Rap music is a genre of music characterized by rhythmic spoken lyrics, often delivered over a beat. Emerging in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York, it is a key element of hip-hop culture alongside DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti. Rap typically addresses themes ranging from personal experiences and street life to social issues and politics, with rhyme schemes, wordplay, and flow being central to the style. Over the decades, rap has evolved into a global phenomenon, influencing music, fashion, and culture worldwide.