Hip Hop

Jedi Of Syrinx · #1 11-01-2009, 02:20 AM

Hi, I'm doing a bit of research for my College coursework, and part of it is to do with how Hip Hop is viewed and what stigma it has on the world stage today.

So. Now you know why I'm asking this, but what do you all think of Hip Hop? Could you also give intelligent answers please, with reasons (Or failing reasons, just be polite), stupid responses won't be tolerated, thank you

Fun Size Nick · #2 11-01-2009, 04:02 AM

I enjoy stuff with a strong stylistic foundation in funk - so a lot of old school hip-hop and groups like Arrested Development, Jurassic 5 and Casual Projects. I don't find much mainstream hip-hop very interesting.

jmiller · #3 11-01-2009, 08:50 AM

I love hip hop. I enjoy many different types of hip hop but am really drawn to the spoken word style i.e Common, Talib, The Roots, Tribe Called quest. Often i find myself listening to harder stuff too i.e. 2pac, Twista, Jayz. I think its an amazing artform and really appreciate it. However, there is a fine line between, boundary pushing lyrics and juvenile crap. I hate the cheesy lazy rappers i.e. gucci mane, young joc, etc. But who am I to judge the way someone expresses themselves. Im a 25 year old white male who grew up in a predominantly african american neighborhood. I was surrounded by this music, and perhaps, is why I enjoy it. With that said, I listen to my itunes about 3-4 hours a day and I listen to about 10% hip hop on any given day. But honestly, I only listen to about 10% of any given genre a day.

metalguy2 · #4 11-01-2009, 05:53 PM

I like it as long as the people who are rapping are talking about stuff that is thought out and not just rhymes for the sake of rhymes.

**jmattbassplaya** · #5 11-01-2009, 06:01 PM

Where`s carrots?

Jefenator · #6 11-01-2009, 10:58 PM

Seems to me like it's being received in much the same way Jazz once was, and will probably have just as much of a lasting impact.

2pac is huge, of course. Snoop Dogg isn't quite as introspective or politlcal - definitely more "slick" but he has an absolutely incredible sense of rhythm.

All the big names have something cool to offer and that's just scratching the surface.

Busting out the rhymes is a lot harder than some people seem to think. I think I'm closer to being able to take a few choruses of Giant Steps than I ever will be to compete in a freestyle Rap duel.

Unrepresented · #7 11-02-2009, 11:43 AM

I don't like or dislike music just because it falls into a certain genre. So, I don't like all hip hop, but I do like a number of artists within the genre.

From a musical standpoint I prefer the more "old school" stuff that was more focused on sampling funk and breakbeats. I love the power of placing a well selected sample in any genre, from White Zombie to Wu Tang. Straight 808 sequenced beats do nothing for me, which I think is a part of why I'm not into a lot of the recent mainstream hip hop trends. The beats take priority over the lyrics for me. I can tolerate some sloppy rhymes but if the beat doesn't deliver, I'm on to the next track.

From a lyrical standpoint, things got much better after Rakim came along. I appreciate lyrics but also the voice as an instrument, and I can enjoy artists who often lack in rhyme skills but are very adept at delivery and flow (like Snoop). My personal favorites are Chali 2na from Jurassic 5 who IMHO defines flow, Notorious B.I.G. who could run lyrical circles around most plus had charisma to spare, and M.O.P. who sound like a military version of the chitlin' circuit -- DJ Premier's beats definitely help a lot.

JTE · #8 11-02-2009, 12:02 PM

I don't know much about it, but going to a church with a predominantly black congregation I hear a good bit. Most of the reactons against the genre in general sound too much like the crochety old farts who wrote letters to the editor of Guitar Player Magazine back in the 1972, while dismissing rock oriented music.

John

dave64o · #9 11-02-2009, 03:38 PM

Not my thing, but then again neither is opera or country. That's simply my personal preference, not a judgment of a genre, it's fans, or it's players.

WashburnBasser · #10 11-02-2009, 03:59 PM

I love Sugarhill Gang and Digital Underground, but that's about it.

Deesack · #11 11-02-2009, 05:28 PM

Well hiphop, like disco and punk, is associated with a particular era/locale, IE LA/NY pre-2000's.

I don't care what anyone says, it just ain't the same coming from middle America (ie, the south). I miss hearing hiphop and instantly thinking subways and bboys, now hiphop you start imagining some Paris Hilton white chick dancing in a club posting pics to myspace.... That's so not hip hop.

Kinda feel sorry for kids these days.

warwick.hoy · #12 11-02-2009, 05:57 PM

For Hip Hop; as with all music, there is top notch well thought out stuff out there and it has it's fair share of garbage.

The well thought out stuff I like. The garbage goes in the can.

CrispyDelicious · #13 11-02-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

For Hip Hop; as with all music, there is top notch well thought out stuff out there and it has it's fair share of garbage.

The well thought out stuff I like. The garbage goes in the can.

+1000

There really is some excellent rap, but like with any genre, you have to sift through mountains of garbage to find the good stuff.

That said, Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon/Dr. Dooom/Black Elvis/etc. is my favorite artist. He's the Mike Patton of Rap.

bass12 · #14 11-02-2009, 06:39 PM

I have a lot of respect for hip-hop as a cultural movement. Every aspect of hip-hop (breaking, DJing, graffiti, MCing) in the 1970s was an example of kids producing something of substance from very little. It bugs me when people refer to hip-hop as "unimaginative" or lacking in substance. To me, the development of hip-hop is a prime example of youthful imagination at work. Does that mean that all rap is good? Absolutely not. Just like any other form of contemporary pop, rap has been reduced to a sellable formula by people who have little interest in what may have made hip-hop so special "back in the day". I can't stand most of the rap I hear in dance clubs or coming out of my T.V. speakers, but I don't see that so much as a reflection on hip-hop, but rather as a reflection on a record industry that lacks any interest in actual music (and of a public willing to eat up whatever pablum is given to them to nosh on).

ugly_bassplayer · #15 11-02-2009, 07:06 PM

I am a real hiphop maniac.
I listen to it alot.
As mentionned before me, there are two types of music , the good & the bad, this goes for hiphop as well.

fdeck · #16 11-02-2009, 08:19 PM

I suspect that I would enjoy hiphop more if I had more of a chance to get into it. I'm so clueless that I would need some advice on what albums are artistically worthwhile.

Amusingly, my kids say that they hate hiphop, but I doubt they really understand what it is. But they must have heard from somebody, e.g., classmates at school, that they are supposed to hate hiphop.

In the US hiphop is so pervasive that it's used for marketing practically anything. My Toyota was marketed on a hiphop theme.

CrispyDelicious · #17 11-03-2009, 07:15 AM

For anyone interested, I spend a lot of time on this guys myspace youtube channel. He has LOADS of great hip hop. Of course, some will be NSFW, but really, amazing stuff here. FOr some really spectacular beats, check out the stuff done with DJ Kutmasta Kurt.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TairyHes...09/n3jB-437KqE

Barkless Dog · #18 11-03-2009, 07:33 AM

I only like it when its used in other genres (I know that is lame)

djero44 · #19 11-03-2009, 07:49 AM

It took me a long time to get into the hip-hop vibe, it all started with Spearhead's Chocolate to Supa-highway, and over the years I started listening to a lot more. I will say a big part of that was being open to other styles, especially because my daughter digs the scene. I remember years ago listening to Talib's Beautiful Struggle over and over with her, it was an awesome experience and one I will always remember, and actually quite educational for me.

There are some good points made here. Of course there is great and ridiculously bad hip-hop. Personally i'm all about (what I consider) conscious and creative lyricism, Gift of Gab and Cee-Lo being two of my favorites. I don't get off on gangsta rap at all, but I appreciate the depth of the ghetto experience (not that I know it) and the power of music coming from that place.

There is a show in Aspen on Nov. 12th with the Gift of Gab, Chali 2na, Mr. Lif and it's mc'd by Lyrics Born. I haven't seen many hip-hop shows, but I might just go check that out. Last summer I saw Digable Planets there. That was quite good!

I like the east vs. west sounds, I think that is a cool element of the current scene. All in all i've gained quite an appreciation for many artists in the field, but if I have a choice i'll pick singing over rapping almost any day now....