Did Clipping Create The “Rap Noise Pop” Genre?
Did Clipping Create the ‘Rap Noise Pop’ Genre?
It was Heems of Das Racist who once coined the term ‘rap noise pop’ in a joke about the type of tracks he liked, however if you listen to anything by LA based trio Clipping you can see how this might be an apt term for what they put out. While you may see them referred to as ‘industrial hip hop’ or ‘avant garde rap’, these terms seem a little too contrived to truly describe the kind of wall of sound these artists create. Highly acclaimed critically on both sides of the Atlantic, they are somewhat divisive among underground hip hop fans, with some really impressed by their unique sound and others finding it to be a bit arty and possibly even somewhat hipster (a rare thing to be said about any predominantly hip hop artist!).
Their sound is pretty difficult to describe in words, so, if you haven’t heard them and would like to make your own mind up where you stand on their style, then I can only suggest starting with their 2013 debut album Midcity, cranking it up loud on a good audio system (check out this Focusrite Scarlett 241 review), and playing it all the way through. Like many more progressive sounding artists, Midcity Clipping made an album that works best listened to the old school way – from beginning to end in the listed track order – to get the sense of the way the moods change throughout the album and the way the tracks compliment each other. Of course, in the digital age, you are going to end up just picking the best ones and sticking them on a playlist, but to really give this creative, cool and decidedly weird album a fair trial, start off with a full listen – you won’t regret it!
Who Are Clipping?
Clipping are an interesting collective which comprises an electro-acoustic sound designer and member of Captain Ahab, a duo specializing in what they call ‘ravesploitation’ Jonathan Snipes, MC Daveed Diggs providing the vocals, and UCLA PhD candidate and ‘noise artist’ William Hutson. As you can see from the line up, this was never going to be your typical hip hop project, but since the launch of Midcity, Clipping are getting a lot of recognition.
Sound and Lyrics
The cover of Midcity, a weird modern art black and white mess of lines, is actually very appropriate for the sound, and while they have produced further releases and are all active both within Clipping and in their other respective projects, it can be seen as the best introduction to a sound that could be considered an acquired taste! Lyrically, they are a lot more conventional hip hop than the industrial ‘wall of noise’ sound implies. While they tend to stay away from the sexual stuff for the most part, there is a fair amount of political polemic and Daveed Diggs offers pretty much perfect rap vocals with seamless rhymes and good flow.
If you are looking for an underground act that can still surprise you, this is one that comes highly recommended.
