Rap rock is a fusion genre of rock and hip-hop. It blends vocal and instrumental parts of hip-hop and various forms of rock, including punk and metal.
The genre is often referred to as rap metal[1] or rapcore. These two terms could also be used as subgenres referring to the more heavy-metal-oriented and hardcore-punk-oriented bands respectively. It has also influenced some of the more recent music styles, such as nu metal.
Rap rock developed in the mid to late 1980s. The roots of the style can be found in albums by bands such as The Clash,[2] whose songs " The Magnificent Seven," and "Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)" off their album Sandinista! are arguably the first attempts by a rock group to adapt a hip hop style. It is noted that Anthrax and Public Enemy's Bring The Noise is labeled as the first rapcore song.
However today's Rap-Rock scene has seen a shift from the hardcore sound of the late 1980's and early 1990's, to a softer sound. Also, the Latin rap group Cypress Hill is an example of an rap-rock outfit (a prime example is their half hip hop, half rock album, Skull & Bones). Another example includes E town concrete[4]. The genre is said to be experiencing a decline[5].
