Research Project

I chose “melody rap and its influence on youth” as the focus of my research project because it

represents one of the first hip-hop styles that shaped my initial understanding and appreciation

of the genre. Its fusion of rhythmic lyricism with melodic elements encouraged me to explore

hip-hop more deeply, both musically and culturally. The artist I will examine is Drake, a leading

figure in contemporary melodic rap whose work blends rap, pop, and R&B influences. His sound

reflects the evolution of hip-hop in the 2010s, particularly in its emphasis on emotional

expression and crossover appeal. One representative track that demonstrates this stylistic

fusion is Started From the Bottom (2013), which highlights his combination of assertive rap

delivery and memorable melodic structure.

Started From the Bottom (2013)

Drake’s music is influenced by many genres, but he primarily subtly reminds us of Lil Wayne, his

first mentor and the person who shaped Drake’s rap style with his iconic punchlines. Kanye

West was one of the first to bring the melodic rap genre to life with its automatic rhythms and

deep inner delivery.

This is comment from professor

Drake, as you know, is a superstar, and your proposal doesn’t appear to add anything new to the analysis. What you need to do at this point is to choose 2 additional artists who also do “melody rap” (which you’ll need to define). You’ll include them in your analyses of flow, lyric content, and track. THE RESEARCH COMPONENT

1. You must ground your artist or topic in hip-hop history by connecting them with a related artist and/or topic discussed in the class and/or referenced in RHC (references are required). Incorporate relevant vocabulary words and concepts. Which artist discussed in the class or course materials best compares with your chosen artist, and why? What styles and era discussed in the course best apply?
2. Your original analyses of 3-5 songs are central to this project. Incorporate FLOW, LYRIC CONTENT, and TRACK into your analyses with details supporting descriptions. Restrict your samples to 4-7 to keep the presentation within time boundaries. You can look at 3-5 songs by a single artist, or 3 artists that represent a subgenre or movement.
3. You must use AT LEAST FIVE (5) research-based or journalistic readings that you really referenced (evidenced by quotes with inline citations and references in Summary). One of the five research-based writings MUST be RHC with at least one reference a page. In other words: RHC + four (4) additional writings. Those three must be secondary sources (journals, books, articles); two can be primary sources (interviews, websites, transcripts), described below. Wiki, Generative Ai, artist websites and the like, don’t count although you should cite them if used beyond basic knowledge, like birth year and region represented. For those discussing AI topics, cite AI-generated songs as you would a traditional song, paying close attention to the details posted in the the video’s notes. Additionally, cite your photos sources as well. For those working on topics regarding AI-generated music forms, this may be a developing issue.
4. At least three of the non-RHC references MUST be digital and/or hardcover academic/scholarly and/or peer-reviewed books, including articles in Canvas Files. Examples include TTJ, and other books available through the UCI Library’s .
5. Journalistic references (NPR.org, LA Times, NY Times, Black Music Research Journal, etc.) are recommended; some are available through JSTOR. Professional entertainment periodicals (hardcover and online) also provide useful content: Vibe Magazine, TheSource.com, Billboard.com, dissertations, Rolling Stone. Artist websites, AI, Wikipedia, and YouTube information are not reliable sources. However, Wiki is useful for quick data, like an album’s recording date or an artist’s birth place. Additionally, Wiki references are a great starting place to find approved sources. Social media posts (Instagram, TikTok, etc.) and artist biographies can and should be used as support, but will not count as any of the required references. Not sure how to choose the right kinds of research materials?
7. to learn about acceptable scholarly sources.
8. You must include 3-5 short music or video examples in your video to analyze (Flow, Lyric Content Track). Examples should only be 15-30 seconds, just long enough to illustrate specific point. Please cue, either with a hyperlink (preferred) or by with a timestamp in this format: (2:34) or (3:10-3:30).
9. Create a balance between historical information and your own music analysis, with emphasis on the latter.
10. Your face/s must appear in the video when not presenting music examples for most of the duration, with your narration.
11. As you research, keep track of your sources to cite, even for your video! Here are suggestions via Scribbr.

How do I know what kind of resource is acceptable for this project? Here are some suggestions paraphrased from UC Irvine Arts Librarian, Scott Stone:

No matter the type of resourcelibrary provided or random internetthe following questions can help you think about the difference:

Who is the author?

• Many articles on the internet are anonymous. If you cant tell who wrote it, then you probably shouldnt use it. Even once you know who someone is, why do they have the authority to provide you with information? What is their background? Are they a scholar? A musician? A music journalist? This includes information shared by famous artists in YouTube interviews and podcasts and gossip sites notorious for spreading rumors (Drink Champs, Math Hoffa, Jaguar Wright, and the like). Where did THEY get their information? If they don’t cite their sources, don’t assume it’s accurate. If an idea is compelling but you can’t find backup, it’s best to leave it out, OR explain that it’s something you believe (explaining why) but haven’t found support for it at this time.

Has the information been vetted?

• Most of the resources provided by the library have been peer reviewed in one way or another: peer reviewed journals, scholarly publishing, etc. Formal journalism goes through a bit of this, but to a much lesser extent. Blogs, etc. get nothing. Why should you trust this particular source? How are you verifying that its accurate if it hasnt already been vetted by experts in the field?
• Where are they getting their information from?
• Are their sources cited? What appears to be the motive for sharing, if it’s a gossip site?

LIBRARY RESOURCES: Visit

Organizing Sources

According to Scribbr’s short

, you can avoid plagiarism by:

1. Keeping track of the sources you consult in your research
2. Paraphrasing or quoting from your sources (and adding your own ideas)
3. Crediting the original author in an in-text citation and in your reference list
4. Beyond the assignment’s TurnItIn service, I do NOT recommend using “outside” online writing services.

(Disclaimer: I do NOT condone using Scribbr, its parent company, or others like it; you don’t know how your information will be used by the company. That said, its videos are informative.)