SAMENESS AND DIFFERENCE A Comparative Study of Senegalese Taasu and US American Rap Music

Abstract

Hip-hop or rap has become a global phenomenon. A genre that began in the United States, rap has spread to every cranny of the globe. In Africa, rap is gaining prominence and stories of rap being similar to African musical practices are emerging. This thesis investigates how and why rap and taasu have been linked to each other. This thesis is not about the influence of rap on the African continent, but rather an attempt towards a comparative study of two unique genres: Senegalese taasu and US American rap.