Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Rap rock1986

Second genre

Nu metal1994

Head to headRap rock vs Nu metal
Rap rock: heaviness 6, melody 6, speed 6. Nu metal: heaviness 8, melody 7, speed 5.Heaviness6 / 8Melody6 / 7Speed6 / 5
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Nu metal descends from this and turned it inward and much heavier.

Nu metal is part sung, part screamed where rap rock is rapped, at much the same pace, around 80 to 130 bpm. To hear the difference, play Run-DMC & Aerosmith next to Korn. Rap rock comes from the rock side of the tree and nu metal from the metal side, and rap rock came first, by eight years.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Rap rock6
Nu metal8
+2
Speed
Rap rock6
Nu metal5
−1
Melody
Rap rock6
Nu metal7
+1

Rap rock

1986 · New York, USA

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Funk rock › Rap rock

In short

Rapped vocals over rock riffs. The Run-DMC and Aerosmith collaboration opened the door; Rage turned it into a political weapon.

How it sounds

  • Rapped verses over guitar riffs, with drums borrowed from breakbeats.
  • DJ scratching or samples built into the arrangement.
  • Groove on the downbeat, built for movement rather than speed.

Key acts

  • Run-DMC & Aerosmith
  • Beastie Boys
  • Rage Against the Machine

Start here

The pickRage Against the Machine - the debut. No synths and no samples, just four people.

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Nu metal

1994 · California, USA · 2 subgenres

Where it sits

Heavy metal › Nu metal

In short

Seven-string guitars tuned very low, hip-hop groove, a DJ or sampler and lyrics about personal trauma. The decade's best-selling and most disputed genre.

How it sounds

  • Seven-string guitars tuned very low, with simple syncopated riffs.
  • Very prominent bass, often slapped or synth-toned, plus a DJ or sampler in the line-up.
  • Vocals moving between rapping, singing and screaming, with lyrics about personal trauma.

Key acts

  • Korn
  • Slipknot
  • Deftones
  • Limp Bizkit

Start here

The pickKorn - Korn. The first track opens with bagpipes, which nobody ever remembers.

Full page →