What Is Your View On Rap/Hip-Hop?

[Funk$tar]

I just want to clarify that I am a fan of real MC's from the "Golden Age" of Hip-Hop and not that stuff you hear on the radio people call, "Rap." I appreciate the art form or any art form that expresses one's feelings and what not, but I don't appreciate when a newer generation of rappers completely dismantles an art form by insulting woman, cursing every 5 seconds, discussing the same controversial subject in every song, and so much more. I know a lot of you bass players on here are older and may not understand the art form at all, but to people like me who are from impoverished areas where dealing drugs and killing is encouraged, Hip-Hop was a way for some people living in those areas to relate to one another and escape that reality together. Just like any other genre of music, Hip-Hop has it's artists that helped define that genre and that are still trying to keep it going, while other people simply take it and mold it into a way to vent their feelings about ridiculous crap like Sex, Drugs, and...well mainly those two. I appreciate Hip-Hop and hope others can do the same and learn not to judge from what they hear on the radio, but from what they hear from the past MC's who actually were trying to tell their stories and true feelings about all things meaningful.
Well anyways, what's your guy's view of Rap/Hip-Hop?

 

[Stewie26]

Mmmm...you might be opening up a can of worms here. But on the other hand, for an older white guy, I can rap pretty good.

 

[Rosebud]

Deoindra, when are you referring to as the golden age of hip hop because given that I'm older, what I consider the golden era might by like the 80's.

 

[Phalex]

I'm an old white guy. Back in the day, I never listened to any new music and had great disdain for sampling in particular and hip hop in general.

Fast forward 30 years.........

I got a fancy new vehicle this past summer with satellite radio. Being old and technologically challenged, as I was trying to do something else I ended up messing with the stations on the satellite radio instead. I just so happened to land on a 90's hip hop channel (Backspin?) I was driving, and didn't really want to try and figure out what the hell I just did so I let it ride. That was about a week before Big Bank Hank died. The Sugar Hill Gang tribute they did when he died was pretty cool.

I've been jammin to classic hip hop ever since! I used to be stuck on the disco channel, but that old hip hop is pretty darn good.

 

[Shovel]

I'm not a big fan of rap generally, especially the new stuff. But I do blast Wu Tang Clan and I love Wax, because he's hilarious. I also like Kendrick Lamar's new single.

 

[RustyAxe]

Well anyways, what's your guy's view of Rap/Hip-Hop?

Meh ... take it or leave it. Mostly leave it. It might be art, maybe literature, even ... but it's a sorry excuse for music. Hey, you asked.

 

[bassie12]

Old white guy here. Been listening to and keeping track of Hip Hop since the very early 80s, mostly as a requirement of keeping up with production/recording techniques. This is because I am a recording engineer by trade. I've worked in many hip hop productions from demos to pretty major stuff. I signed off about fifteen years ago. Outside of some very early stuff that was actually played by bands and some late 90s Timberland & Redman stuff, it's just not for me. I choose to record music that people play together in real time. Your opinion and experience may, and probably should, vary.

 

[Funk$tar]

Deoindra, when are you referring to as the golden age of hip hop because given that I'm older, what I consider the golden era might by like the 80's.

You are correct, more like the mid 80s to mid 90s...

 

[Gorn]

I don't like it.

 

[Funk$tar]

Meh ... take it or leave it. Mostly leave it. It might be art, maybe literature, even ... but it's a sorry excuse for music. Hey, you asked.

Well everyone has their own opinions!
But that's like saying poetry is meaningless...
Without poetry we wouldn't have the millions of influential poets who influenced literature/art and inspired a legacy of great musicians, vocalist, and songwriters from Bob Dylan to Jim Morrison, and so on so forth.
Poetry is just as vital to music as teachers are to school...Just saying is all.

 

[GregC]

TB is chock full of old white guys, so this may not go well. But hey, maybe it'll be fine--I fit in that category as well and have had a healthy respect for the genre since my college roommate brought home LL Cool J's Radio in '85 or so.

Some of my favorite artists and albums land squarely in hip hop. Most are from that late '80s golden era--Public Enemy, Run DMC, Beastie Boys (though their best work was in the very late '80s and early '90s), De La Soul and such (Tribe Called Quest got started a little later). I did not like much of the gangsta stuff beyond NWA's Straight Outta Compton, which--despite some highly objectionable lyrics--was quite inventive at the time and had some great rhymes.

As for modern hip hop, the best stuff seems to be underground, but I haven't taken much time to seek it out. I do love the Roots, I think they're one of the best and most creative bands on the planet. They also put on a killer live show.

 

[Funk$tar]

I'm an old white guy. Back in the day, I never listened to any new music and had great disdain for sampling in particular and hip hop in general.

Fast forward 30 years.........

I got a fancy new vehicle this past summer with satellite radio. Being old and technologically challenged, as I was trying to do something else I ended up messing with the stations on the satellite radio instead. I just so happened to land on a 90's hip hop channel (Backspin?) I was driving, and didn't really want to try and figure out what the hell I just did so I let it ride. That was about a week before Big Bank Hank died. The Sugar Hill Gang tribute they did when he died was pretty cool.

I've been jammin to classic hip hop ever since! I used to be stuck on the disco channel, but that old hip hop is pretty darn good.

Now this is a great story ending on a positive note! lol

 

[Pilgrim]

It doesn't move me or interest me. That's probably in part because it's not a genre I grew up with, and partially because I don't really like the images and behavior I associate with the artists. It also makes a difference that I can't understand a single word they're saying. Just leaves me cold. No interest.

 

[Funk$tar]

TB is chock full of old white guys, so this may not go well. But hey, maybe it'll be fine--I fit in that category as well and have had a healthy respect for the genre since my college roommate brought home LL Cool J's Radio in '85 or so.

Some of my favorite artists and albums land squarely in hip hop. Most are from that late '80s golden era--Public Enemy, Run DMC, Beastie Boys (though their best work was in the very lately '80s and early '90s), De La Soul and such (Tribe Called Quest got started a little later). I did not like much of the gangsta stuff beyond NWA's Straight Outta Compton, which--despite some highly objectionable lyrics--was quite inventive at the time and had some great rhymes.

As for modern hip hop, the best stuff seems to be underground, but I haven't taken much time to seek it out. I do love the Roots, I think they're one of the best and most creative bands on the planet. They also put on a killer live show.

I hope not to cause too much of a stir!
But people like you are the reasons why I love TB! haha
You actually have had the pleasure to explore and learn about a genre that most people (older people ;D) despise, instead of just knocking it down from one bad experience. Sure I understand when someone who is a bit older turns on the radio and hears Rap music playing they will most likely not understand it and will then distant themselves away from it. But If those people would actually take the time and learn of it's origins, they might end up liking it or at least appreciating it.
Anyways great post and yeah The Roots are awesome!

 

[hdracer]

I have some old Kid Rock, Beastie Boys and Limp Bizkit cd's.
Does that count?

 

[GregC]

I have some old Kid Rock, Beastie Boys and Limp Bizkit cd's.
Does that count?

No. Yes. No.

 

[MJ5150]

I just so happened to land on a 90's hip hop channel (Backspin?)

That's the one I listen to as well. Channel 46 on my SiriusXM dial.

I am a fan of the albums that came out in the 80's and early 90's. After about 1995, I lost interest and moved on. I didn't really identify with the newer albums coming out. It felt too angry to me.

-Mike

 

[48thStreetCustom]

I like the hip-hop that is musical. I'm not a fan of the newer Drake/Nicki Manage/Lil Wayne stuff that uses fake drum sounds. I wasn't really a fan of the early 808 beats either.

 

[HaMMerHeD]

In general, I'm not a fan of rap, hip-hop, or R&B. I'm a metal guy, almost to the core, which is mostly made of classical (and then, mostly Romantics and neo-classical).

However, I have some opinions. I think Eminem is probably the most talented rap performer going. I don't care much for his lyrics or choices of topics, but I think his technique and flow are absolutely top notch. I liked in the mid-90s when metal and rap bands collaborated. The actual music that came out was perhaps something of a disappointment, but I think the idea has a lot of potential. I'm not talking about rap-metal bands. I'm talking about actual rappers and actual metallers collaborating and coming up with some amazing stuff together.

 

[hdracer]

No. Yes. No.

You mean Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast doesn't count?

I took it from my kid.