Pop rap, also called hip pop, pop hip hop, melodic hip hop or melodic rap, is a blend of pop music with hip hop. In pop rap music, real hip hop elements are removed and hooks are used to achieve (or get) a friendly sound. Mixing beats and rhythms with powerful (strong) melodic hooks can often be found in their original forms of pop music. This genre became more popular in the 1990s, although pop rap influences and roots can be traced back to late 1980s hip hop artists such as Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and the Beastie Boys. The lyrics are often playful, with choruses similar to ears in pop music.