Hip-Hop and Programming

While most people wouldn't think to use the two words in the same sentence, Hip-Hop and programming are full of similarities in terms of the outlet they provide to the artist or programmer. Hip-Hop is arguably the most popular modern form of expression; it has rapidly grown as a genre throughout the past two decades. Programming, while getting less mainstream attention, is arguably the most important form of expression, as technology continues to take over the logistics of just about every market, art form, or even day-to-day life. In music, computers and programs have completely changed the way music is made. 50-60 years ago, in the Beatles era, music was either recorded live and laid on a vinyl record, a process that became the norm in the 40's, or recorded onto separate cassette tapes and layered during production, which became popular in the 60's. Now, computer programs make up most of music production.




Above is a music production software, specifically Ableton Live. Ableton is used by producers varying from beginners to professional, famous DJ's and Hip-Hop producers. Music software accepts input and organizes sound while giving home and studio producers thousands of possibilities in transforming their sounds. Obviously, none of this would be possible had Ableton not started with the first few lines of code it took to create it. While complicated and sometimes hard to use, using Ableton or other similar programs is no challenge compared to progressive production methods such as layering primitive tapes with an impressive amount of precision, a tactic used by the Beatles to support the creative phase seen (heard) in their later albums.

Hip-Hop (all music, really) and computer science both offer the artist or programmer creative freedom in expression, but also both operate under strict rules. Writing and rapping verses is a precise art; constructing intricate rhyme schemes that simultaneously tell a story and stay perfectly on beat is, to put it simply, difficult. In my personal experience and observation, the same can be said for programming. Learning to maximize expression within a somewhat limited medium is equally impressive and important in both fields.

Sources:

Knowledge on music production history:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/inside/cron.html
Ableton image:
http://benjaminheine.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-new-home-ableton-live.html