What's The Difference--if any--Is There Between Rap and Hip-hop???

"Rap is something you do, but hip-hop is something you live."

I love to use that line. I guess really the only way to resolve that question is on who has the more convincing debate. People who don't live the Hip Hop culture would probably say no there isn't a difference.

People like me, who live the culture will give you a very passionate and convincing argument that there is a big difference. I'm a B-girl, I was raised in the Hip Hop culture going back to the Beatstreet, break dancing days. I listen to artists like the Roots, Aceyalone, the Pharcyde, Common, Mos Def, Talib, etc...

I can't stand most of this down south, get krunk stuff. I am really not a big fan of gangsta rap either.

So I say yes there is a difference.

Rap is what you hear on the radio. Hip-hop isn't played much because a lot of record companies do sign them because their music doesn't sound like "what's hot now" like Lil' Jon, MIMS, or The Ying Yang Twins. Hip-hop tends to be more thought provoking and actually speak about issues important to the writer or current events. Also hip-hop tends to throw another genre of music in the mix with the traditional beats and style of urban music. Rap started as a means for blacks to show the world their stance on political issues (i.e. Public Enemy, NWA, Grandmaster Flash) and continued as black used it to display their view on what they saw on a daily basis in their world (i.e. Snoop, Biggie, Tupac). These artist saw hate, violence, drugs, and mistreatment frequently and told their story. But now instead of continuing the trend to use music as an outlet RAP has just copied the talk of drugs, sex, violence, and discrimination of the forefathers of the genre instead of making it there own. Hip-hop actually makes the music their own. Check out Mos Def & Talib Kweli, The Roots (of course), Hi-Tek, LITTLE BROTHER, 9th Wonder, Nicolay, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, MF Doom, Cunninglynguist, MASTA ACE, Gangstarr and KRS-One for examples of true hip-hop.

P.S.: Alicia Keyes and Usher are R&B or Neo Soul

The phrase "hip-hop" was used to describe Alicia Keys and Lauren Hill and Usher and other talented black artists to get away from the violent rap image. When "hip-hop" became popular, rap artists began to describe themselves as "hip-hop" to become more marketable, but they never changed their content.

hiphop is the culture and rap is just a part of that culture.

rap is just beats and rapping

hiphop is your dj making the beats, a rapper, graffiti, breakdancers, the way you dress "not necessarily the way rappers dress but your style".

There is no diff... its all crap