Rap + Hip Hop

These two terms are often used interchangeably to refer to a musical genre, but the distinction is often made that hip-hop is a broader culture and phenomenon, and rap is just one (important) part of it. In other words: all rap is hip-hop, but hip-hop is not only rap.

Rap is a rhythmic vocal style, often characterized by spoken word poetry recited to a beat, while hip-hop is a broader cultural movement that includes rapping, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti. Although the terms are frequently used interchangeably, hip-hop encompasses the entire culture, while rap specifically refers to the vocal performance aspect.