What Is Your View On Rap/Hip-Hop?

[HaMMerHeD]

Found it!!!

 

[Funk$tar]

Make sure you see the movie Everyday Sunshine, it's a great documentary on Fishbone. Goes through their entire history and how they really should have made it big.

I made sure I watched that! haha
Great documentary too, but I was really disappointed and not surprised that black radio stations wouldn't play their music. I thought as a community of people we were exposed to help one another no matter what kind of music we play. It's funny though because they can play something as terrible as MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This", but can't play Fishbone! I'm sure it's still like that today too, that's why I constantly listen to my iPod everyday. People in High-School always thought I was weird because I never took off my earphones! XD

Found it!!!

Awesome, thanks so much man!
I'm going to try to buy and watch this tonight!

 

[Solarmist]

I like older Linkin Park - does that count? I do like it to a point in fast paced movies like The Fast and Furious, but I just hate it when someone pulls up along side me with that stuff just blaring ... really grates on my nerves.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

One thing I've noticed in my many years at TB is that most of the folks who say that rap isn't music because it involves sampling are in cover and/or blues bands. The irony is always lost on them.

Rap has the unfortunate peculiarity that the more lyrically extreme stuff is the most popular in the genre, and finding rap that doesn't have a lot of derogatory or violent lyrics means delving more into lesser-known or independent artists. Every genre has a section of groups that fall into those categories, but with every other genre, these are the less popular artists. This has led many people into disregarding the genre as a whole because of what they hear the most on the radio. It's a shame, really.

And FWIW, I'd put Gift of Gab and Aesop Rock right up there with or above Nas in both skill and storytelling. Eminent is probably the very best big name at pure technical skill.

 

[Thunderscreech]

I like Death Grips, because they are the freshest thing I have heard out of hip hop for a while.

 

[crucislancer]

I don't have anything against either rap or hip-hop, except for "Gangsta" rap. I used to listen to a bit of hip-hop when I was in my teens back in the 80's, but I went the other direction by the time I was in high school and was deep into heavy metal.

In the end, it's all about what we relate to, and I couldn't relate to it enough to keep my interests.

 

[bluesblaster]

In the end, it's all about what we relate to, and I couldn't relate to it enough to keep my interests.[/QUOTE]

young urban troubadors ryhming to a electronic beat box about "bitches" and Ho's" will never be "blowin in the wind" Im pretty sure history will bare this out. I have nothing against the genre if its done in some intelligent manner but most of it seems to be inspired by playing to much Grand Theft Auto on the PS2.

I will say that there was a tune on an album by Style Council called My ever changing moods that used the rap medium that was quite good, but it was also set to a very funky bass and horn section, played by real breathing musician types.

I find that electronic beat box and record scratching kind of annoying, C'mon hip hoppers lets think outside the box for a change , be bold , be different , dont just follow the formula........... theres no glory in that.

 

[RustyAxe]

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.

Read the post again ... I just said I didn't consider it music, and allowed it might be art or even literature (that's poetry). Obviously, you think differently. You asked for opinions, not confirmation. The industry is making money with it, so someone likes it.

 

[deeptubes]

Not particularly a fan. I do have a couple of albums - NWA, Straight Outta Compton; couple of Beasties; Ice T, Original Gangsta; The D.O.C., No One Can Do It Better. That D.O.C. album is the only one I ever listened to heavily. Fantastic album. He had such a great voice for rap.

 

[JehuJava]

Not quite an old white dude here, but I like hip hop. Mostly older stuff with good beats and I love the sampling from back in the day (NWA, PE, etc). I really lost interest in hip hop when it turned into materialistic pandering and overindulgence. Kids want to be just like these terrible role models. Dislike Drake and lil Wayne with a passion. I'm 50/50 with Jay Z. I'm not a big Roots fan...I know blasphemy. But I prefer Jurassic 5. Gangstarr is where it's at!

 

[Munjibunga]

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?

Unfortunately "venting their feelings" often sounds a lot like trying to legitimize or promote the topics of their "art." Too many of the "artists" are real-life thugs who shoot each other over lyrics thought to "dis" someone. Kids actually look up to these rappers. No matter how hard you try to justify the content, young people are influenced by it, and I don't see how it can be positive for them in any way. I don't see how it "generates an escape," rather, it reinforces the message that there is no way out. Your entertainment becomes another layer of barbed wire preventing you from doing the things that will actually move you into better situation.

As you would expect from someone in my age group, I see the overall influence of hip-hop culture as negative, mostly for inner-city youth who identify with the illiteracy, filth, hate and misogyny as if they were desirable traits. Too many young people, especially those of color, see hip-hop entertainment as a path out of their situation, and it's just a self-replicating path to more of the same thing. Participation in the hip-hop culture produces wealth for a very few who gain popularity and ride on the backs of those stuck in unfortunate circumstances. Other than that, it produces nothing of real value to society.

Of course, neither do other types of entertainment. except that some bring real enjoyment rather than a message of negativity.

Finally, I liked MC Hammer. He was an entertainer.

 

[paste]

I find hip-hop to be good music for working out. Gets you pumped up.

 

[Munjibunga]

OK, I found a rap lyrics generator and created my own Eminem-style rap. So I'mma throw it down.

The Infected Tonsils Hip Hop
In The Style Of Eminem
by MC Munji

May I have your attention please?
I'm not afraid (I'm not afraid)
To pop a cap (to pop a cap)
Everybody (everybody)
Come take my ear lobe (come take my ear lobe)
We'll walk through Logan Heights together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm

Her armpits are hairy, tonsils infected, gonads are reeking
There's food on her fez already, sister's taco
She's nervous, but on the surface she looks calm and ready to pop a cap,
But she keeps on forgetting what she wrote down,

And I am, mutha
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
Radio won't even play my jam
'Cause I am, mutha
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news everyday I am
I don't know it's just the way I am

You better take a leak
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to pop a cap
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo
You better take a leak
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to pop a cap
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo

So lets go back
Follow the strange smell as we go on another episode
Journey with me as I take you through Logan Heights
I once used to call home sweet home

Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the statue now

And when I'm gone, just pop a cap, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my hairy armpits
Just know that I'm looking down on you eating
And I didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just take a leak

And when she's gone, just pop a cap, don't mourn
Rejoice every time you hear the sound of her infected tonsils
Just know that she's looking down on you sucking
And her didn't feel a thing, So baby don't feel no pain
Just take a leak in your fez.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

The Disposible Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, etc.: great stuff.

"Rapper's Delight," etc.: great stuff.

Precursors of rap, like Gil Scott Heron: great stuff.

In some cases it took me a while to get it.

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I love good hip-hop,

like this...



and this...




I mean...if one's a bass player steeped in soul, funk, jazz and R&B...what's not to like ?

 

[Tom Bomb]

Had a little rummage 'round. If you can track it down, this doco's good. Insightful!

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And then there's this - also insightful in its own way, pretty funny too,

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Music! When it's good, when it speaks to you, no matter what it is, it'll enrich the world somehow. It's good to have the choices.

Music makes the world go 'round. All music. This stuff's the next stop, for some of us. Can't be dissed. Music can't be contained. I never thought I'd like it as much as I do. But if it's good, count me in.

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[MrLenny1]

OK, you started it.
I don't like it, it ain't music.
I thought it would die quicker than Disco and it did not!
Now I'm pissed off and gonna go hit somebody!!! LOL

 

[Pacman]

Off Topic is for non music-related topics. Moved to Miscellaneous

 

[Richland123]

I can appreciate most types of music; but when I hear rambling off key talking, I don't care for it.

 

[Chris Hass]

I enjoy some Blackstar, Outkast, etc. from the 90s, but it isn't my favorite genre in the world.

A lot of my buddies love it, so I'm around it a lot. I don't mind one way or another.