which is free to the public. An artist doesn't usually apply their master pieces on public mediums or give them away for free. A writer commits an illegal act when they're doing art in the public realm. An artist may or may not commit illegal acts when creating works of art. A writer is out for fame-getting their name up on pubilc meduims as frequently, creatively and big as possible. An artist is not concerned with the fame aspect as it pertains to the writer. A writer knows some aspects of writer history (local, national, global), and identify themselves as members of the Hip Hop culture. An artist may know nothing about writer history or identify themselves as members of the Hip Hop culture. The Difference Between a B-Boy and a Urban Dancer. A B-Boy or B-Girl uses any flat and hard surface as their stage/dance platform for practicing, displaying and battling. Urban dancers usually use indoor facilities for this such as studios, classroom and theatres. B-Boys have distinct moves that they use based on top or up rocking (footwork, popping or locking) and down rocking (swipes, windmills, freezes and other floor moves). An Urban dancer may use elements of these styles but they're not their primary focus. A B-Boy prefers to dance to breakbeats over all other genres of music, and a true B-Boy will be coerced to dance by simply hearing a Dee Jay play some of these classic breakbeats (songs from the 70's or earlier that served as the foundational sound for Hip Hop) such as Jimmy Castor Bunch's Just Begun. The urban dancer usually relies on contemporary and more commercial music as their preferred sound. A B-Boy learns from a former or current B-Boy. The interaction is more personal than the dance classes that most urban dancers attend. Also, the B-Boy's teacher is not paid in most cases. They teach to keep the style and culture going. Again, B-Boys consider themselves part of the Hip Hop culture. To end, although they use several moves commonly associated with B-Boys, urban dancers may not consider B-Boying to be a real form of dance or Hip Hop to be a real culture. Hip Hop is a way of life, rap is music, there's a huge difference between the two.
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