A rap opera or hip-hopera is a series of hip hop songs in the form of an opera, inspired by the concept of rock opera.
Like its predecessor, rap opera tells a story through consecutive pieces of music involving the same character or characters. Rap opera may be a purely auditory experience, or it may be associated with a musical, comic book, or other art form. It is a relatively young, spontaneous form, performed more by amateurs and non-profit groups than by professional rappers.
R&B singer R. Kelly claims he coined the term "hip-hopera" for his "Trapped in the Closet" series of songs, the first of which debuted in 2005. However, in 2001, MTV debuted a telefilm entitled Carmen: A Hip Hopera, directed by Robert Townsend and staring Beyoncé Knowles and Mehki Phifer. Volume 10 also released an album called Hip-Hopera in 1994.
