For almost 20 years Freestyle, its predecessors and its offspring’s had to deal with the confusion of a portion of its audience.
Problem number 1:
What songs are considered Freestyle?
Problem number 2:
How many names does freestyle music have?
Instead of giving you a story I will give you a break down based on my knowledge. But be aware that you will find several people that will disagree with a few or many segments. Most people don’t even know where the name “Freestyle” came from. However we must stick to the name that caught on and is known the most instead of changing the name every time there is a slight variation. It’s hard to believe but there are still people out there that call it “DISCO”. And of course the ones that hate the idea of sub-genres and just call it “DANCE MUSIC”.
CLASSIC FREESTYLE
Any freestyle song from 1984 or earlier, songs like Shannon’s “Let The Music Play”, “Give Me Tonight”, and C-Bank’s “One More Shot”. This name is also used for any memorable freestyle song.
OLD SCHOOL FREESTYLE
Any freestyle song from 1984 to about 1989 or anything that sounds like it is Old School Freestyle. This style is also called Latin Hip Hop, Heartthrob, Latin Wave and Latin Freestyle. This is the favorite of all the styles and the main one people think of when one mentions freestyle.
NEW SCHOOL FREESTYLE
This style emerged with the arrival of Lisette Melendez; the beat has a harder street edge to it. Songs like “A Day In My Life” by Lissette, “This Is The Last Time” by Laura Enrea, Corina’s top ten hit “Temptation”. Producer Carlos Berrios created this style. This style was also called Nu Skool, Latin Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Latin Pop and Latin Freestyle.
PLANET FREESTYLE
The most famous and recognizable one of all are any Freestyle song, new or old with America’s Favorite Beat, the Planet Rock/Trans Euro Express Karfwerk, Africa Bambataa Soul Sonic Force Beat. But one must remember that these artist were also considered “CLASSIC FREESTYLE” because they were produced from 1984 or earlier.
This style is sometimes obvious but now with may other genres using similar lyrics to Freestyle it gets confusing. Some producers were and are able to manipulate and or camouflage this style. For example: the mega hit “Diamond Girl” by Nice N Wild although it repeats “Planet” throughout the song, the beat is not in the forefront as in many others.
ELECTRONIC FREESTYLE
These are the instrumentals that help form the Freestyle genre during the post-disco break dancing period and any thing that sounds like it. Hashim and Pretty Tony of Trinere and Debbie Deb fame, are some well known technicians. Herbie Hancock’s “Rock It” can also be put in this category.
PROGRESSIVE FREESTYLE
The newest of the names from artists like Plummet’s “Damaged” and Robin Fox’s “It’s Gonna Be Okay”. Well every other genre seems to have it and it has the same meaning, evolution, the new form, and the modern style. This style mostly consists of faster “Planet Rock” type beats along with some “Trip Hop” sound effects. Artists like Angelina’s “I Don’t Need Your Love” and Jocelyn Enriquez’s “Do You Miss Me” brought this new style to the forefront. It is also called Freestyle/Trip Hop, Trip Hop, Nu Style, Electronica, Pop/Dance, and now for some people often mistakenly call it Techno and or Trance.
SOFT FREESTYLE
This is also known as the dance ballad or slow jams of Freestyle. Songs from Safire “Thinking Of You” and Exposé’s “Seasons Change” to Stevie B’s “Because I Love You (the postman song)” are considered ballads. These Freestyle songs are usually aimed at radio airplay instead of the clubs. They are sometimes call top 40 Pop and Pop/Dance but they do not loose their Freestyle quality.
CANADIAN FREESTYLE
This style comes mostly from the Canadian label “TiAmo” records. The beats can only be described as sharper and the melodies are unique almost Euro-Tripp. Michael Rucksa has produced some of the best of this style of Freestyle. Artist like Joeé’s “I Just Died In Your Arms” and Elissa’s “Summer Of Love”.
MIANI FREESTYLE
This style has had a major change. Originally this was the Miami sound during the emergence of Freestyle. The most famous artists were Stevie B, Exposé, Company B and Will To Power. However this changed when the Miami and New York styles merged and the Miami style became the Miami mix version of the Freestyle records, which was made up of mostly “Planet Rock” beats. This style is often also called the “Power Mix”, named after a radio station in Miami.
EURO FREESTYLE
The latest name is mostly from Canada’s “SPG” label and the over seas company
” ZXY” that imports then exports some of Canada’s and Germany’s artist.
This name is also known as Hi-NRG. The Euro Freestyle sound that has only recently found it’s way onto the U.S. Pop charts due to massive retail sales and radio play. Artist like Ceres “Open Your Eyes”, Iio’s “Castles In The Sky”, Prima Donna’s “Lucky Star”. Elissa’s “Who’s Crying Now” and Lassgo’s “Something”. Euro Freestyle is a veritable melting pot of club music styles over the years, borrowing its key ingredients from some very diverse club music formats. Euro Freestyle tunes are almost always melodic in nature, while at the same time possessing an unending energy level unparalleled in most Freestyle music. The most common elements of the Euro Freestyle sound are wailing female divas paired with assertive male rappers, the former a trademark of 70’s Disco and the latter the basis for “Hip Hop”. It seems we have come full circle, starting with “DISCO” and ending with “DISCO”. What two musical styles could be more removed from each other? The biting synth hooks and buzzy drones in Euro Freestyle take their flare from the early 80’s Hi-NRG scene. Throw in some other key items from “House” and “Techno”, and you will see that Euro Freestyle truly has something for everyone.
Well that’s it for now. Let me know what you think and until next time make mine Freestyle.
DIFFERENT STYLE, DIFFERENT NAME, TOTAL CONFUSION BUT WE CALL IT FREESTYLE: part 2 coming soon.......
Problem number 1:
What songs are considered Freestyle?
Problem number 2:
How many names does freestyle music have?
Instead of giving you a story I will give you a break down based on my knowledge. But be aware that you will find several people that will disagree with a few or many segments. Most people don’t even know where the name “Freestyle” came from. However we must stick to the name that caught on and is known the most instead of changing the name every time there is a slight variation. It’s hard to believe but there are still people out there that call it “DISCO”. And of course the ones that hate the idea of sub-genres and just call it “DANCE MUSIC”.
CLASSIC FREESTYLE
Any freestyle song from 1984 or earlier, songs like Shannon’s “Let The Music Play”, “Give Me Tonight”, and C-Bank’s “One More Shot”. This name is also used for any memorable freestyle song.
OLD SCHOOL FREESTYLE
Any freestyle song from 1984 to about 1989 or anything that sounds like it is Old School Freestyle. This style is also called Latin Hip Hop, Heartthrob, Latin Wave and Latin Freestyle. This is the favorite of all the styles and the main one people think of when one mentions freestyle.
NEW SCHOOL FREESTYLE
This style emerged with the arrival of Lisette Melendez; the beat has a harder street edge to it. Songs like “A Day In My Life” by Lissette, “This Is The Last Time” by Laura Enrea, Corina’s top ten hit “Temptation”. Producer Carlos Berrios created this style. This style was also called Nu Skool, Latin Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Latin Pop and Latin Freestyle.
PLANET FREESTYLE
The most famous and recognizable one of all are any Freestyle song, new or old with America’s Favorite Beat, the Planet Rock/Trans Euro Express Karfwerk, Africa Bambataa Soul Sonic Force Beat. But one must remember that these artist were also considered “CLASSIC FREESTYLE” because they were produced from 1984 or earlier.
This style is sometimes obvious but now with may other genres using similar lyrics to Freestyle it gets confusing. Some producers were and are able to manipulate and or camouflage this style. For example: the mega hit “Diamond Girl” by Nice N Wild although it repeats “Planet” throughout the song, the beat is not in the forefront as in many others.
ELECTRONIC FREESTYLE
These are the instrumentals that help form the Freestyle genre during the post-disco break dancing period and any thing that sounds like it. Hashim and Pretty Tony of Trinere and Debbie Deb fame, are some well known technicians. Herbie Hancock’s “Rock It” can also be put in this category.
PROGRESSIVE FREESTYLE
The newest of the names from artists like Plummet’s “Damaged” and Robin Fox’s “It’s Gonna Be Okay”. Well every other genre seems to have it and it has the same meaning, evolution, the new form, and the modern style. This style mostly consists of faster “Planet Rock” type beats along with some “Trip Hop” sound effects. Artists like Angelina’s “I Don’t Need Your Love” and Jocelyn Enriquez’s “Do You Miss Me” brought this new style to the forefront. It is also called Freestyle/Trip Hop, Trip Hop, Nu Style, Electronica, Pop/Dance, and now for some people often mistakenly call it Techno and or Trance.
SOFT FREESTYLE
This is also known as the dance ballad or slow jams of Freestyle. Songs from Safire “Thinking Of You” and Exposé’s “Seasons Change” to Stevie B’s “Because I Love You (the postman song)” are considered ballads. These Freestyle songs are usually aimed at radio airplay instead of the clubs. They are sometimes call top 40 Pop and Pop/Dance but they do not loose their Freestyle quality.
CANADIAN FREESTYLE
This style comes mostly from the Canadian label “TiAmo” records. The beats can only be described as sharper and the melodies are unique almost Euro-Tripp. Michael Rucksa has produced some of the best of this style of Freestyle. Artist like Joeé’s “I Just Died In Your Arms” and Elissa’s “Summer Of Love”.
MIANI FREESTYLE
This style has had a major change. Originally this was the Miami sound during the emergence of Freestyle. The most famous artists were Stevie B, Exposé, Company B and Will To Power. However this changed when the Miami and New York styles merged and the Miami style became the Miami mix version of the Freestyle records, which was made up of mostly “Planet Rock” beats. This style is often also called the “Power Mix”, named after a radio station in Miami.
EURO FREESTYLE
The latest name is mostly from Canada’s “SPG” label and the over seas company
” ZXY” that imports then exports some of Canada’s and Germany’s artist.
This name is also known as Hi-NRG. The Euro Freestyle sound that has only recently found it’s way onto the U.S. Pop charts due to massive retail sales and radio play. Artist like Ceres “Open Your Eyes”, Iio’s “Castles In The Sky”, Prima Donna’s “Lucky Star”. Elissa’s “Who’s Crying Now” and Lassgo’s “Something”. Euro Freestyle is a veritable melting pot of club music styles over the years, borrowing its key ingredients from some very diverse club music formats. Euro Freestyle tunes are almost always melodic in nature, while at the same time possessing an unending energy level unparalleled in most Freestyle music. The most common elements of the Euro Freestyle sound are wailing female divas paired with assertive male rappers, the former a trademark of 70’s Disco and the latter the basis for “Hip Hop”. It seems we have come full circle, starting with “DISCO” and ending with “DISCO”. What two musical styles could be more removed from each other? The biting synth hooks and buzzy drones in Euro Freestyle take their flare from the early 80’s Hi-NRG scene. Throw in some other key items from “House” and “Techno”, and you will see that Euro Freestyle truly has something for everyone.
Well that’s it for now. Let me know what you think and until next time make mine Freestyle.
DIFFERENT STYLE, DIFFERENT NAME, TOTAL CONFUSION BUT WE CALL IT FREESTYLE: part 2 coming soon.......
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