This article is about the genre known as simply electro, not to be confused with electro house, electroclash, electropop or electro-industrial, which are also often referred to as "electro" for short. Electro House is a subgenre of House music that rose to become one of the most prominent genres of Electronic dance music today Electroclash is a style of Music that fuses Electro-industrial is a musical outgrowth of the EBM and Post-industrial scene See Electro for other meanings of the term "electro".

Electro, short for electro funk (also known as robot hip hop and Electro hop) is an electronic style of hip hop directly influenced by Kraftwerk and funk records (unlike earlier rap records which were closer to disco). Synthpop is a subgenre of New Wave and Pop music in which the Synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Old school hip hop describes the earliest commercially recorded Hip hop music (1979–1984 and often by extension the music in the period preceding it ( see Roots The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For the early "drum machine" computers that used a rotating cylinder as their main memory see Drum memory A drum machine is an A vocoder, ˈvoʊkoʊdər (a Portmanteau of vox/voc ( voice) and encoder) is an analysis / synthesis system mostly used for speech in which the input is A sampler is an electronic musical instrument closely related to a Synthesizer. Electroclash is a style of Music that fuses Freestyle or Latin Freestyle, also called Latin Hip Hop in its early years is a form of Electronic music that is heavily influenced by Latin American Miami bass (also known as booty music, a term that may also include other genres such as Dirty rap) is a type of Hip hop music that became Techno Bass is a genre of Electro music that is heavily influenced by Miami Bass and Detroit Techno. Ghettotech is a form of electronic dance music originating from Detroit. Electronic music is music that employs Electronic musical instruments and Electronic Music technology in its production Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Kraftwerk (ˈkʁaftvɛɐk German for " power plant " or " Power station " is an influential Electronic music band from Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Disco is a Genre of dance-oriented music whose origins are hard to define Records in the genre typically have electronic sounds and some vocals are delivered in a deadpan, mechanical manner often through a vocoder or other electronic distortion. A vocoder, ˈvoʊkoʊdər (a Portmanteau of vox/voc ( voice) and encoder) is an analysis / synthesis system mostly used for speech in which the input is

Definition and characteristics

Electro is an artistic musical form in the wide world of electronic music culture. With few exceptions, the definition of the electro sound is the use of drum machines as the rhythmic base of a track. For the early "drum machine" computers that used a rotating cylinder as their main memory see Drum memory A drum machine is an Rhythm patterns tend to be electronic emulations of breakbeats, with syncopated kick drums, and usually a snare or clap accenting the downbeat. Breakbeat (sometimes breakbeats or breaks) is a term used to describe a collection of sub- genres of Electronic music, usually characterized Adopted by many electro enthusiasts, the Roland TR-808 is a legendary drum machine created in 1980 with a immediately recognizable sound. The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer was one of the first programmable Drum machines ("TR" serving as an Initialism for Transistor Rhythm Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) It remains popular in this and other genres to the present day. The instrumentation is generally all-electronic, favoring analog synthesis, funk-style bass lines, sequenced or arpeggiated synthetic riffs, and atonal sound effects all created with synthesizers. Funk is an American musical style that originated in the mid- to late-1960s when African American musicians blended Soul music, Soul Heavy use of effects such as reverbs, delays, chorus or phasers along with synthetic ensemble strings or pad sounds emphasize the common science fiction or futuristic theme of the lyrics and/or music. Reverberation is the persistence of Sound in a particular space after the original sound is removed Delay is an Audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time A chorus effect is A condition in the way people perceive similar sounds coming from multiple sources A phaser is an Audio signal processing technique used to filter a signal by creating a series of peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum The future is commonly understood to contain all events that have yet to occur Most electro is instrumental, but a common element is vocals processed through a vocoder. A vocoder, ˈvoʊkoʊdər (a Portmanteau of vox/voc ( voice) and encoder) is an analysis / synthesis system mostly used for speech in which the input is Additionally, speech synthesis may be used to create robotic or mechanical lyrical content. Speech synthesis is the artificial production of human speech. Some earlier electro features rapping, but that lyrical style has become less popular in the genre from the 1990s onward. Rapping (also known as emceeing, MCing, spitting, or just rhyming) is the Rhythmic spoken delivery of Rhymes wordplay and Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar)

Breakdancing

Concept albums are common in electro with Kraftwerk pioneering entire albums in technological or futuristic themes such as robots, computers, or nuclear sciences. In Popular music, a concept album is an Album which is "unified by a theme which can be instrumental compositional narrative or lyrical" Kraftwerk (ˈkʁaftvɛɐk German for " power plant " or " Power station " is an influential Electronic music band from Other examples even include Star Trek tributes, references and topics about cybernetics, physics, or interstellar travel inside electro projects such as I Borg, the Borganizm EP from Cybernet Systems, Il. Cybernetics is the interdisciplinary study of the Structure of Complex systems especially Communication processes control mechanisms and Feedback Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Interstellar space travel is unmanned or manned Travel between Stars The concept of interstellar travel in Starships is a staple in Science fiction Ek. Tro's track V-ger or Pascal F. E. O. S. 's GPL (Electro cut remix) (Gold Pressed Latinum). Many artists are entirely devoted to various sci-fi subjects of this kind.

History

Bronx, NY based electro funk artist Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" (1982) is one of the first electro records, using elements of Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express and "Numbers" (from Kraftwerk's Computer World album). Electro ( electro-boogie, electro-funk) is a Genre of Electronic music directly influenced by the use of TR-808 and Funk Afrika Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan on April 17, 1957) is an American DJ from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the " Planet Rock " is a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force. Kraftwerk (ˈkʁaftvɛɐk German for " power plant " or " Power station " is an influential Electronic music band from Trans-Europe Express is a 1977 album by German band Kraftwerk. Computer World ( German version Computerwelt) is a Concept album created by Kraftwerk and released in 1981

In 1983, along came Hashim, or Jerry Calliste Jr. Jerry Calliste Jr (born Gerald C Calliste Jr November 26, 1965 – Bronx, New York) is a American Entrepreneur , who created the influential electro funk tune "Al-Naafiysh (The Soul)" which became Cutting's first release in November of 1983^[1]. Jerry Calliste Jr (born Gerald C Calliste Jr November 26, 1965 – Bronx, New York) is a American Entrepreneur " At the time Hashim was influenced by Man Parrish's "Hip Hop Be Bop", Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science" and Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" ^[2]. Man Parrish (full name Manuel Joseph Parrish born May 6, 1958) is considered to be one of the pioneers of the Electronic music and Hip hop Thomas Dolby (born Thomas Morgan Robertson, on 14 October 1958) is an English Musician, producer and inventor "She Blinded Me With Science" is a New Wave song by British musician Thomas Dolby, released in 1982 Afrika Bambaataa (born Kevin Donovan on April 17, 1957) is an American DJ from the South Bronx, who was instrumental in the

Bambaataa and groups like Planet Patrol, Jonzun Crew, Mantronix, Newcleus and Juan Atkins' Detroit-based group Cybotron went on to influence the genres of Detroit techno, ghettotech, breakbeat, drum and bass and electroclash. Planet Patrol is an Electro group from the 1980s The members were Arthur Baker (musician, John Robie (musician a quintet of vocalists led Jonzun Crew was a seminal electro group led by Michael Jonzun and featuring his brothers Maurice Starr and Soni Jonzun, and also featuring Carl Mantronix was an innovative and influential 1980s Hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik ( Kurtis el Khaleel Newcleus is a group that came in on the first wave of Electro in the early 1980s Juan Atkins (born December 9, 1962) is an American musician He is widely credited as the originator of Techno music specifically Detroit techno is an early style of electronic music beginning in 1980s Ghettotech is a form of electronic dance music originating from Detroit. Breakbeat (sometimes breakbeats or breaks) is a term used to describe a collection of sub- genres of Electronic music, usually characterized Electroclash is a style of Music that fuses Early producers in the electro genre (notably Arthur Baker, John Robie, Shep Pettibone, and the Latin Rascals) would feature prominently in the Latin Freestyle (or simply "Freestyle") movement of the early and mid-1980s. Arthur Baker may refer to Arthur Baker (calligrapher, calligrapher and typeface designer Arthur Baker (musician, record producer and DJ Robert E Pettibone Jr (born 15 July 1959, better known as Shep Pettibone) is a Record producer, remixer songwriter and club DJ Freestyle or Latin Freestyle, also called Latin Hip Hop in its early years is a form of Electronic music that is heavily influenced by Latin American Baker and Pettibone would enjoy robust careers well into the house era, and both would elude the "genre trap" to successfully produce mainstream artists.

Subgenres

Los Angeles artists Egyptian Lover and Arabian Prince gave birth to electro-hop a less funky, more bass-heavy West Coast sound, similar to 2 Live Crew and the Miami Bass scene. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Egyptian Lover (born Greg Broussard on August 31, 1963) is an American Electro-hop musician vocalist producer and DJ and was an Arabian Prince is the Stage name of Mik Lezan (born June 17, 1965 in Compton, California) a rapper and A bassline (also spelled bass line) is the term used in many styles of Popular music, such as jazz blues funk and electronic Music for the low-pitched West Coast hip hop is a style of Hip hop music that originated in California in the early 1980s 2 Live Crew is a hip hop group from Miami Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the Sexual themes in their work particularly on their Miami bass (also known as booty music, a term that may also include other genres such as Dirty rap) is a type of Hip hop music that became Other artists in this style include Chris "The Glove" Taylor and World Class Wreckin' Cru. Chris "The Glove" Taylor was one of the DJ pioneers on the West Coast The World Class Wreckin' Cru was a 1980s Electro-hop group from Compton, California formed by the Eve After Dark nightclub owner and established DJ Alonzo

Detroit also has a unique style sometimes called Ghetto Tech which is a fusion of Detroit Techno, Miami Bass, and Electro. Ghettotech is a form of electronic dance music originating from Detroit. Detroit techno is an early style of electronic music beginning in 1980s Miami bass (also known as booty music, a term that may also include other genres such as Dirty rap) is a type of Hip hop music that became On the East Coast, electro spawned freestyle, when syncopated rhythms were added to the basic formula. Freestyle or Latin Freestyle, also called Latin Hip Hop in its early years is a form of Electronic music that is heavily influenced by Latin American In Miami, a prominent subgenre of Freestyle (best termed "Latin Hip Hop") would emerge as HiNRG and House music elements were thrown into the soup. The most famous example of this style would be studio group Expose, who would eventually be brought to life as a live-singing girl group and would achieve platinum success in the late 1980s with such hits as "Point Of No Return" and "Seasons Change". Exposé is an American Vocal group. Primarily consisting of lead vocalists Ann Curless, Jeanette Jurado, and Gioia Bruno

Contemporary electro

Although the early 1980s were electro's heyday in the mainstream, it has enjoyed new popularity in the late 1990s with artists such as Anthony Rother, DMX Krew, Mr Velcro Fastener and Japanese Telecom (Dopplereffekt) and DJs such as Dave Clarke. Anthony Rother is an electronic music composer producer and label owner living in Frankfurt, Germany. DMX Krew (also known as EDMX) is the recording name of Ed Upton Mr Velcro Fastener (commonly mislabeled as Mr Velcro Fastener) is a Finnish Electro music duo of Tatu Metsätähti (born 1977 Dopplereffekt are a Detroit Techno group which is thought to be composed of Gerald Donald, Kim Karli, Rudolf Ellis Klorzeiger and William Dave Clarke (born 19 September 1968 in Brighton) is an English Techno Producer and DJ, often given Some current artists making music in this style have embraced the pseudonyms of Detroit techno pioneers. Techno is a form of Electronic dance music (EDM that emerged in Detroit, Michigan, USA during the mid to late 1980s The renewed interest in electro, though influenced to a great degree by Detroit and New York music, is primarily taking hold elsewhere with electro club nights becoming commonplace again.

A new branch of electro, Skweee, has risen over the last couple of years from Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Finland, hence its first name "Scandinavian Funk". Skweee is a musical style with origin in Nordic countries Sweden and Finland. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. The outlets and artists of Skweee are still mostly limited to Scandinavia.

Music sample

Planet Rock (sample)

Short sample of "Planet Rock", originally released in 1982 by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force.

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Artists

This is a list of some electro artists. For electroclash artists: see list of electroclash artists. Electroclash is a style of Music that fuses For electropop artists: see electropop.

See also

Video clips

• Man Parrish - Hip Hop Be Bop(Don't Stop)
• I-F - Secret Desire

References

External links

• 100 Greatest Electro Songs
• Electro Funk: What Did It All Mean?
• Rap meets Techno, with a short history of Electro