Rapbilly

Rapbilly is a fusion genre that fuses elements of rockabilly and hip hop music. The name is a portmanteau word that combines rap and rockabilly, first used by Unicorn Slayer in 1993 to describe their semi-satirical blend of rap music and psychobilly music.

Rapbilly is characterized by shouted rapping/vocals (often in a call and response manner), hip hop beats layered above rockabilly rhythms, and lyrical references (often presented in a comedic or tongue-in-cheek fashion) to typical hip hop subjects such as partying, sex and violence. Other lyrical themes may include a concern with blue-collar workers and industrial life. Bands in the genre often utilize an upright double bass and electronic drum sets, instead of synthesized bass lines and drum machines as with other genres of hip hop, with many artists also using hollowbody electric guitars rather than solid-bodied electric guitars. Rapbilly interpolates turntables and synthesizers in addition to the rockabilly-standard bass and guitars. Rapbilly bands and lyrics usually take an apolitical stance, preferring party anthems and call-and-response slogans in favor of addressing sociopolitical or personal concerns.