Mostly in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. One way to look at it is that rap is something you do, hip-hop is a way you live.

More specifically, hip hop is a cultural phenomenon that developed as an interplay between Jamaican immigrants and the Bronx of the 1970s and 1980s, and includes MCs, DJs, B-Boys and graffiti artists as primary drivers. Rap is a specific element of hip hop, practiced by MCs, in the same way that turntablism (e.g., scratching, mixing, cutting and juggling) is an element practiced by DJs.

Ok, but, as musical genres (however seriously you want to take that concept), this isn't a distinction I need to care much about?

Rap is the story telling medium of Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a style of music that can encompass everything from RnB to Soul to even some Electronic Music. Rap is Hip Hop that has a specific emphasis on lyricism, meaning, and narrative. All Rap has elements of Hip Hop, but all Hip Hop does not have elements of Rap. Obviously this is all subjective to a certain degree.

To answer your question, Jay-Z's MCHG is probably more Hip Hop than Rap, while old school Kanye is mos(t) def(initely) Rap. However, unless you plan on getting into conversations like this in the future I really wouldn't worry about the difference.

Ok, this makes sense. I pretty much invariably call the hip-hop/rap music I listen to "hip-hop". De La Soul? Hip-hop. Jay-Z? Hip-hop. The Roots? Hip-hop. Run DMC? Hip-hop.

As somebody who listens to a bit of hip hop, but very little rap, I find the distinction useful. Some hip hop (not rap) in my music library:

  - Teebs
  - Flying Lotus
  - Onra
  - Dabrye
  - Prefuse 73
  - Clams Casino
  - Phaseone
  - TNGHT
  - ARAABMUZIK

Exceptional examples: http://youtu.be/hYZ5uL35kpU, http://youtu.be/2om8SMeDJPY, http://youtu.be/HbkRvclQS4M

I did the same as you, so far. But interesting details from pdeuchler. There's always something to learn every day.

Rap is the medium, hip-hop the genre and culture.

Even though rap isn't a genre, you can still say "rap music" just like you can say "guitar music". "Hip-hop music", then, is like saying "rock music". Similarly, "Electronic music" (rap) and "Techno" (hip-hop).

KRS-ONE!

http://rapgenius.com/Krs-one-hip-hop-vs-rap-lyrics#note-1317...

rap is the vocal part of it. you can do it to music or not. one can rap on a street corner with no accompaniment whatsoever, or in the shower, etc.

hip hop is the wider genre of music, much of which has rapping in it, but not all of it. there are instrumental hip hop songs, and hip hop songs with only non-rap singing.

kool keith, beastie boys and jurassic 5 come to mind for instrumental tracks, out of the stuff i've heard. that is, hip hop tracks with no rapping.

DJs like z-trip also produce hip-hop backing tracks suitable for rapping over but wouldn't be called rap music by itself.

Distinctions between the terms is nearly entirely academic, and most people just make up their own. Practically speaking, the terms are identical.

PS I think I noticed Beastie Boys lyrics in one of the crypto challenges. Did you put those in?

Yes, but I wouldn't look to the song lyrics in those challenge as a real representation of our musical tastes.

Rap is music, hip-hop is culture.