Clarifications concerning hip hop

A few recent blog posts on hip hop made me think that it would be worthwhile to set some things straight about which a good number of people (even those who like hip hop) seem to be confused.

• Hip hop is a genre of music. Rap is a vocal style.

Rap music may have been a common term at one time (and a cheesy dc Talk song), but it is a misnomer. However, a piece of hip hop containing rap vocals is accurately called "a rap." (Though this is now a very square way to put it... preferable options include the classic standbys "a joint" and "a jam.")

• Rapping is a musical vocalization that keys on rhythm, as opposed to singing, which is a musical vocalization that keys on melody or harmony.

• Both rapping and singing are accurately described as "talking to music," but neither is merely talking to music.

• If you ever say something like "crap music" as an attempt to make a play on the phrase "rap music," you are not funny or clever. You are, in point of fact, a douche.