Rap has remapped the way we think about music. For more than fifty years its poetics, performance and political power has resonated across the globe. This Companion offers an array of perspectives on the form, from the fields of sociology, linguistics, musicology, psychology, literary studies, education and law, unpacking how this versatile form of oral communication has permeated nearly every aspect of daily life. Taking a decidedly global perspective, these accounts draw from practice in Australia, China, France, Germany, Jamaica, India and Tanzania; exploring how the form has taken hold in particular contexts, and what this can tell us about the medium itself and the environments in which it was repurposed. An indispensable resource for students and researchers, the collection provides an introduction to global rap studies as well as insights into the some of the most important and exciting new developments in this field.

Introduces the world's most popular form of performed poetry, from Nicki Minaj to Stormzy, with insights from many academic disciplines.

About the Author
Richard Bramwell is Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies at Loughborough University. He is the author of UK Hip Hop, Grime and the City (2015). His research has been published in Popular Music, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power. Alex de Lacey is Assistant Professor in Popular Music, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. He is the author of Level Up: Live Performance and Creative Process in Grime Music (2023). His research on rap has appeared in Popular Music, Popular Music History, and Global Hip-Hop Studies.


Book Information
ISBN 9781316515266
Author Richard Bramwell
Format Hardback
Page Count 350
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press