Hip-Hop music is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music originally created by
DJs isolating the percussion breaks of popular songs, sometimes with two turntables to extend
the breaks. Turntablist techniques, such as scratching, beat mixing/matching, and beat juggling
eventually developed along with the breaks.
Hip-Hop music commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted.
Beats, almost always in 4/4 time signature, can be created by sampling and/or sequencing
portions of other songs. They also incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands.
Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a capella or to a
percussive beat.
While often used to refer to rapping, Hip-Hop more properly denotes the practice of the entire
subculture. The term hip-hop music is sometimes used synonymously with the term rap music,
though rapping is not a required component of hip-hop music; the genre may also incorporate
other elements of hip-hop culture.