The Beat Vs. A Killer Hook in Hot Hip Hop Songs

What makes the song a "Hot song" when it comes hip hop. Most hip hop lovers are stuck at a cross road when it comes to deciding what is more important. Some prefer the beat (percussion) and others prefer a killer hook. Then there is the rare chance that both of them are combined.

The Beat has been a part of hip hop for a very long time. Hip hop has progressed over the years and became a fore runner within the music industry. As long as the art has been around the beat has been a key element in the rise of the genre. What is the beat? By Webster's definition1 it is a rhythmic stress in poetry, music or the rhythmic effect of these. However in Hip hop it is so much more. To many, it is what makes the song a "hot one". A good beat comes in many different forms.

No matter what form it comes in, it can make or break a record. "The Beat" can be heard in songs of yesterday and the hip hop of today. This element can set the mood of the song. For example: it can make the song a party anthem or it can make it a "hood" anthem. A "Hood anthem" is a track that rings out loud in urban neighborhoods across the world. The beat is what makes the song stand out from other songs. Many argue it is the most part of the song.

One the other hand, there is another element that makes a song hot. It is what is called for some "a killer hook". It is what could be considered the glue that holds the song together. Like the beat it can make or break a song. Now in hip hop there are a few artists who prefer not to use the technique, but hooks can be found in almost every song created within the hip hop and many other genre. Take note that "A Hook" may go by another name in other genres. A killer hook gives the fan something to hang on to after the song is over. If the case is a fan can't remember the verses of the song, it can always be counted on that if the song is good they will remember the hook. Those few words can captivate millions. One of the main points to creating a hook is to bait and keep the attention of the fans. Creativity is a very important factor when mastering hook making.

Furthermore, credit should be given to all of those artists that have mastered the art of making those hooks that have keep us all hypnotized when listening to their music. For many, this is the most important portion of the song when it comes to hip hop at this moment. Hooks can connect the storyline of the song, make fans party and even make fans sympathize with the artist. It's true that hooks can be very important to a song.

However, what happens if both the beat and the hook are combined? Songs do not necessarily need a strong beat or a killer hook to make it a hot song. Arguably they are both equally important. The understanding of using the combination is usually learned with experience and patients. In some rare cases some artist are blessed to come up on a combination that works.

In conclusion, no matter what is preferred; whether it is the beat or a killer hook, they are both key elements to making a good song. Neither of them can complete a work of art without the verse. Hip hop is a very intricate industry. With that being said no portion is more important than the other one.
Work citied: The Merriam -Webster Dictionary (2005)