Can I Vent?

[Andrew.Glose]

I went into work today (I work at Kohls) to help unload the truck. I have to do it once every week and quite despise having to break boxes down for 5 hours (but enjoy working the floor, usually). One of the things I enjoy is listening to the music they play in the store. I think to myself, "at least I've got that." So on top of going in early (7am), I walk into the back room and they've got rap playing from a stereo. It's loud enough to drown out the music from the overhead speakers. After 30 mins of this, I start fuming, and thinking downright mean thoughts in my head. That rap is mostly 'unintelligent music' made by 'half-whits on a cheap sounding drum machine' who don't display much of any artistry. The beats are all the same, and it seems the 'sound engineer' was only concerned about the highs and lows (and did a $hit job in the process). Then I hear one of these 'artists' using the word "n****r." I think to myself, "You know, if they don't want other people, such as Caucasians, throwing that word around, they need to stop using it themselves. They're NOT setting a better standard for themselves or their people by continually using that term. It's degrading, yet they don't seem to mind. On top of that, it's seems shallow to rap about money and material things. A rap culture that embraces and raps about material things over anything substantial (such as Hip-Hop).

This outburst has stemmed from being unwillingly subjected to this type of music. Often. I got so fed up yesterday that I called the police for public disturbance at my apartment complex where someone insisted on letting the world hear their car stereo. Why? For fear of being threatened, or even shot (in some places) where I'd have to ask them myself.

Do you identify? Or have any of the same feelings?

Andrew

[Gabu]

I don't really identify. Its a legitimate form of expression, just as rock, country, jazz.... etc.

One thing you might do, if you have to listen to it, is listen to the beat, ignore the words, and think of how you might add to it if you were noodling around on your bass to a cheap drum machine.

Try to turn that angry stress into a creative process.

[Jared Lash]

This can't go well.

[Big Hungry]

I agree with you that rap music is garbage but you called the police on a co worker?

You couldn't just ask them to turn it down.

I work in a restaurant where the kitchen staff is all hispanic. They constantly listen to the worst mariachi style music and it drives me nuts. One day I asked the manager to tell them to turn it down and they wouldn't so he took the stereo out and threw it in the trash compactor.

[peaveyuser]

yah I pretty much hate that kind of stuff too.

Only rap I respect is the underground stuff where the guys are truthfully "poets of the street" and they talk down about all the material crap these guys talk about and don't say "n------" all the time.

Underground rappers actually talk about injustice and have smart lyrics (well at least the good ones).

The rest, i do not care if i get flamed is pure trash, and what brings disrespect to the genre. I hate that loud obnoxious crap, its just mainstream crap. Volume wars seem to be the only way to shut them up either way, I hate going on the bus and listening to some guy feel the need everybody has to hear his/her stuff.


Simply blast your music when you have the chance.

[Gabu]

Dude, don't take things so seriously. "They" are not out to get you. Try enjoying new things that are outside of your comfort zone.

It's a great big beautiful world out there.

[EricF]

Sorry - can't join you on that one. Who am I to determine what kind of music is a legitimate form of art or not? Just because I don't like it doesn't mean it doesn't connect with someone else. There's lots of different of music for lots of different people. If all music was the same, this world would be really boring.

[bongomania]

Every kind of music can seem "all the same" when you aren't personally involved in the culture of it, or haven't spent a lot of time educating yourself.

That said, it really is a shame how much popular music has terribly low, shallow standards, and that certainly applies to popular rap on the radio. But again, it applies to all kinds of pop.

On top of that, rap and Mexican music in the US are ways that people can surround themselves with a comforting sense of familiarity, belonging to the culture, and making their immediate airspace "theirs". A lot of low income, foreign-born, or minority people feel like they are outsiders living in somebody else's world. So they blare their familiar music to reinforce their own identities. And sometimes that can be a very aggressive action- but certainly not always.

[Relic]

"They, They, they.."
This thread wont go well.

Dude, why didn't you just ask them to turn it down? You felt the police were necessary??
The rap 'aint the problem here.

[fenderhutz]

I guess you haven't been in a real studio with a "rap" artist. Most "rap" artists use real musicians to at least record the material though most don't carry a "band" around with them for live performances. I know they also use sampling as well.

Although I can't stand "rap", mainly for the language, you should have just turned it down. If they complained, ask them to take it up with the manager.

I can talk until I am blue in the face about how much rap artists degrade themselves with their lyrics and lack of couth, but they are selling tons of records and people are just eating them up. Says alot for it's listeners as well.

I don't expect this to end well either.

Like Hollywood Squares, I'll take John Turner for the block.

Circle gets the Square.

[disenchant]

Personally I find John Mayer worse than Rap. He makes me want to shove pencils in my eyes out of SHEER BOREDOM. At least rap can be fun.

[Marcury]

Originally Posted by disenchant

Personally I find John Mayer worse than Rap. He makes me want to shove pencils in my eyes out of SHEER BOREDOM. At least rap can be fun.

+1000...

[KeithBMI]

I can't help you... I like rap.



The newer "style" of rap isn't that great.... (talking about girls, money, and cars) but there are a few bearable songs out there with good beats. If you're looking for thought-provoking lyrics, you're in the wrong genre.

The early-mid '90s style of hip-hop is my favorite genre. You don't find that type of sound in modern rap, but it is based more heavily in funk. I wish someone would bring that back.

[Andrew.Glose]

Edit: I didn't call the police on a co-worker, lol. I called them for public disturbance at my apartment complex. My bad. It was extremely loud.

[Jerose]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

The early-mid '90s style of hip-hop is my favorite genre. You don't find that type of sound in modern rap, but it is based more heavily in funk. I wish someone would bring that back.

This is just a small introduction to the G Funk Era
Everyday of my life I take a glimpse in the mirror
And I see m***********s tryin to be like me
Every since I put it down with the D-R-E


God I love G-funk... Dre's new album is supposed to be heavy on it, when it comes out in another 20 years. Mister Perfectionist.

[Andrew.Glose]

Originally Posted by Relic

"They, They, they.."
This thread wont go well.

Dude, why didn't you just ask them to turn it down? You felt the police were necessary??
The rap 'aint the problem here.

Check my edit*

They = Rappers and rap culture followers. Of any skin tone. I'm not racist.

And granted, I'm NOT opposed to new things or new music. But when everything I've ever heard of it, be it on the radio, or by someone else's car stereo, is shallow, then I get sick of being subjected to that. I start questioning the culture and musical standards.

[HashbrownCOBM]

Originally Posted by disenchant

Personally I find John Mayer worse than Rap. He makes me want to shove pencils in my eyes out of SHEER BOREDOM. At least rap can be fun.

Where the hell did this come from? The dude before you said "John Turner".

[Pacman]

This won't go well, so let's end it here.