Without a doubt Hip-Hop borrows from Jazz and swing is one of those elements that it borrows.
However Jazz is distinct in how it utilizes swing, while we're on the topic of swing, we should mention
that swing is from Jazz's predecessor, The Blues, it's one of the first thing one learns when learning to play The Blues.
The swung Triplet.
With that said Jazz (and The Blues) and it's swing is very organic and those values are shifting during a live
performance as well as depending on the drummer in question. That swung time also changes depending
on the speed at which the music is performed. High Speed = Less Swing. Low Speed = More Swing/Groove
Hip-Hop and it's swing obviously borrows from this and pushes this idea into crazy realms.
(Quintuplet Swing, Septulet Swing, weird time signatures and so on...)
This is what makes Pete Rock and then of course J. Dilla special, their programmatic view of swing.
Now "Swing" can be frozen in time and adjusted surgically on a machine so they aren't beholden to
certain human things that a band would be. High tempos/bpms will keep their Swing no matter what
among other things. Before continuing I want to state that I have a great deal of respect for Pete Rock
and by extension Dilla. I even bought Dilla time and went to get my shyt signed by the author.
So trust me, when I'm saying I want to give both their due and respect here.
Ethan Hein <--- Dope blog about what makes Dilla's swing (and by extension Hip-Hop's swing) unique and distinct.
Brooklyn Rose Ludlow's blog on Swing and utilizing more interesting tuplets.
It's all love breh.
I love Jazz a great deal and I study it now in earnestly when time permits while
still growing my skills in Hip-Hop.
I fully agree with this.
J. Dilla completely blew past Pete Rock and changed Hip-Hop forever.
He's a legit musical titan within and outside of Hip-Hop.
