I used to listen to rap, back when 2pac and Biggie were still breathing. I eventually realized that this whole "genre" does nothing but promote guns, drugs, the love of money (probably the worst part of it all) and viewing women as 'bitches'. Sorry, but take a look at any rap video and that's what you have. The mere fact of 50 cent starring in a video game of himself and the streets of wherever is pure nonsense, and directly points to his past gang involvement. It's indirectly saying that gangs are cool, and that since he was in a gang and is now famous that you could be in one too. You have respect for that? Respect for someone who has the stardom and sheer number of fans who are so influenced by his image that they would do anything to try to copy his success, albeit a tainted and bullet riddled success? After all, it's cool to get shot 9 or 10 times right? We have to have a movie about your life so we can see how truly criminilistic (is that a word?) you really are huh? Oh wait, lets throw some family scenes in there so it's not so bad. Biggie sold guns and dope, I don't see any movies about him. If I had any respect at all for a rapper, it would be 2pac and his writing. A true poet if I ever did hear one.
As far as rap being musically challenged, I would have to agree. The same progressing melody or riff over and over and over and over again. If there is a bass player, it's a 3 or 4 note pattern, with almost zero fills or changes throughout the entire song. Me? I like music to have some sort of progression from verse to chorus to bridge....any type of
direction makes listening more enjoyable. Time changes are a plus too. I listen to music for the MUSIC, not for what some guy wants to rant about in a barely understandable ebonics laced tongue, all the while having the same repeating riff going on for 4 or 5 minutes at a time.
And don't get me wrong, I can still get down with some old WuTang or BoneThugs from back in the day. Brings back memories of course.
Someone mentioned the youths of today accepting this as part of a peer pressure deal. I can honestly say that because my friends listened to it that I did too, so I can attest to that as well as one other observation. I ask people why they like rap. Not trying to influence them against rap, but just a simple question with a simple answer. For girls, it's usually "He's sooooo HAWT" and for guys it's "I just like the beat and/or groove." If a girl gives me that answer, I don't even waste any more time with her. For guys, I'll start suggesting some other music with a groovin drum beat or bass line, and when they have a listen, it's always the same. "It's too complicated." This is what they'd say to something like Dreamtheater or Death or Opeth. Shoot I've even tried some Thelonius Monk and I get the same response. Given, these bands/artists are far from the rap genre and have their respective extraordinary musicians, but I think that the emergence of rap as the most popular music is inevitable in a society of dumbed-down youths, who don't have an appreciation for music that might sound different from the normal 4-4 time. It's all about simplicity IMO. Can't get too complicated or else it's sensory overload. Same reason why kids don't like jazz, it's just so
different from the normal everyday crap on radio that they can't identify with the music.
Like I've said before, Rap should have been a fad like disco. But noooooooo the white kids had to start listening. I'd also like to add that I'm not taking any shots or stabs at anyone including the person I quoted above. This post is merely my observation of the topic at hand.
I'll go and hide now.
AuG
(I won't cop to hating, but admit to writing that I dislike)
*sigh*
