The bomb sound effect is used regularly in rap music. It is linked to the slang expression "droppin' da bomb"--meaning 'bringing something big', be it a track, personal appearance or simply an action. The bomb sound effect is commonly used by hip-hop DJs to disguise the awkwardness of the changeover between two different hip-hop tracks. British hip-hop DJ and personality Tim Westwood, uses the bomb sound effect frequently. Fans can even download the sound effect from websites.
The sound of a dog barking is another effect used often in rap music. Again, it is linked to a slang expression, ''dog," meaning "bro" or "homie." The rap artist DMX uses the sound of dogs barking in almost all of his tracks, as his nickname is "the dog". Adam Neilson, on the music website In Music We Trust, refers to it as his "trademark bark." Snoop Dogg also uses the sound of dogs barking in his tracks, but not as often as DMX.
The gunshot is the most commonly used sound effect in rap music. According to the website artists House Music, rap music grew out of the black communities in the late 1970s. Since then, it has been inextricably linked with gang violence, even leading to the term "gangsta rap." Many rap artists brag on track about the guns they have and the crimes and killings they have committed. For this reason, most rap tracks are peppered with the sound of gunshots.
While all of the above are very aggressive sound effects, some well-know hip-hop artists use comical sound effects to enhance their tunes. The best-known example of this is the rap artist Eminem, whose debut rap track, "My Name Is," was full of weird sound effects such as exaggerated kissing, high-pitched voices and skin being pieced with needles. David Sherman, on the website Sound Stage, describes Eminem's "scene-setting sound effects" as being "more common to radio productions." These comedy sound effects, however, have helped to make Eminem the number-one selling rap artist in the world.