The Miami Music Scene
photo credit: tanjila
There are a lot of places around the country that have their own music scene, and it changes and rolls with the decades. Seattle had grunge, Washington DC has been known for its hardcore punks, and California was the home of surf rock, so what is Miami known for? Kicking bass, WMC, a hot Latin sound, and probably some of the most eclectic groups of musicians that you have ever heard of in one general area.
Aside from the fact that Marilyn Manson, Jimmy Buffet, and 2 Live Crew all came from that area, the Miami sound is one that you can see ruling the clubs across the boardwalk. The Miami Bass sound became huge for a few months back during the early 90s, skyrocketing the band 2 Live Crew into fame. With its name, you can assume that it is very bass driven hip-hop, but its key is how all of the lyrics are just a little raunchier than anything you’ll hear on the radio.
The entire ‘booty music’ scene still reigns supreme down in Miami, but the Florida rap scene isn’t small on scale either. With many hip-hop and dance record labels in that area, as well as the Latin division of MTV, you can only imagine the kind of major competition it is for stage time. With a pedigree of names like Flo-Rida, Trick Daddy, and Rick Ross, you can guarantee that the beats down the Miami strip are always thumping.
So if you were to head to Miami, would you be able to find a good rock club, or a metal band playing somewhere? Sure, but so much of that music came from the northern Florida scene that it almost seems inconsequential. If you want metal, go to Tampa, but if you want to dance the night away to every variety of hip-hop, bass, reggae, and salsa, then you are sitting on a hotbed that never goes to sleep.
So walk the walk of the place where bands like KC and the Sunshine Band began, learn how to do a little meringue in a Dominican night club, try some calypso with the Caribbeans, and do a few steps of vallenato in a Columbian dance hall. The sounds of Miami are unending, and completely unlike any other place in the country. The perfect blend of beaches, islands, and different corners of culture meet to make this an amazingly odd mecca of dance.
John is a guest blogger for Alamo who offer car hire Miami for your stateside musical adventure!
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