Ella
Rapping is also known as MCing ( Em-cee'ing )
Rapping takes a lot of practice. Skilled rappers rhyme in time with the music, using their voices like percussion instruments.
The best rappers can freestyle (make it up on the spot).
Like a jazz musician doing a solo, no two performances are the same.
Jazz rap is the style performed in the film by Maxi Jazz from the band Faithless.
Let's listen to a short soundclip
Listen (35 secs: mp3)
Download the lyrics to "Finally I'm Awake"
Jazz Daze features a Jazz Rap performed by Maxi Jazz of Faithless .
The music of Maxi Jazz and Faithless is underpinned by strong convictions. Lyrics challenge assumptions, and compositions address important issues e.g. Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Maxi has worked with Courtney on a number of projects, including the Back in the Day album .
Maxi's rap celebrates musicians who made important contributions to the development of jazz
- Listen to Awake!
- Concentrate on the vocal track paying particular attention to vocal intonation and rhyming
- Find out about, and listen to, some of the jazz musicians mentioned in Awake!
- Research the history of jazz, along with some key artists (students might listen to Gangstarr's Jazzthing. This charts the history of jazz from its origins in Africa)
- Compose a jazz rap about a Jazz musician, or an episode of jazz history
- Perform the rap over a groove prepared using music software or a keyboard