Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast Rockit
Jun 3, 2025
Dive into the groundbreaking world of Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' and its fusion of jazz with early hip-hop. Discover the innovative sounds of the 80s, where electronic elements and collaborations reshaped music. Learn about the avant-garde techniques like turntable scratching that sparked excitement and debate. Explore a fresh perspective on categorizing music, moving beyond strict genres to embrace interconnectedness. Plus, uncover the song's lasting influence on dance and pop culture while navigating the mixed responses from the jazz community.
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Genre-Defying Central Node
- Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' resists simple genre labeling and sits at the intersection of many musical currents.
- The track functions more like a network node connecting jazz, hip-hop, electronic, and pop ideas.
From Miles Davis To Solo Stardom
- Herbie rose to fame in Miles Davis's second great quintet and recorded classic 1960s jazz as a leader.
- These early achievements anchored his reputation before his later electric and funk experiments.
Miles Davis Pushed Herbie Electric
- Encouraged by Miles Davis, Herbie moved to electric keyboards and fusion, adopting synthesizers and funk textures.
- This shift reshaped his sound and led to commercially successful records like Headhunters.
