Party Rap
tagStarted 1980Peak 1982-1987Last big hit 1988
Located in 1 route
Upbeat, good-time hip-hop built for crowd-rocking: bright drum-machine grooves, chant-along hooks, hand-claps and call-and-response routines. Lyrics keep it light — partying, dancing, comedy and boasts — with charismatic, animated delivery. The aim is fun and dance-floor energy over message or technical density.
History
Grew out of the MC's original job: keeping a party moving. After Kurtis Blow's celebratory hits, groups like Whodini and the Fat Boys built mid-'80s careers on crowd-pleasing, humor-laced party anthems. The style ran parallel to harder new-school rap and helped rap cross to a wide pop audience before more serious lyricism took over.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old-school_hip-hop
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/old-school-rap-ma0000004449
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/party-rap-ma0000012039