Abstract hip hop
Portishead's Portishead cover.
Portishead's Portishead cover.
James Lavelle, founding member of UNKLE and owner of the famous trip hop label Mo'Wax used to say, "British hip hop lacks the lyrical skills of U.S. counterparts, but British kids have got the musical side." This offers insight as to why trip hop artists like DJ Shadow, DJ Krush, and DJ Cam often choose to strip out vocals in their works. The absence of vocals produces an effect that emphasizes the intrinsic nature of the music, allowing the listener to step into unknown territory (just like viewing an abstract painting). Though this style of music was described by the British press as "trip hop," many artists (including DJ Shadow) frown upon this term. They are proud that their music is part of Hip Hop culture and feel no need to break off into a separate genre. DJ Cam calls this style of music "abstract hip hop."
Musicology
Trip hop is known for its moody, dark, yet lyrical sound.
The trip hop sound relies on jazz samples, usually taken from old vinyl jazz records. This reliance on sampling has changed the way record labels deal with clearing samples for use in other people's tracks. Trip hop tracks often sample Rhodes pianos, saxophones, trumpets, and flutes, and develops in parallel to hip hop, each inspiring the other.
Trip hop production is historically lo-fi, relying on analog recording equipment and instrumentation for an ambience. Portishead, for example, records their material to old tape from real instruments, and then sample their recordings, rather than recording their instruments directly to a track. They also tend to put their drums through considerable compression.
Later artists have taken inspiration from many other sources including world and orchestral influences.
Major groups and artists
Morcheeba's Big Calm album cover.
Morcheeba's Big Calm album cover.
Note: To find more trip hop groups and artists, see Category:Trip hop groups and Category:Trip hop musicians.
* Archive
* Björk (mainly on Post)
* Bonobo
* DJ Shadow
* Esthero
* Hooverphonic
* Lamb
* Mandalay
* Massive Attack
* Moloko
* Monk & Canatella
* Morcheeba
* Portishead
* Sneaker Pimps
* Thievery Corporation
* Tricky
* Zero 7
* List of electronic music genres
Hip hop/Rap
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Electronica
Big beat • Bitpop • Chip • Downtempo • Folktronica • Glitch • Indietronica • IDM • Leftfield • Nu jazz • Post-rock • Trip hop • Uptempo