Slutwave, Tumblr Rap, Rape Gaze: Obscure Musical Genres Explained
Categories: Know Your Genres
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| Jena Ardell |
On a Sunday night in 1976, a Washington, D.C., radio intern named Melvin Lindsey was unexpectedly called to fill in at a station called WHUR. Though he was inexperienced, his satiny voice and his mellow soul and R&B records made him a local favorite. His show was dubbed "The Quiet Storm" after the introspective album from Smokey Robinson (above), and the format took off across the country, the aural equivalent of a glass of wine after a long day. In the mid-'80s, L.A.'s KUTE even boasted an all quiet storm format, and it soldiers on today with KJLH's Kevin Nash spinning genre hallmark artists like Anita Baker, Marvin Gaye and Sade, as well as newer torch carriers like Jill Scott, Maxwell and Raheem DeVaughn. -Rebecca Haithcoat
Powerviolence
Sometimes punk just ain't enough; that's the driving force behind hardcore. It can always be faster, louder rougher and shorter. But what happens when hardcore isn't enough? The answer: Powerviolence. Super heavy and ultra fast, powerviolence first appeared in the late '80s with bands like No Comment and Crossed Out, who thrived on no-bullshit hardcore punk distilled down to its most basic elements. Powerviolence began in California, and the SoCal scene is overwhelmingly Latino, but it enjoys popularity around the world. Devotees clamor for the heavy feedback, sludgy mosh breakdowns, intense vocal delivery and (often) disturbing clips from cholo gangster movies. -Nicholas Pell
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