Pop rap

Pop rap is a loosely defined term that refers to the fusion of Hip Hop's rapping with Pop elements such as melodious vocals and light, catchy tunes. While pop rap varies in sound, it commonly features simple verse-chorus pop structures and more radio-friendly, lighthearted lyrics than other hip hop subgenres. Such fusions appeared as early as the early 1980s, in popular singles like Wham!'s "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)" and Captain Sensible's "Wot! / Strawberry Dross". Certain early pop rap artists implemented pop appeal by telling humorous stories in their lyrics, notably DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, and others, like Heavy D & The Boyz, brought hip hop's aggressive and macho lyricism to a more family-oriented place. Despite these early examples, pop rap only became more prominent as a recognizable hip hop subgenre in the late 1980s and 1990s, with artists such as Vanilla Ice and M.C. Hammer achieving major commercial success.