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A rap opera or hip-hopera is a series of hip hop songs in the form of an opera, inspired by the concept of rock opera. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... For other uses, see Opera (disambiguation). ... The Whos Tommy, the first album explicitly billed as a rock opera A rock opera is a rock music album or stage production that resembles the form of an opera. ...

Like its predecessor, rap opera tells a story through consecutive pieces of music involving the same character or characters. Rap opera may be a purely auditory experience, or it may be associated with a musical, comic book, or other art form. It is a relatively young, spontaneous form, performed more by amateurs and non-profit groups than by professional rappers. Musical theater (or theatre) is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance, and spoken dialogue. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ...

R&B singer R. Kelly claims he coined the term "hip-hopera" for his "Trapped in the Closet" series of songs, the first of which debuted in 2005. However, in 2001, MTV debuted a telefilm entitled Carmen: A Hip Hopera, directed by Robert Townsend and staring Beyoncé Knowles and Mehki Phifer. Volume 10 also released an album called Hip-Hopera in 1994. Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Urban R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. ... This article is about the R. Kelly series of songs. ... This article is about the original U.S. music television channel. ... A television movie (also TV movie, TV-movie, made-for-TV movie, etc. ... Cover of DVD Carmen: A Hip Hopera is an MTV production from 2001 starring Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def, Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Mekhi Phifer, Da Brat, Joy Bryant, Jermaine Dupri and Lil Bow Wow, directed by Robert Townsend. ... Robert Townsend (born February 6, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois) is an African American film director, writer, and actor. ... Beyoncé Giselle Knowles (pronounced [1]) (born September 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, actress, dancer, and fashion designer. ... Mekhi Phifer (born December 29, 1974 or 1975[1]) is an American actor. ...

Examples

• R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet series
• "Weird Al" Yankovic's Trapped in the Drive-Thru
• Public Enemy's He Got Game
• Carmen: A Hip Hopera
• Prince Paul's A Prince Among Thieves
• Deltron 3030
• Sable and Batalion's J.O.B., the Hip-Hopera
• Rapper and producer Dr. Dre has stated that his third album, Detox, may be a rap opera.
• Lil Dabby's debut, 'As Dabby As I Wanna Be' is believed to be a hip-hopera.
• Michael Tippett's New Year uses rap in a number of scenes.
• Ugly Duckling's Taste the Secret
• Lupe Fiasco's The Cool

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Urban R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. ... This article is about the R. Kelly series of songs. ... This article is about the musician himself. ... Trapped in the Drive-Thru is a song from Weird Al Yankovics twelfth studio album Straight Outta Lynwood, which was released on September 26, 2006. ... Public Enemy, also known as PE, is a hip hop group from Long Island, New York, known for their politically charged lyrics, criticism of the media, and active interest in the concerns of the African American community. ... He Got Game is an album by Public Enemy and the soundtrack to the Spike Lee film He Got Game. ... Cover of DVD Carmen: A Hip Hopera is an MTV production from 2001 starring Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def, Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Mekhi Phifer, Da Brat, Joy Bryant, Jermaine Dupri and Lil Bow Wow, directed by Robert Townsend. ... A Prince Among Thieves is the second album by rap artist/producer Prince Paul. ... Deltron 3030 is the debut album of hip hop supergroup Deltron 3030. ... For the New York radio and television presenter, see Doctor Dre. ... For the Treble Charger album, see Detox (Treble Charger album). ... Sir Michael Kemp Tippett, O.M. (2 January 1905 – 8 January 1998) was one of the foremost English composers of the 20th century. ... New Year is an opera in three acts by Michael Tippett. ... The Ugly Duckling (Danish: Den grimme ælling) is a classic-contemporary story by Hans Christian Andersen about a duckling, notably larger, clumsier and uglier than the other ducklings in his brood. ... Taste the Secret is a 2003 album from the hip-hop group Ugly Duckling. ... Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois) better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper. ... The Cool is the second album from Lupe Fiasco. ...

See also

• A Night at the Hip Hopera