Question

Unlike white hip-hop musicians, Missy Elliott, who sings as much as she raps, and the Roots, an eight-piece hip-hop band using traditional instruments in place of turntables and samples, consider themselves _____.

a) Purists
b) Innovators
c) Traditionalists
d) Boundary-pushers

Answer 1

Missy Elliott and the Roots can be best described as innovators due to their unique contributions to hip-hop, such as blending singing with rapping and using traditional instruments, illustrating the concept of stimulus diffusion within the genre. The correct option is b.

Step-by-step explanation:

The artists in question, Missy Elliott, who blends singing with rapping, and the Roots, a hip-hop band that incorporates traditional instruments, would most fittingly be considered innovators.

These artists have altered the original style of hip-hop, which was heavily reliant on DJs and turntables, to introduce something novel to the genre.

By adding new elements and adapting to different musical influences, they exemplify the core aspect of stimulus diffusion, wherein the fundamental essence of a cultural phenomenon is retained while new, diverse traits are adopted to reflect local tastes or conditions.

This evolution of hip-hop reflects the artists' efforts to continually push the boundaries of the genre, which aligns well with the concept of innovation. The correct option is b.