Parody Rap
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Parody Rap uses rap's flows, personas, production tropes and brag structures for comic imitation. It may spoof a specific song, exaggerate genre cliches, invent a ridiculous character or use technical rap skill to make the joke land harder. The form works because hip-hop has recognizable codes: flexing, diss tracks, hooks, ad-libs, regional styles and video language can all be twisted without losing the beat.
History
Rap parody grew through novelty records, sketch comedy, Weird Al's song parodies, Saturday Night Live, The Lonely Island, internet videos, nerdcore, YouTube and social media. Artists such as Weird Al Yankovic, The Lonely Island, Lil Dicky, MC Chris, Flight of the Conchords, Epic Rap Battles of History and Bo Burnham used different levels of affection, satire and technical skill. Online culture made parody rap nearly instant-response media.
Defining artists
Essential listening
- Amish Paradise — Weird Al YankovicSpotifyYouTube
- I'm on a Boat — The Lonely Island feat. T-PainSpotifyYouTube
- Save Dat Money — Lil Dicky feat. Fetty Wap & Rich Homie QuanSpotifyYouTube
- Fett's Vette — MC ChrisSpotifyYouTube
- Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros — Flight of the ConchordsSpotifyYouTube
- Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates — Epic Rap Battles of HistorySpotifyYouTube
Sources
- Comedy rap and novelty rap histories
- Weird Al and Lonely Island discographies
- internet comedy music coverage
- artist biographies