Zuko’s Music Industry Theories for Success Vol. 11: History Repeats Itself & That’s Just How it Goes (The Full Circle Effect) a thread

Lets get into it, this theory is pretty open ended, more of a topic of discussion but I noticed a few commonalities that I just cant ignore. Rappers make certain artistic choices NOW that people in the past have made to make them successful & I would like to touch on some of them

Danny Brown has a specific nasal delivery that is reminiscent of B Real of Cypress Hill. But also he has his toned down voice he busts out on songs like “Tell Me What I Don’t Know” This reminds me of Axl Rose of Guns n Roses who also uses 2 distinct voices in his music. Hi & Low

Meek Mill’s most beloved song Dreams & Nightmares has a unique rap structure, soft sad sentimental struggle rap in the beginning then explodes into a banger. This is like the Styx‘s Come Sail Away, which begins with a piano ballad and explodes to a rock banger halfway through

Trap artists like the 2016 xxl freshman have been a breed unlike any other. They don’t respect old rap idols, they don’t cherish the craft, they break gender norms & they just want to have fun! Like the early Punk Rockers like the Sex Pistols. Both controversial & fun as fuck

Travis Scott started making HARD rap utilizing drenching effects on his vocals & instrumentation creating maximalist psychedelic rap. As Pink Floyd did with psychedelic rock music. They shifted the genre and opened up so many doors as Travis is currently doing.

Somebody like Juice Wrld who is obviously trap and emo rap inspired is similar to pop punk emo bands like Blink 182. Songs about high school love, catchy choruses but still with the attitude of the original genres they take from. They both took the darkness and made it catchy.

Lastly Frank Ocean & Elton John. Both incredible songwriters with amazing vocal talent. Both creating narrative of nostalgia empathy love and depression. “Someone saved my life tonight” has similar themes as Super Rich Kids (It helps that frank sampled elton in that song lol)

The Lesson:
Sometimes life music & history all repeat each other, whether intentional or not. If you know the history of music it is much easier to make the future.
I know as an artist it feels weird to study other artists and not make your own work but i promise its worth it

Thanks again for reading.

Please drop examples of this that you’ve found I’d love to hear more or point out some i forgot lmao

Hope you’re doing well Fire Nation, study up on your music history

- Prince Zuko