Definition of rap

rapnoun

rap

/ræp//ræp/

The origins of the word "rap" in its music context can be traced back to the early 1980s in New York City's Bronx borough. According to most sources, the term "rap" first emerged as an abbreviation for "rappin'" or "repeated action of pulling out patrol," which referred to the manner in which DJs would "rap" or "recite" over the musical breaks between songs. These DJs would often chant and speak over funk and soul songs, making references to their own experiences and those in their communities. This practice eventually led to the emergence of MCs, or "masters of ceremonies," who would write and perform their own original pieces of spoken-word poetry over instrumentals. The term "rap" gradually evolved to describe both the spoken-word style and the music genre as a whole, which combines elements of rhythmic spoken language, music, and dance. The word "rap" has since become synonymous with hip-hop culture and continues to be used to describe various aspects of this influential art form.

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a quick, sharp hit or knock

một cú đánh hoặc gõ nhanh, sắc nét

Example:
  • There was a sharp rap on the door.

    Có tiếng gõ mạnh vào cửa.

a type of popular music with a fast strong rhythm and words which are spoken fast, not sung

một loại nhạc phổ biến có tiết tấu nhanh, mạnh và lời nói nhanh, không được hát

Example:
  • a rap song/artist

    một bài hát/nghệ sĩ rap

  • one of the biggest artists on the rap scene

    một trong những nghệ sĩ lớn nhất trong giới rap

Related words and phrases

a rap song

một bài hát rap

a criminal conviction (= the fact of being found guilty of a crime)

một bản án hình sự (= thực tế bị kết tội)

an unfair judgement on something or somebody

một sự phán xét không công bằng về một cái gì đó hoặc ai đó

Example:
  • He denounced the criticisms as ‘just one bum rap after another.’

    Anh ấy tố cáo những lời chỉ trích là “chỉ hết bài rap này đến bài rap khác”.

  • Wolves get a bad rap, says a woman who owns three.

    Người phụ nữ nuôi ba con sói cho biết: “Sói bị mang tiếng xấu”.

Idioms

beat the rap
(North American English, slang)to escape without being punished
(give somebody/get) a rap on/over/across the knuckles
(informal)(to give somebody/receive) strong criticism for something
  • We got a rap over the knuckles for being late.
  • take the rap (for somebody/something)
    (informal)to be blamed or punished, especially for something you have not done
  • She was prepared to take the rap for the shoplifting, though it had been her sister's idea.