History Main / GlamRap

Glam Rap isn't so much a genre as it is a label (usually pejoratively) that's thrown at most hip-hop in the TurnOfTheMillennium. The [[UrExample earliest form of hip-hop]] that showed shades of this was probably Music/EricBAndRakim's ''Music/PaidInFull'' album, followed by the works of Big Daddy Kane and eventually Cash Money Records. Glam Rap is arguably a good way for a rapper to be mainstream without losing "street cred". Sure, they talk about the streets, but not necessarily in the same way as in [[GangstaRap other, more controversial rap genres]].

* The UrExample: the album ''Music/PaidInFull'' by Eric B. and Rakim.

* Music/JayZ's "Big Pimpin" is the [[/index]] TropeCodifier. [[index]]
* Many artists signed to Cash Money Records.
* Some of Big Daddy Kane's early work.
* Ja Rule fell into this. He was originally a hardcore [[/index]] {{gangsta rap}}per, so this change was very jarring to some people.[[index]]
* Music/FiftyCent shows shades of this.

* [[Music/LilKim Lil' Kim]].
* Music/TheLonelyIsland's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaSdC0QOUM&ob=av3e "I'm On a Boat"]] is a parody of this. [[/index]]

Glam Rap isn't so much a genre as it is a label (usually pejoratively) that's thrown at most hip-hop in the TurnOfTheMillennium. The [[UrExample earliest form of hip-hop]] that showed shades of this was probably Eric B. & Rakim's ''Paid In Full'' album, followed by the works of Big Daddy Kane and eventually Cash Money Records. Glam Rap is arguably a good way for a rapper to be mainstream without losing "street cred". Sure, they talk about the streets, but not necessarily in the same way as in [[GangstaRap other, more controversial rap genres]].

* The UrExample: the album ''Paid in Full'' by Eric B. and Rakim.
* Mars ILL's "Glam Rap" is the TropeNamer.
* Music/JayZ's "Big Pimpin" is the TropeCodifier.

* Ja Rule fell into this. He was originally a hardcore {{gangsta rap}}per, so this change was very jarring to some people.
* FiftyCent shows shades of this.

* TheLonelyIsland's [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avaSdC0QOUM&ob=av3e "I'm On a Boat"]] is a parody of this.

* Dr. Evil's rap in the third ''AustinPowers'' film parodies glam rap.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial, and that acts tend to be less topical and reliant on novel lyrical flow. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial and hedonistic HairMetal that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene (and rock music in general) in TheEighties, and the antithesis to the old-school hip-hop that came out of that era. The names are even similar -- one of the most common alternative names for hair metal (and which happens to be the one in use at TheOtherWiki) is "glam metal". There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

* {{Jay-Z}}'s "Big Pimpin" is the TropeCodifier.

->''"[[TitleDrop Glam rap.]] It's made for the clubs where they don't know the truth, but they making it up.\\

* {{Jay-Z}}'s "Big Pimpin", however, is the TropeCodifier.

->''"[[TitleDrop Glam rap.]] It's made for the clubs where they don't know the truth, but they making it up. Glam rap. It glitters and it shines, but it don't reflect for me and mine. Glam rap. We gonna burn it down, quick to wreck your body and say "turn the party out". Glam rap. It's pretty-faced and perfect, we working the circuits just to bring the fans back."''

Their content is more or less the hip-hop equivalent of the ''Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'', and definitely lighter in tone and more radio-friendly. Expect the music videos to feature the following motifs: sprawling mansions; long, luxury yachts; exotic, six-figure sports cars and luxury cars; {{pimped out car}}s with big DUB rims (which may or may not be [[EverythingsBetterWithSpinning spinning]]) and/or lowrider hydraulics; tons of {{stripperific}} models [[ThreeMinutesOfWrithing gyrating]] by the large infinity pool with glasses full of champagne; and lots of big, gaudy jewelry.

->''"You diss me out of pride
->But when you're finished talking about money and bitches you're simply out of rhymes."''

--> ''[[TitleDrop Glam rap.]] It's made for the clubs where they don't know the truth, but they making it up. Glam rap. It glitters and it shines, but it don't reflect for me and mine. Glam rap. We gonna burn it down, quick to wreck your body and say "turn the party out". Glam rap. It's pretty-faced and perfect, we working the circuits just to bring the fans back.''
---> '''Mars ILL''', "Glam Rap"

* [[strike: Sean Combs, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy,]] Diddy, of course.
* [[LilKim Lil' Kim]].

* Parodied on ''TheSimpsons'' where it was used as a GainaxEnding to the episode "Pranksta Rap"

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial and hedonistic {{hair metal}} that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene (and rock music in general) in TheEighties. The names are even similar -- one of the most common alternative names for hair metal (and which happens to be the one in use at TheOtherWiki) is "glam metal". There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial and hedonistic {{hair metal}} that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene (and rock music in general) in TheEighties. The names are even similar -- one of the most common alternative names for hair metal (and which happens to be the one in use at TheOtherWiki) is "glam metal". Of course, YourMileageMayVary on whether you believe this to be true. There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

* SnoopDogg and his song "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" may very well be the TropeMaker.

* {{T-Pain}}.

* Lil' Kim.

* {{Jay-Z}}'s "Big Pimpin" however is the TropeCodifier.

* [=~50 Cent~=] shows shades of this.

Glam Rap isn't so much a genre as it is a label (usually pejoratively) that's thrown at most hip-hop in the TurnOfTheMillennium. The [[UrExample earliest form of hip-hop]] that showed shades of this was probably Eric B. & Rakim's ''Paid In Full'' album. Followed by the works of Big Daddy Kane, and eventually Cash Money Records. Glam Rap is arguably a good way for a rapper to be mainstream without losing "street cred". Sure, they talk about the streets, but not necessarily in the same way as other rap genres.

Their content is more or less the hip-hop equivalent of the ''Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous'', and definitely lighter in tone and more radio friendly. Expect the music videos to have sprawling mansions, and exotic six figure cars (that may or may not have been rented). There's also tons of {{stripperific}} models [[ThreeMinutesOfWrithing gyrating]] by the large infinity pool with glasses full of champagne, or on a long luxury yacht. There's also lots of big gaudy jewelry and {{Pimped Out Car}}s, with big DUB rims (which may or may not be spinning) and/or lowrider hydraulics.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial {{hair metal}} that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene (and rock music in general) in TheEighties. The names are even similar -- one of the most common alternative names for hair metal (and which is used by TheOtherWiki) is "glam metal". Of course, YourMileageMayVary on whether you believe this to be true. There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial HairMetal that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene in TheEighties. Of course, YourMileageMayVary on whether you believe this to be true. There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

* {{Jay-Z}}'s ''Big Pimpin'' however is the TropeCodifier.

* {{Jay-Z}}.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because it's usually [[WolverinePublicity the only type of rap]] [[ItsPopularNowItSucks that seems to get played on the radio]] or [[MagazineDecay covered in magazines]], leaving people to believe that rap has gotten too commercial. In this sense, it can be seen as rap's analogue to the unapologetically commercial HairMetal that dominated the [[Music/HeavyMetal metal]] scene in TheEighties. Of course YourMileageMayVary on whether you believe this to be true. There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

Glam Rap isn't so much a genre as it is a label (usually pejoratively) that's thrown at most hip-hop in the TurnOfTheMillennium. The earliest form of hip-hop that showed shades of this was probably Eric B. & Rakim's ''Paid In Full'' album. Followed by the works of Big Daddy Kane, and eventually Cash Money Records. Glam Rap is arguably a good way for a rapper to be mainstream without losing "street cred". Sure, they talk about the streets, but not necessarily in the same way as other rap genres.

Glam Rap isn't so much a genre as it is a label (usually pejoratively) that's thrown at most modern hip-hop post [[TheNineties 90's]]. The earliest form of hip-hop that showed shades of this was probably Eric B. & Rakim's ''Paid In Full'' album. Followed by the works of Big Daddy Kane, and eventually Cash Money Records. Glam Rap is arguably a good way for a rapper to be mainstream with out losing "street cred". Sure they talk about the streets but not necessarily in the same way as other rap genres.

Their content is more or less the hip-hop equivalent of the ''Life Styles Of The Rich And Famous'', and definitely lighter in tone and more radio friendly. Expect the music videos to have sprawling mansions, and exotic six figure cars (that may or may not have been rented). There's also tons of {{Stripperific}} models Gyrating by the large infinity pool with glasses full of champagne, or on a long luxury yacht. Also there's scenes of big gaudy jewelery, and big DUB rims or spinners, or even bouncing lowriders.

The sub-genre gets a lot of heat because this is usually the only type of rap that the media seems to be willing to play on music blocks and radio station. leaving people to believe rap has gotten too commercial, So much so they think it's also [[MagazineDecay spreading to the magazines]]. Of course YourMileageMayVary on whether you believe this to be true. There is some overlap with GangstaRap, as many of these artists have a dark side. One doesn't always indicate the other, however.

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!!Music Examples:

* SnoopDogg and his song "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" may very well be the TropeCodifier.
* Jay-Z
* Cash Money Records, this was their whole shtick.
* Some of Big Daddy Kane's early work
* Ja Rule fell into this, ironically he was originally a hardcore rapper with gritty music videos. His change was very jarring to some people
* 50 Cent shows shades of this.

* Lil' Kim

Their content is more or less the hip-hop equivalent of the ''Life Styles Of The Rich And Famous'', and definitely lighter in tone and more radio friendly. Expect the music videos to have sprawling mansions, and exotic six figure cars (that may or may not have been rented). There's also tons of {{Stripperific}} models Gyrating by the large infinity pool with glasses full of champagne, or on a long luxury yacht. Also there's scenes of big gaudy jewelery, and big DUB rims or spinners..