boom bap

English

Etymology

Imitative, representing the sounds of the bass drum and snare drum, respectively.

Noun

boom bap (uncountable)

1. (music) A style/subgenre of hip hop characterized by hard-hitting drums, usually containing the kick drum/snare drum/hi-hat combination rather than claps, snaps, TR-808 bass drums, cowbells, shakers, and various other percussion sounds used for rhythm.

   A beat made with the 808 drum kit isn't boom bap!

   • 2023, Michail Exarchos, Reimagining Sample-based Hip Hop: Making Records within Records, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 1997:

     The story of Boom Bap is closely associated with the development and practice of sampling, and as such, Boom Bap is often described as a production technique, a sound, a style, or a subgenre.