An Exploration of Lo-fi Hip-hop, Pt II: Garage Rock, Boom Bap and Toonami
More than sound quality and genre, lo-fi hip-hop is a (nostalgic) mood
There’s another “origin” of lo-fi music. Because lo-fi is technically a measure of sound quality, lo-fi can arguably be traced back to the ’60s. In the ’60s, garage rock and punk rock were emerging. These scenes would evolve into ’90s grunge. They’re also considered predecessors of today’s lo-fi sound. The Beach Boys’ albums recorded in the Beach Boys Studio are considered early versions of lo-fi. Located in Brian Wilson’s home, the Beach Boys Studio was originally a private, makeshift studio the band used because it was more convenient than having to book studio time.
These home-recorded albums coincide with the DIY mentality and burgeoning indie scene of the time. This mentality was also shared by garage and punk rock, as producing music became accessible. The ability to record music at home meant artists didn’t need to land record deals or book studio time anymore. Of course, these recordings also had lower-fidelity than those produced in professional studios. But a lack of resources or knowledge should not lump music with low fidelity into the lo-fi genre of today — doing so would be too reductive and simple.
