Rap Music

[Dori]

A simple poll. :D

Do you like rap or not? If so, why? If not, why not?

[papayahed]

I vote yes.

Why? Because it has a good beat and I can dance to it:D :lol:, that and some songs have smart, funny lyrics and are pretty ingenious.

[cipherdecoy]

I hate rap in general, but there are a few exceptions.

[Dori]

I hate rap in general, but there are a few exceptions.

Don't you think you should vote then? :p

And why do you hate rap? Surely you must have some reason. :)

Oh, and what are the "exceptions" in which you speak of?

[cipherdecoy]

I voted "No!"

Ok well firstly it sounds terrible, the lyrics are usually about trying to get into a girl's pants, and if not, they're still terrible anyway.

The exceptions are Eminem and Mike Shinoda and it doesn't have anything to do with their ethnicity. I'm not a fan of Eminem but I'm a fan of Shinoda. There are some rap songs by other artistes I like but usually it's just one or two from one rapper and the rest are just trash to me, unlike the aforementioned.

[Nightshade]

wait wasnt there a thread about rap music and art a few months ago? :confused:
I dont know do I ? Im not good at telling types of music apart I need to think

[sofia82]

I vote NO!!!! (with four ! :lol:)

I don't like the lyrics, and rhythm. My brother was a fan of Eminen, fortunately he is not anymore, which gives me headache.
Although besides getting into girl's pants, it is a critical kind (of politics, society!)

[Dori]

I voted "No!"

Ok well firstly it sounds terrible, the lyrics are usually about trying to get into a girl's pants, and if not, they're still terrible anyway.

The exceptions are Eminem and Mike Shinoda and it doesn't have anything to do with their ethnicity. I'm not a fan of Eminem but I'm a fan of Shinoda. There are some rap songs by other artistes I like but usually it's just one or two from one rapper and the rest are just trash to me, unlike the aforementioned.

I am a frequent Eminem listener, I must confess. I don't like some of his songs though; I mostly like listening to "Stan", "Lose Yourself", "Toy Soldiers", "Mocking Bird", and "When I'm Gone".


wait wasnt there a thread about rap music and art a few months ago? :confused:
I dont know do I ? Im not good at telling types of music apart I need to think

I'm not sure if there was or not.


I vote NO!!!! (with four ! :lol:)

I don't like the lyrics, and rhythm. My brother was a fan of Eminen, fortunately he is not anymore, which gives me headache.
Although besides getting into girl's pants, it is a critical kind (of politics, society!)

Yes, it is a "critical kind" as you call it, but criticism is a great thing, in my mind. :)


There's a group called Flobots which I particularly like. Has anyone heard of them? I posted some of their lyrics in the "Share your favorite lyrics" thread. I suggest everyone at least take a single look at them (search them in google), even if you dislike rap. They are different. A very good friend of mine dislikes rap and hip hop very, very much, and he even admits to liking this group. Here's a wikipedia article about them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flobots. They combine instrumental (trumpet, bass, viola, drums) with rap and rock. The product? Amazing!


Anyways, I think it is worthwhile for everyone to take a look at the wikipedia page for rap: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap.

[Pensive]

Yes, I do like rap. Depends on the band/singer actually.

Am I the only one here who doesn't mind Eminem? Actually like him. Or wait no, not like him, but some of his songs.

[formality hater]

I also like rap music.

Eminem has some good songs,and I also liked the ones from a local one here.He was great!

[sprinks]

I voted yes, because there are some songs by some artists that I like that are rap songs... Although some of those are by artists that aren't actually rap singers, or their bands aren't known for rapping. And rap and hip-hop seem to be closely associated... And there are some hip-hop bands that I like, and quite a few of them are Australian ones!! :D

[Bakiryu]

I hate rap. But I love Eminem, he's just so angry. And I cry with his song "When I'm Gone" :blush: Or the Black Eyed Peas, they make great exercise music!

Like someone above said, the lyrics are about getting in someone's pants! There's too many songs about that, now if there were some about SHOPPING! for pants or Chloé jeans :p

I must admit, I love these songs!: http://youtube.com/watch?v=REYOJDANQ0k or http://youtube.com/watch?v=aD_vJRatx-A

(:blush: :blush: :blush:)

[Sir Bartholomew]

it depends on who's doing the lip. i'll vote yes.

[Shalot]

I'll vote yes because I like at least some rap, although when I go to listen the radio I don't go immediately to the rap/hip-hop station. I check out the station that's more likely to play stuff like Pearl Jam and Metallica and NIN.

but I do like some rap. I used to listen to Eminem but not until the Marshall Mathers LP, which was really good. I haven't heard much from him lately, which is probably a good thing. The last thing I heard was Shake That and I think Nate Dog (or Dogg?? :p ) contributed to that. the thing about that song is that it's fun to listen to, but they're talking about sluts grinding on a pole, so it's kind of embarrassing to listen to in the car...However, I like the sound of Nate Dogg's voice.

Another good one is Ain't No Fun...there's one to play at your wedding. :p

And "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangsta..." I love the song but it has the word that white people aren't allowed to say over and over so again, so I feel like I can't go out in public and listen to that song. I had it on at the gym and some lady was giving me a terrible look and I wondered if she could hear it through my headphones. Oooppps.....

But, some rap is fun to listen to and I know all the words but I can't keep up :lol: I'll come in at the end when I catch my breath...

[kilted exile]

I dont have a problem with rap. Personally I dont listen to much of it, but thats because I in general prefer more guitar based music.

What annoys me though, is the attitude held by some people that the lyrics in rap and the suggestion that rap music is in some way more subversive to culture than other types of music.

[LadyW]

Personally, rap isn't really my genre; although I do like a small selection of rap songs.
As far as the poll goes, I'm pretty much indifferent - "no opinion."
The small selection of rap songs I am partial to mainly deal with criticisms of governments - although I'm a sucker for a comical Eminem tune (videos and all.)
The rap songs with lyrics about sex get tiresome and quite frankly...pathetic in my eyes; but everyone is entitled to their own opinion/tastes.

[Weisinheimer]

I generally don't like rap/hip hop, but there are a few songs that I like.





And "Damn It Feels Good To Be a Gangsta..." I love the song but it has the word that white people aren't allowed to say over and over so again, so I feel like I can't go out in public and listen to that song. I had it on at the gym and some lady was giving me a terrible look and I wondered if she could hear it through my headphones. Oooppps.....

I kinda like that song but only because it reminds me of "Office Space."
I also like Eminem's "Stan."



I guess the reason I don't like rap is it's too rhythmic for me, all beat, no melody. Also for the most part I can't understand the lyrics at all.

[Equality72521]

Overall, I just don't see rap as real music. I don't like it. I think it's one of the most annoying, degrading and pretentious things every to have existed...but thats just an opinion. I don't dislike people who like it, I just don't like rap, I don't dislike the rappers, I'm sure they are good people, I just think that people have fooled themselves into thinking that its music so that some idiot who throws a few lines together, which are generally (NOT ALWAYS, but generally) degrading and sexual, and add a beat box makes millions.

{No offense was meant to those who like rap. I still love you all, just not rap ;)}

[JBI]

I don't dislike the concept of rap, but lets be honest, most rappers aren't the most talented 'poets', and in terms of musicality, rap is not music (as I see it). In terms of rap that plays itself off as music, such as that 'hip-hop' stuff they play these days, all I can do is laugh. I don't need to pay to see a bunch of people listening to long strings of endorsements about pointless, often offensive anecdotes, about random garbage. Thanks, I get enough of that on the television, so I even stopped watching that.

Lets be honest, if they actually could come up with some words that sustain a second listen, and a contemplative moment, then I would be somewhat a 'fan'. But as it is, I would rather save my time than listen to what's out there.

[eyemaker]

I don't like rap. As simple as that.

[Nyu001]

*makes a beat of 4 bars*

*Repeats it infinitely*

*write lyrics*

*speaks with rhythm*

There is.

[Dori]

Yes, I do like rap. Depends on the band/singer actually.

Am I the only one here who doesn't mind Eminem? Actually like him. Or wait no, not like him, but some of his songs.

You are not alone, Pensive. ;)


I hate rap. But I love Eminem, he's just so angry. And I cry with his song "When I'm Gone" :blush: Or the Black Eyed Peas, they make great exercise music!

Like someone above said, the lyrics are about getting in someone's pants! There's too many songs about that, now if there were some about SHOPPING! for pants or Chloé jeans :p

I must admit, I love these songs!: http://youtube.com/watch?v=REYOJDANQ0k or http://youtube.com/watch?v=aD_vJRatx-A

(:blush: :blush: :blush:)

BEP were cool until Fergie decided to go solo. Though I still listen to some of her music, I'm almost embarassed to say. :blush: "Where is the Love" is a song I expecially like.


I dont have a problem with rap. Personally I dont listen to much of it, but thats because I in general prefer more guitar based music.

What annoys me though, is the attitude held by some people that the lyrics in rap and the suggestion that rap music is in some way more subversive to culture than other types of music.

Amen, brother, preach on! :D


I generally don't like rap/hip hop, but there are a few songs that I like.




I kinda like that song but only because it reminds me of "Office Space."
I also like Eminem's "Stan."



I guess the reason I don't like rap is it's too rhythmic for me, all beat, no melody. Also for the most part I can't understand the lyrics at all.

Yeah, I like Eminem's "Stan" as well. :)


Overall, I just don't see rap as real music. I don't like it. I think it's one of the most annoying, degrading and pretentious things every to have existed...but thats just an opinion. I don't dislike people who like it, I just don't like rap, I don't dislike the rappers, I'm sure they are good people, I just think that people have fooled themselves into thinking that its music so that some idiot who throws a few lines together, which are generally (NOT ALWAYS, but generally) degrading and sexual, and add a beat box makes millions.

{No offense was meant to those who like rap. I still love you all, just not rap ;)}

I believe that the bolded statement applies to a much broader group than just rappers.


I don't dislike the concept of rap, but lets be honest, most rappers aren't the most talented 'poets', and in terms of musicality, rap is not music (as I see it). In terms of rap that plays itself off as music, such as that 'hip-hop' stuff they play these days, all I can do is laugh. I don't need to pay to see a bunch of people listening to long strings of endorsements about pointless, often offensive anecdotes, about random garbage. Thanks, I get enough of that on the television, so I even stopped watching that.

Lets be honest, if they actually could come up with some words that sustain a second listen, and a contemplative moment, then I would be somewhat a 'fan'. But as it is, I would rather save my time than listen to what's out there.

How do see music (in reference to your statement "rap is not music [as I see it]")?


It seems that I was incorrect in my predictions; I expected much more people to vote "no". However, perhaps if more people vote, the odds will change (are some people so put off by rap not even to give this poll consideration? :p).

[kilted exile]

Addressing some of the other points regarding subject matter in Rap Music.

h

1)use of "N word": I think there is a portion of this which has to be put down to the societal reclamation of a word, in just the same way the terms "queer" or "bent" where predominantly used as an insult by some members of the "straight community for homosexuals, you will now see gay/lesbian people quite happilly using that word to describe themselves, thus reducing the impact caused when it is used in a derogatory fashion. Another example of this relates the term redneck.

A second part is that I see a clear distinction between a "ga" & a "ger". A ga is generally a subset of the society who behaves in a certain way, it definitely does not appear to be a catch-all term for all black people

2)sexuality: Ok, this complaint annoys me most. Just about all popular music contains sexual references in some fashion, some are just less explicit than others. It has always been this way. Even the Beach Boys were singing about going out with a different girl every week, it aint new & it is certainly not the fault of Rap. Rap at least has the warning label on the CD, one of the most disturbing things to me is/was little 6/7 y.o. girls singing along to Spice Girls songs or Ms Aguilera's "genie in the bottle" - nobody should be rubbing them the right way

3)support of violence: Again there is both explicit & implicit support of violence contained in many songs of different types of music, for historical reference see Mr Cash.
Not sure how many of you people know the band The Vandals. They were/are a california Punk band. they had a song about this guy the knew called Pat Brown, called (imaginatively enough) The legend of Pat Brown (http://vandals.com/html/vsweatinlive.htm#2) is that really any worse than NWA's F' da Police? At least NWA were making some kind of social statement about the way young black men in general get treated by the police.

4)support of drug use:**cough** Dylan, Cash **cough**

[Sweets America]

I don't like rap music, but like some others here, I made an exception for Eminem when I was younger. I was a real fan, I loved his music and lyrics, I had pictures of him in my walls :lol: , and his anger greatly suited me. Now I don't listen to him anymore but I guess he still has a place in my heart because he really accompanied some difficult years of my life.

[kratsayra]

I like rap and hip hop, although I'm not up on the most recent American stuff at all. And I can definitely appreciate Eminem.

There is a lot more to rap and hip hop than the songs about wearing Burberry's and getting in a girl's pants. (Although I like some of those songs too)

Early rap had very significant socio-political messages (not to say that other genres don't either, Kilted!). But race in America is such a mess of a topic - as you say, Kilted, there was something significant going on with NWA.

And today around the world (Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe) rap and hip hop is being used in fascinating ways - combined with traditional musical styles, musicians are talking about things that others in their societies are not discussing. Certainly other musical genres could be (and are?) doing this too, but it just happens that the rap scenes around the world are very vibrant at the moment.

Check out the connection between rap and politics in Senegal here: http://nomadicwax.com/film/democracy-in-dakar/

This is partially what I'm writing my dissertation on, so I couldn't help but say something. :p

Oh yeah, and Saul Williams is awesome - spoken word poet and rap artist. He is so intelligent and creative - it's much more than what you might expect. I wrote about him - and probably a lot of this other stuff - in another thread a while back.

[Equality72521]

I believe that the bolded statement applies to a much broader group than just rappers.


Haha. It wasn't meant to be bolded.....but I guess it could apply to more than just rappers. I don't know....but the bolding was un-intentional.... :)

[Shalot]

Addressing some of the other points regarding subject matter in Rap Music.



2)sexuality: Ok, this complaint annoys me most. Just about all popular music contains sexual references in some fashion, some are just less explicit than others. It has always been this way. Even the Beach Boys were singing about going out with a different girl every week, it aint new & it is certainly not the fault of Rap. Rap at least has the warning label on the CD, one of the most disturbing things to me is/was little 6/7 y.o. girls singing along to Spice Girls songs or Ms Aguilera's "genie in the bottle" - nobody should be rubbing them the right way




I agree. The thing about rap is that they don't mince words or bother with innuendo. They just come right out and say it. Sometimes I will happen to hear old songs that I grew up listening to, and as an adult hearing those songs again, I pick up on what they're really talking about and I am amazed at how clueless I was back then. As I kid, I had no idea that "Squeezebox" wasn't really about someone's mom who kept everyone up all night with her damn accordian.

Why would rap artists not bother with the innuendo? Is it because it hasn't been done before and they're trying to add shock value and sell music? Or is there a cultural reason for leaving out the innuendo? And by asking that, I am not trying to suggest that rap (because it is marked by certain vocabulary choices for example) is just the product of a churlish low-class sect of society. Maybe it's just a more straightforward, direct communication style.

If you're ever in a situation where you have to deliver bad news and you're afraid of hurting someone, or you're just to chickenshart to come out and say what needs to be said, you can find all kinds of creative ways to not say what you're saying. Rap music doesn't sugarcoat the message or cloak it with innuendo so there's no really no room for misinterpretation there. In fact, sometimes they are very descriptive and they leave absolutely nothing to the imagination at all. I would guess that a lot of rap lyrics, now especially, are there for the shock value factor alone but maybe in the beginning producers realized that a lot people appreciate direct communication. I know I do, and that could be why rap has been so popular.

As with any other music type, there are the artists and there are the hacks and I think there is a lot of bad rap circulating these days. They're just trying to make a buck and they're using the same tired formulas over and over and it has gotten old.

But I don't hate rap. It took me a while to come around to it, but I grew up around a lot of rock and country guitar type music, so that's what I was drawn to at first.

[Dori]

Haha. It wasn't meant to be bolded.....but I guess it could apply to more than just rappers. I don't know....but the bolding was un-intentional.... :)

:D I bolded the statement myself when I quoted you. It's easier than saying, "your statement '.......' yadda yadda blah blah blah."

You actually made me laugh. :lol:

[EricP]

I've listened to hip hop for most of my life. Although I don't listen to it much anymore, I do have to give credit to the genre because it first sparked my interest in reading and politics. I bought a Public Enemy cassette tape in high school. There were several mentions of Malcolm X and the Black Panthers in the songs, so I decided to read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". This was the first book I read that wasn't assigned to me in school. Then I moved on to Huey P. Newton, and then to Marx, and so on.

I now feel kind of old, because I work with students between the ages of 16 and 24 who love rap. But when they talk about "old school" rap they mention Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. When I mention Afrika Bambaata and Eric B & Rakim, most of them stare blankly at me. I also find myself saying things like, "That new stuff is terrible...rap was so much better when I was growing up!" I think I've turned into my parents!

I like a few new artists, like Lupe Fiasco and Talib Kweli, but I mostly listen to jazz and classical music now.