 Emcee Department The art of vocal expression, lyrical flow and moving a crowd through message, rhythm, rhyme, and reason. (aka "Rap") The Emcee' Department will offer three classes: Emcee' - Beginner Students will learn the history of the EMCEE and acquire basic fundamental knowledge of what it takes to become a great EMCEE. Students will also be guided through proper mic holding techniques, and get basic experience with live and recorded performance. Emcee' - Intermediate Students will begin to produce quality recordings and have a clear sense of their own style as well as their limits in techniques. Students will be exploring many new possibilities in their own art form. Emcee' - Advanced Students will be preparing to master their style and technique through single and multi-track recording, along with live presentations, and will be given direction in pursuing artistic careers. They will also be taught the major differences between recording arts and live performing arts. Students will also be taught the use of digital and analog processors that can manipulate and enhance sound recordings and live performances. Workshop Specifics
A short History & Description of Emcee The term Emcee' comes from the abbreviated Master of Ceremonies (M.C.). In its conventional sense, MC referred to the master of a ceremony or of an event. From there,the MC evolved to become an entertainer and a public speaker. This element embraces the American Constitutional right of Freedom of Speech. The MC is the voice of Hip Hop ones who directs, moves, and inspires the crowd with rhyme and reason. DJ Pete Jones, KC the Prince of Soul, Shiba Shiba, DJ Hollywood, Lovebug Starski, Brucie B, The Cowboy, Coke La Rock,MC Happy, Timmy Hall, Grand Master Caz, Melle Mel &The Furious Five, Shake Rock, The Cold Crush Brothers, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Moe Dee & The Treacherous Three, Fantastic 5, Sugar Hill Gang, Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, Whodini Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Egyptian Lover, Jazzy D, Ice T and KRS-ONE are a few of the MC Legends that made Hip Hop what it is today. Emcee' or Rappin' is the most famous, financially lucrative, and corporate exploited element of Hip Hop due to the record companies who saw its value originating with Sugar Hill Gang's"Rapper's Delight" which was the first Hip Hop single to become a Top 40 hit. Kurtis Blow was the first Emcee to get a mainstream record deal. The MC is the Poet and the Spoken Message of Hip Hop. It all began with clean and positive rhymes, just being clever with words. An MC can rap about his thoughts, feelings, experiences, or just about anything at all that he/she is choosing to communicate. Today, the true MC seeks to be a master of his/her own vocal expression, music, message and consciousness. Most MC's rate themselves on their ability to "rock a party", speak clearly into the mic, tell a good story, or"battle" freestyle "off the top of their head" without writing or planning anything. A talented MC can "drop" one single and turn it into a multi-million dollar product. This is why record companies and rappers have made so much money. It all started with DJ's first utilizing vocals to get the crowd involved. The MC is the powerful element that then took vocals and lyrics and elevated Hip Hop to its modern day Superstar Generating status. Lovebug Starski was the first to coin the phrase hip hop as well as The Cowboy (RIP) the rhyme goes something like this. A little Hip Hop, The hibiti, The hibiti-hip hip hop. A little little, little,little, little Hip Hop as he danced moving his hips. The rest remains history in the making. | |
