User:Satorymae/sandbox

History
Rap opera, also known as hip-hopera, is a hybrid genre between rap and opera. Opera, a musical genre that began in the late 16th century, can be referred back to composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. Hip Hop is a much newer musical genre that popularized during the 1970's. Historically, both rap and opera have been used as a form of expression and storytelling. Now in popular culture, the fusion of the two genres is being used for the same purpose. Historically popular and classic pieces such as "Carmen" and "Romeo & Juliet" have been transformed into hip hop pieces. The story of Alexander Hamilton, historical American figure, has also been recently portrayed as a hip hop musical.

In Popular Culture
The use of hip hopera in popular culture began in 1997 when The Fugees, a popular hip hop group, and Bounty Killer, collaborated on a musical single titled "Hip-Hopera." In 2001, the film Carmen: A Hip Hopera, a modern rendition of the opera Carmen composed by Georges Bizet, aired on MTV. The film featured Beyonce Knowles, as well as other rappers and modern musicians, and was renounced as "the first hip hop musical." "Rome & Jewel," a 2006 Rennie Harris film is another hip hop rendition of William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." "Hamilton: An American Musical" by Lin Miranda enacts the life of Alexander Hamilton as a founding father through hip hop music. The musical had its Broadway debut in July 2015, and quickly became popular for its unique use of rap and modern day music.

Rap opera is also being used in communities through local organizations such as The Rap Opera Project. Carlos Aguirre, the creator of The Rap Opera Project, teaches rap opera to marginalized and at risk youth in his community. The project's intention is to give voice to individuals who have otherwise felt oppressed. Aguirre, channeling his own personal experience and youth as a minority, is using musical expression as a form of therapy. In the United Kingdom, traditional opera is adopting modern hip hop beats to appeal to the modern youth. "The Moon Prince: A Rap Opera," is another community led rap opera for youth featured in Charlotte and Boston.

Reception
There have been mixed responses to the usage of rap opera. Steven Oxman, theater critic, gave his feedback on "Carmen: A Hip Hopera," stating "Carmen is MTV's first "Hip Hopera," and while that phrase may be way too cute for its own good, this reworking of Bizet's opera into a contemporary, hip-hop musical works quite well, and represents one of the more original recent efforts to create a new form from an old one." Former president Barack Obama commented on "Hamilton: An American Musical," saying it has "become a favorite in the Obama household." Michael Billington reviewed the play on The Guardian and stated that "Miranda has created an invigorating and original musical that, at a time of national crisis, celebrates America’s overwhelming debt to the immigrant." The play also received backlash regarding it's historical accuracy and biased portrayal. One individual stated, "Hamilton’s fatal flaw is its focus on emotions rather than substance. In this, it is emblematic of the wider progressive Left."