Chap hop is music originating from England that mixes the
hip hop genre with elements from the
Chappist or
steampunk
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or ...
subcultures and stereotypical English obsessions such as cricket, tea, and the weather.
[Frances Robinson]
In 'Chap-Hop,' Gentlemen Rappers Bust Rhymes About Tea, Cricket
''Wall Street Journal'', April 4, 2011, accessed April 5, 2011.
Two leading exponents of the genre are
Professor Elemental
Paul Alborough (born 1 June 1975), professionally known as Professor Elemental, is a steampunk and chap hop musical artist.
Career
Professor Elemental began his career as Emcee Elemental. The character of Professor Elemental arose from a plann ...
and
Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
Jim Burke, known professionally as Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer,. is a British parody, parodist who performs "chap hop" — hip hop music, hip hop delivered in a Received Pronunciation accent. Mr.B raps, or "rhymes", about good manners, dressing w ...
. Other names include Madam Misfit, Poplock Holmes & DJ WattsOn.
In 2011, Sir Reginald Pikedevant, Esquire, inspired by
Regretsy's "Not Remotely Steampunk" section,
released the music video "Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk)" on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
, which quickly went viral and as of 2021 has generated over one million views. It was named one of the top ten steampunk songs and was acclaimed by steampunk notables.
In March 2013, UK Education Secretary
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations since 2021. He has been Member of Parli ...
said he was a fan of the genre. Mr. B noted the irony of this, since his music often pokes at members of the establishment, commenting: "As a non-
Etonian
Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...
and thus an outcast within the cabinet, this is perhaps a little snook cocked at his colleagues."
See also
*
British hip hop
British hip hop, also known as UK hip hop or UK rap, is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of R&B/Hip-Hop. Britis ...
* ''
The Chap
''The Chap'' is a British humorous men's lifestyle magazine published quarterly. It was founded in 1999 by Gustav Temple and Vic Darkwood, and is still edited by Temple.
The magazine proposes that men everywhere return to a more gentlemanly wa ...
''
*
Steampunk
Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or ...
References
External links
Steampunks gather for Great ExhibitionChap-Hop Rivalry reaches New Heights
British hip hop genres
English styles of music
21st-century music genres
Hip hop genres
Steampunk music
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