You certainly should be allowed to have your own opinion, so I’ll let you believe whatever you wish but I’d just like to say some things to maybe help you gain a better image of rap/hip-hop.
Clarebear, all that bumbling you said was very ignorant. Stop misinforming people. That type of thing is what starts to make people believe rap = violent.
Wildflower: There are not that many rappers who use shock in their lyrics. It’s rare. About 1% of the whole probably.
SeattleRon, Puppyblues and I (and many others) both like rap for the music. Could it at all be possible other people do, too? I can assure you yes. It’s the music that makes you by the CDs.
The rap you see and hear does NOT define rap just like today’s popular rock doesn’t define rock. Don’t generalize so much. A lot of you people who hate certain music really have no idea what kind of music is out there. It’s understandable though, you stay with what you already know and the place you find to listen to plays mainly what you feel comfortable with. I don’t know where you’ve been listening to rap but you are listening to the wrong rappers. There are plenty of other, much better rappers out there (even popular ones who are right in front of you) who you could listen to right. Rap does not = violence and abusing women (never has, never will). If anything, most popular rap is about love (yes love Kendor).
Don’t think of rap as just talking. Think of it as a different way of making music. Anyone like Moby? Well he usually talks in his songs. How’s that different? It may not sound as beautiful but its art and it does take creativity. Think of it like playing a piano. Rappers have to create a flow and stay with that flow plus add lyrics. And I think writing lyrics isn’t any easier or harder than it is in any other genre. Still not everyone can write lyrics (for any genre) and say exactly what they are trying to say with such limited rhyming words and limited construction space.
If you say rap is degrading to women then what about all the female rappers? There in it too. Rappers with lyrics about the streets are either really from the streets, they didn’t grow up there but are talking about something or someone who is (like a tribute), are recalling their former environment, or are creating a fictional account about a life or day in the ‘hood. Some of these themes are where death comes in. In real life, street life is bound to run into hardships and graphic imagery SOMETIMES and so SOMETIMES they put them in their lyrics. Sometimes rappers use metaphors just like other styles of music. I’ve heard kill and shoot in many different ways to stand for things like existence or the government. Even one of the most famous gangster rappers of today, Juvenile, member of the family SeattleRon said above, the Cash Money Millionaires, has a song about not fighting and obeying the law. You should hear what Nas has to say about THE MAJORITY of today’s pop-rap. He’s said artists like Cam’ron are out only to make a buck off of his hit single and so many other rappers don’t give it their all at making music and so just make mush.
My thoughts on Eminem.Please listen to these (especially the ones who hate all rap)- Blackalicious:
Try Make You Feel That Way.Busta Rhymes:
http://www.content.loudeye.com/scripts/hurlPNM.exe?/~ff-475124/0179067_0110_00_0002.ra (you can’t tell me that’s not skill).
Nappy Roots:
http://www.nappyroots.com/.
Cee-Lo:
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,1085160,00.html?artist=Cee%2DLo#overview (Try Closet Freak).
311 (especially if you like classic rock; it really reminds me of it): songs 2-14 on their Grassroots CD (if you like it, try some of their other songs, too).
Outkast:
http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,476050,00.html?src=search&artist=OutKast (Try the Land of a Million Drums video).
Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park (not all of Linkin Park):
www.dotmusic.com/artists/LinkinPark/news/March2002/news24221.asp (watch the video and the live video too).
Lauryn Hill:
http://www.lauryn-hill.com/ (Try Doo Wop (That Thing)).
The Fugees:
http://www.rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=57972&cf=340 (Try Ready or Not).
Tupac Shakur: after studying books by political philosopher of the Renaissance Machiavelli, he changed his ways: "I'm going to make a change. And my change is going to make a change through the community. And through that, they are going to see what type of person I truly was. Where my heart was. This Thug Life stuff, it was just ignorance. My intentions was always in the right place. I never killed anybody, I never raped anybody, I never committed no crimes that weren't honorable-that weren't to defend myself. So that's what I'm going to show them. I'm going to show people my true intentions, and my true heart. I'm going to show them the man that my mother raised. I'm going to make them all proud."- Tupac Shakur 1995. And before he died he was scheduled to attend a charity event to raise money to keep children away from violence.
http://www.2paclegacy.com/index2.asp (click on the first picture in the bottom right to hear Dear Mama).
http://members.tripod.com/SILVER_99/2pac.htm (scroll to bottom; click the word Changes).
And there are hundreds of rap artists who use real guitars, basses, drums, brass instruments, keyboards/pianos, etc. One of the best is: URL=http://www.okayplayer.com/theroots/]The Roots.[/URL]
If you like any of the aforementioned music, there’s much, much more. Feel free to ask me about other artists.
And I personally think it takes a good deal of talent to freestyle.
Conscious rap. (click on CHHop). Read some of this please.
and see this:
Become informed.[This message was edited by jusork on 08-16-02 at 04:52 PM.]
[This message was edited by jusork on 08-16-02 at 04:54 PM.]
