The Rap Discussion

Lazario · Post by **Lazario** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:33 am

Rap needs to be respected because it is, among other things, a chosen form of expression for many black musicians.

Of course there are elements to many music genres that should be examined or criticised. And we know rap has always been a male-dominated field. And as a result, even now in many rap songs, women are not treated fairly. This does bring things back to an archaic state of neanderthalism. But this instances are often the work of artists like Ludicris, who has worked with several women, one of them the seminal Missy Elliot. The instances of sexism themselves can be seen as isolated. Either way I do believe they could be discussed and sited for contemptability. And the artists should be held responsible.

Rap itself is an artform rooted in reality. Rappers are trying to be realistic with their form. But many rappers break that mold and make it very artistic and creative. Music videos have been one the greatest tools in selling rap to the mainstream. Some videos (like Public Enemy's "Fight the Power") are products of that realism and thrive off themes that are only negative in the sense that the message of the video plus the song is blacks fighting for some sense of respect that they are being denied.

Race is still a big issue today. And the popularity of rap music today alone fights this in some way. Sometimes it helps give the racists ammo, when they're trying to make a point that they are different from us. They certainly are in many ways. But we have to exist together. And yes our cultures are very different, but look at the way we come together at times. Look at how rappers have become rockers, or blended with musicians of other races. They've proved that rap has it's pulse on what's going on all over the musical map, these artists are interested in more than just looking tough or partying. Both the popularity and form of rap music is important to society, as important as any other musical genre today. And when it comes to good music, rap is as technically skilled as other varieties.

It's a mute point to argue that rap or rap artists don't have staying power. Sometimes all that needs to happen is that they remember their history. And they do. Rappers today recognize the genre's roots and history. Rappers that a lot of white people can claim they've never heard of, the rappers of today were influenced by them. It's been nearly a decade since Tupac Shakur was killed and he's still celebrated. Believe it or not, not much more because he's dead than if he were alive. Just look at LL Cool J. He's a legend and he's still alive. And no one denies him his impact on the history of music.

And the most important thing to recognize about rap is that the genre is still somewhat in it's infancy. Rock 'n roll went through something like 4 or 5 decades of change, all of it with intense criticism from people who thought it was an invader rebel of a force, and rap's been on the pop culture map for barely 2 decades. And white rock never faced as much opposition from people who felt threatened by it in a way they couldn't explain, other than to denounce it and refuse it it's due integrity.

Rap has given us a lot and it's turning out to be a flexible genre, with as much staying power as any other.

Zoltack · Post by **Zoltack** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:19 am

I've been getting into rap a lot lately. I mean I use to have the attitude that rap sucks and it's just for black people because most of the rap that I listen to they use the word "nigger" in their lyrics a lot. But I don't mind that because now I think that some rap is good. I like the most offensive and explict lyric rap. In other words... rap that rocks! I like Snoop Dog, Dr. Dre, Geto Boys, and DMX. I like some hip hop that's more milder, like MC Hammer, Young MC and Beastie Boys. Believe it or not I don't like Eminem, I can't stand that guy. Don't get me wrong some of his stuff is ok, I use to listen to his stuff sometimes. But I think that he's too over rated.

And that's my take about rap. I give it a thumps up.

dvdjunkie · Post by **dvdjunkie** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 12:06 pm

I am from the 'old school' of rap, I really like The Sugarhill Gang with Grandmaster Flash...................the music was innocent and not advocating violence like so much of the rap today is. And back then it could be called music, whereas today it can't. To say "rap" and "Artist" in the same sentence would be a double negative or a true "oxymoron".

True there are some really good things going today like Kanye West, whose CD I just finished listening to and thoroughly enjoyed. It wasn't filled with a lot of four-letter and seven-letter words that don't need to be said in a public place and I really think that he has some talent. Still not music yet, but I did enjoy it.

Run DMC, MC Hammer, Busta Rhymes, and some of the earlier rappers were truly artists of their day, but wouldn't hold up today because they didn't use foul language which seems to be the theme of today's rap people.

Without the swear words they would just be another set of poetry with a horrible drum beat. You notice that most of the rappers today don't appear in concert because they do so much sampling, and don't really have a back-up band, so they can't repeat the studio recordings on a stage.

The Beastie Boys are probably the hardest thing I listen to, but I hapen to like some of their stuff a lot.

Prince Eric · Post by **Prince Eric** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:35 pm

I really like Kanye West and I think Missy Elliott is fabulous! Musically, these artists are some of the most ingenious on the market today. Kanye West was robbed of the Best New Artist Grammy, as was 50 Cent. The artists they lost to, Maroon 5 and Evanescence, are pretty much one album bands. The Academy should recognize that by now. The day they honor a rap star in that category will be the day.

Rap is not just for black people, and if it is, it's doing a pretty good job of shaping today's culture. It's hard to deny that America just wouldn't be America without the current hip-hop movement. I would say more, but I'm really busy.

Maybe later!

Prince Eric · Post by **Prince Eric** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:36 pm

I really like Kanye West and I think Missy Elliott is fabulous! Musically, these artists are some of the most ingenious on the market today. Kanye West was robbed of the Best New Artist Grammy, as was 50 Cent. The artists they lost to, Maroon 5 and Evanescence, are pretty much one album bands. The Academy should recognize that by now. The day they honor a rap star in that category will be the day.

Rap is not just for black people, and if it is, it's doing a pretty good job of shaping today's culture. It's hard to deny that America just wouldn't be America without the current hip-hop movement. I would say more, but I'm really busy.

Maybe later!

Lightyear · Post by **Lightyear** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:50 pm

Interesting Topic. I too am a fan of the old school rap. But that is only based on the idea that I grew up listening to it.. B-Boys, Run DMC, Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff, etc etc. I don't have any realy issues with the main stream rap of today. I'm a firm believe of freedom of speech. The message I may not agree with, but I am not the one to say they are not allowed to try to get a message across. If I don't like it, I wont listen to it.

With that said.. I've always seemed to gear myself more towards comical / non serious rap songs.. With an overabundance of bass.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:34 pm

I don't like rap. They rap too fast I can't really understand what they are trying to say! Plus, theres a lot of really bad language in rap on not so pleasant topics...

Little Red Henski · Post by **Little Red Henski** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:36 pm

Prince Eric wrote:I really like Kanye West and I think Missy Elliott is fabulous!

I hate rap, but I have met Missy Elliott before and she was very nice.

Timon/Pumbaa fan · Post by **Timon/Pumbaa fan** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:45 pm

I despise rap. Tried to listen to several types of rap, just couldn't get into it.

More of a rock fan!

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:46 pm

Timon/Pumba fan wrote:I despise rap. Tried to listen to several types of rap, just couldn't get into it.

More of a rock fan!

I don't like rock either. Its too loud. I like more "appetizing" music like classical and beach boys. Beach Boys make me think of happy things like the summer...

Prince Eric · Post by **Prince Eric** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:07 pm

Alan wrote:
Timon/Pumba fan wrote:I despise rap. Tried to listen to several types of rap, just couldn't get into it.

More of a rock fan!
I don't like rock either. Its too loud. I like more "appetizing" music like classical and beach boys. Beach Boys make me think of happy things like the summer...

Eww.

Appetizing is an adjective that can apply to pretty much anything, including genres of music. Oh, and just because one doesn't "get" something, is not reason to throw around words like "despise," because like the author of that post said, they just don't get it.

Isidour · Post by **Isidour** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:08 pm

Timon/Pumba fan wrote:I despise rap. Tried to listen to several types of rap, just couldn't get into it.

More of a rock fan!

Me too!

there´re some cool rap songs, but IMO find one really good is really hard

castleinthesky · Post by **castleinthesky** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:14 pm

I usually skip out of rap, as I find many imoral, profane, and corruptive in phrases, situations, and words in the songs (and music videos). But I could care less if people listened to it because its your option, and if it dosn't bother me go ahead and listen to it. Most of the time I listen to pop, rock (not heavy, lol), and Christian music.

musicradio77 · Post by **musicradio77** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:18 pm

I sometimes like rap music, but I'm not too familiar which current rap music like 50 Cent, Baby Bash, Missy Elliot, DMX or whatever artist would be. I also remember the song "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. That was one of the first rap records ever from back in the early 80's. There were other rap artists coming in like Grandmaster Flash, the Furious Five, Spoonie Gee, the Treacherous Three, Fat Boys, Whodini and those other rap artists. In the 1980's, rap was not even hardcore back then, but it was softcore. I don't really like hardcore rap music where they had references to violence, rape, drugs and sex. That's just the bottom line. I also like R&B and Soul music from the 60's, 70's and 80's.

The Little Merman · Post by **The Little Merman** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 4:29 pm

Isidour wrote:
Timon/Pumba fan wrote:I despise rap. Tried to listen to several types of rap, just couldn't get into it.

More of a rock fan!
Me too!

there´re some cool rap songs, but IMO find one really good is really hard

I ... third that guys. I really don't like rap, but, on occasion, I can hear a good song- 'Jesus Walks' by Kanye West for example. I have no problem with anyone who likes the music, and I have the greatest respect for some (and I use that term lightly) rap artists who use their talents wisely and as art.

*tlm

TashieGirl · Post by **TashieGirl** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:25 pm

I respect rap as a gerne of Music in general but I don't really listen to it. However, I have been getting a little into Kanye West because my mom loves him and she's plays his songs all the time. He seems very talented.

Roger Rabbit · Post by **Roger Rabbit** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 6:45 pm

The only reason I can't stand some forms of modern rap is generally because I have to put up listening to f*ck this or that in the song. Not all songs have this word use of course, but I just never have grown accustomed to listening to select four letter words in songs.

I think in my plethora of music, there's only one song that I think can be called some form of early rap at least (and correct me if I'm wrong) - Good Vibrations by Marky Mark

Zoltack · Post by **Zoltack** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:34 pm

Not only do they use the word f*ck a lot but also nigger which is kind of what I said earlier. I don't find it offensive but I don't understand why black people call themselves or other black people that. As a matter of fact not a whole lot of stuff bothers me. I just think if it rocks than it rocks and I'm going to listen to it. I like to listen to all kinds of music, rap is one of my favorite things to listen to and so is Mozart.

memnv · Post by **memnv** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:54 pm

I like some Rap, I prefer the older stuff like RUN DMC and Beastie Boys, The Main music I like is Classic Rock and 80's Music "Mainly Top 40 and Heavy Metal" Bands like the Beach Boys were ok in the day and some of the songs are ok but I don't go out of my way to listen to them, If I am going to listen to some Beach Music it will be Jimmy Buffet

creid · Post by **creid** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:44 am

I am what might be called a lapsed rap fan. In the late 80's and 90's I was really into the music of the day as I bought anything to done with NWA. I still have a t-shirt in my basement and wrote papers about the the group in a class about censorship. (It was written in 1990 when NWA was cited by the FBI as threat and To Live Crew was arrested in Florida.) Still love the music but I still listen hit/dance radio at times.

I did not appreciate the attitudes towards woman of the music although I was not bothered by the language. I still think 8-Ball is the funniest song outside of Dylan.

CR

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