Music bingo › Hip-hop and R&B

Hip-hop and R&B bingo

Hip-hop and R&B produce a music bingo with a completely different rhythm from the average sing-along night. Recognition sits in the beat and the opening line, and that often happens faster than with pop music.

This theme works best with a crowd that has a connection to it: a younger audience, a student society or a group of friends. For a broad company party you are better off slipping a few hip-hop tracks into a wider list.

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Classics or today's hits

Choose deliberately. The classics of the nineties and noughties are known by heart to people in their thirties and forties; today's hits speak to a younger audience. Mix the two and half the room checks out during every block.

Adding local rap

Rap in your own language has grown so much in recent years that there are plenty of recognisable tracks for half a game. It also works better than English-language rap for people who want to follow the words.

Watch the lyrics

With a crowd that includes children or colleagues it is wise to check the lyrics beforehand. The app plays the recognisable part, and in hip-hop that is often precisely the chorus.

Or grab the ready-made list

Rather not hunt for songs? The app has Hip-Hop '90s and Rap and R&B Rush waiting, curated and checked for playable previews. Open it, start it, play. Pasting your own playlist still works too.

Example songs for this theme

For inspiration: these are songs that tend to work well with this theme. You are not tied to any of them — you build your own list, so use them, extend them or ignore them completely.

• Hey Ya! — OutKast
• Crazy in Love — Beyonce
• Lose Yourself — Eminem
• No Diggity — Blackstreet
• Drop It Like It's Hot — Snoop Dogg
• Umbrella — Rihanna
• Gold Digger — Kanye West
• Ms. Jackson — OutKast

How to make this music bingo yourself

Hosting your own music bingo

Traditional bingo uses numbers; this game uses songs, and that one twist is what makes it fun. There is no number to look up: people listen to the opening seconds, recognise the hit and players mark it off. You do not need a professional host or a trivia round to warm the room up, because the music does that for you. Most people know far more songs than they think.

Decide first what you want the evening to be. A short game of three rounds is perfect before dinner; a complete night of 90 minutes suits a party, a company event or a musical theme night. Whether your crowd grew up on the 90s or on last summer's charts, use their own music instead of a generic list: the best selection is the one where every player recognises something — a classic, a guilty pleasure, a recent hit. That is what gets people out of their seats.

The format is easy. Create the list, choose the card size and the win pattern, and give everyone a card with the song titles printed on it. Each song is played once, in a random order. The first person to fill a whole line shouts bingo, and the host verifies that call with the code along the side. Guests who would rather not use paper join online at bingobanger.party with your game code. Small prizes per round keep the energy up, and they do not have to be expensive.

Questions, or want a hand hosting your first game? Email robin@kreatrix.nl and we will get back to you within a working day. The app is free, six cards included.

Frequently asked questions

What is a hip-hop bingo?

A music bingo where the songs on the card come from hip-hop and R&B.

Which audience does this suit?

Mainly a younger crowd or a group of friends who follow the genre.

Can I use rap in my own language?

Yes, there are now plenty of well-known tracks for a full game.

How many songs do I need?

About 55 for half an hour and 110 for an hour of play.

More music bingo

Browse the other topics, or read on the main page how to make your own music bingo in ten minutes.

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