Is Rap Music Dead?

[MacNut]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070302/NEWS/703020342/0/FRONTPAGE

Maybe it was the umpteenth coke-dealing anthem or soft-porn music video. Perhaps it was the preening antics that some call reminiscent of Stepin Fetchit. The turning point is hard to pinpoint. But after 30 years of growing popularity, rap music is now struggling with an alarming sales decline and growing criticism from within about the culture's negative effect on society. Rap insider Chuck Creekmur, who runs the leading Web site Allhiphop.com, says he got a message from a friend recently "asking me to hook her up with some Red Hot Chili Peppers because she said she's through with rap. A lot of people are sick of rap ... the negativity is just over the top now."

Rapper Nas, considered one of the greats, challenged the condition of the art form when he titled his latest album "Hip-Hop is Dead." It's at least ailing, according to recent statistics: Though music sales are down overall, rap sales slid a whopping 21 percent from 2005 to 2006, and for the first time in 12 years no rap album was among the top 10 sellers of the year.

[Fearless Leader]

i don't know. cRAP takes time to decay.

[psycoswimmer]

To me, rap has always been dead.

[PreacherKane]

I don't think that Rap is dead but the proliferation of the "Get Rich or Die Trying" mentality, the "I'm gonna hustle you out of your money" thinking will eventually lead to the demise of a revelant music form.
I remember listening to Public Enemy, back in the day, and beginning to understand the meaning behind the words. Back then Rap meant something, it was as important as Rock n Roll in the Fifties, as Punk in the Seventies.
Now it's just about how much money you have and how much of your wealth you can wear on your person.
I am proud to say I own Public Enemy vinyl and Beastie Boys vinyl.
I don't own any modern Rap.

[Airship]

Rap is a large part of hip-hop, and as much as I adore hip-hop music and its culture, I wish rap would quietly bow out in favour of instrumental hip-hop and turntablism.
People who think rap is going anywhere are deluded though.

[ErikCLDR]

I don't think that Rap is dead but the proliferation of the "Get Rich or Die Trying" mentality, the "I'm gonna hustle you out of your money" thinking will eventually lead to the demise of a revelant music form.
I remember listening to Public Enemy, back in the day, and beginning to understand the meaning behind the words. Back then Rap meant something, it was as important as Rock n Roll in the Fifties, as Punk in the Seventies.
Now it's just about how much money you have and how much of your wealth you can wear on your person.
I am proud to say I own Public Enemy vinyl and Beastie Boys vinyl.
I don't own any modern Rap.

Its definitely not as popular as it was 2 years ago. I agree that old rap actually good because it had meaning. The new stuff is just people talking over a beat about money and cars while demeaning women.

[psychofreak]

To me, rap has always been dead.

Really? it is not my kind of music, but the movement had a big effect when Eminem was rising up...rap has led to a lot of good, softer, hip-hop for me. Music of white origin has also seen some effects, if not directly then it has changed as a reaction.

Here in the UK, we have up-comers like Just Jack who use rap-style in their songs, and incorporate it, sometimes subtly and well...

[MacPanda]

i hope it is - it is meaningless and fuels agression in our streets - the sooner it dies the better for the good of all people - it is rubbish which has no merit.

macpanda

[Dagless]

i hope it is - it is meaningless and fuels agression in our streets - the sooner it dies the better for the good of all people - it is rubbish which has no merit.

macpanda

Raggedjimmi agrees with Macpanda.
Did 50 Cent kill it? To somebody who didn't care much about rap music (cept the early Run DMC and co) it looks to me like it all went downhill since he became super popular. Like it lost all it's underground roots in one big "big n 'ard" blow out.

[thedude110]

i hope it is - it is meaningless and fuels agression in our streets - the sooner it dies the better for the good of all people - it is rubbish which has no merit.

macpanda

Is this ironic or simply dismissive?

I'm almost positive that you don't mean what you wrote, but it feels good to have said it. If so, ok. But, in reality ... in an objective state where you're weighing pros and cons and feeling full of consideration .... well, let's not pretend you're not scapegoating a genre -- and that aggressive kids would still be aggressive without rap. Rap in this sense is an excuse -- and a real, concrete way to feel one's own detachment from social problems that have our own luxury (and our own unwillingness to examine our luxury) at their root.

Such that:

For most of the kids who are going to act out, there are real reasons for the "aggression," as many excuses as we or they may make ...

[psychofreak]

Is this ironic or simply dismissive?

I'm almost positive that you don't mean what you wrote, but it feels good to have said it. If so, ok. But, in reality ... in an objective state where you're weighing pros and cons and feeling full of consideration .... well, let's not pretend you're not scapegoating a genre -- and that aggressive kids would still be aggressive without rap. Rap in this sense is an excuse -- and a real, concrete way to feel one's own detachment from social problems that have our own luxury (and our own unwillingness to examine our luxury) at their root.

Such that:

For most of the kids who are going to act out, there are real reasons for the "aggression," as many excuses as we or they may make ...
In the last few decades, individual genres have been perceived by outsiders to have negative effects (such as the Sex Pistols). The difference in this situation is the connection between the artist and the listeners...how many 50 Cent fans were brought up in poor backgrounds, never-mind the ghetto...its ********.

[QCassidy352]

i don't know. cRAP takes time to decay.

To me, rap has always been dead.

it is meaningless and fuels agression in our streets - the sooner it dies the better for the good of all people - it is rubbish which has no merit.

I sincerely hope that some people are just posturing in this thread and aren't serious. Honestly, be a bit more open minded. Sure, some rap is just self-aggrandizing crap, but same goes for almost any genre (I'll exclude classical, just because it has no words). Artists like 2 pac, biggie, eminem, Run DMC, and so many others have had profounds effects on both music outside their genre and on society. There's a reason some people still talk (joke?) about 2 pac being alive the same way other people do with elvis.

I for one don't care for more than one or two "classic rock" bands, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss the entire genre/musical era as "crap," or "meaningless" just because the Beatles aren't my cup of tea.

[psycoswimmer]

I do like rap beats like in Cupid's Chokehold, but the topics of sex, drugs, and money that has taken over rap is what I have never ever liked.

[Fearless Leader]

I sincerely hope that some people are just posturing in this thread and aren't serious. Honestly, be a bit more open minded. Sure, some rap is just self-aggrandizing crap, but same goes for almost any genre (I'll exclude classical, just because it has no words). Artists like 2 pac, biggie, eminem, Run DMC, and so many others have had profounds effects on both music outside their genre and on society. There's a reason some people still talk (joke?) about 2 pac being alive the same way other people do with elvis.

I for one don't care for more than one or two "classic rock" bands, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss the entire genre/musical era as "crap," or "meaningless" just because the Beatles aren't my cup of tea.

I really just don't like rap, I tried to get into it a while back but just never liked it.

[Dagless]

I for one don't care for more than one or two "classic rock" bands, but I certainly wouldn't dismiss the entire genre/musical era as "crap," or "meaningless" just because the Beatles aren't my cup of tea.

So you think that everyone dismissing Rap is a Rock fan? I dismiss new rap because of the topics they deal with, or rather the kind of rap what the radio puts out, but I'm no huge fan of rock either. It'll have to be a standout song to use a distorted guitar or shouty singing.

Don't try dance either, :D my taste in music is very hard to pin down.
As psycoswimmer said - sex, drugs and violence make not a good song.

[devilot]

Rap in general isn't what I normally listen to or prefer to listen to. But I sure as hell hope (and know) that it won't die out.

It has it's role.

Decent rap (yes, of course it exists) is incredibly intelligent and witty. How many contemporary folks do you know who can be clever, rhythmic (as far as like, beats, melody that sort of thing) all while rhyming their clever words? Not that rap requires rhymed words, but it's sort of inherent, no? :o

[Jasonbot]

Oh I hope that rap is dead. that would be the day of all days:apple:
Long live Heavy Metal *sticks tongue out and shows rock signs with hands while doing a power slide!*

[someguy]

Rap is far from dead.

Hip Hop on the other hand (non-violent, often meaningful rap) has been dead for a long time, unfortunately.

[MacNut]

Rap is far from dead.

Hip Hop on the other hand (non-violent, often meaningful rap) has been dead for a long time, unfortunately.So what's the difference between Rap and Hip-hop, I thought they are one in the same.Rap in general isn't what I normally listen to or prefer to listen to. But I sure as hell hope (and know) that it won't die out.

It has it's role.

Decent rap (yes, of course it exists) is incredibly intelligent and witty. How many contemporary folks do you know who can be clever, rhythmic (as far as like, beats, melody that sort of thing) all while rhyming their clever words? Not that rap requires rhymed words, but it's sort of inherent, no? :oAnyone can rap as long as they can rhyme a few words and find any generic beat. There is no talent really involved.

[sonicboom]

Is Rap Music Dead?

One could only hope.

[Blue Velvet]

Anyone can rap as long as they can rhyme a few words and find any generic beat. There is no talent really involved.

Yeah, right. Whatever you say, Vanilla.

[MacNut]

Yeah, right. Whatever you say, Vanilla.Yes, and he made good money at it for a while too.

[psycoswimmer]

I think that rapping can be hard, and take some talent. However, it doesn't have to be. I hate seeing the most asinine songs make Top 10 lists. Chicken Noodle Soup comes to mind. :rolleyes:

[someguy]

So what's the difference between Rap and Hip-hop, I thought they are one in the same.
IMO, rap is what became of Hip-Hip when half of the artists became hardasses and bought firearms.

Hip-Hip is more meaningful type music that sounds like soft-rap, but the lyrical content is about real life issues that make you think. I guess it's hard to explain, but if the song is about shakin' your ass in "da club" or pimpin' hoes, it's not Hip-Hop.

[Tom B.]

Rap is far from dead. Especially in the UK. If anyone has heard Sway, Akala, Lethal Bizzle, Kano, Taz or JME would agree.

And in the US its not doing too badly either, Clipse's new album 'Hell Hath No Fury' is amazing and so is Lupe Fiasco's 'Food & Liquor'. Ludacris, T.I. and Obie Trice's newest albums are also all really good too. Not to mention hundreds of underground artists as well.

I think many of the people that think rap is dead are only listening to the commercial stuff that gets played on the radio 100 times a day.

Most of you don't know how much effort goes into rap music, from the lyrics to the production.
Also, most rappers have made millions from the unluckiest of upbringings. Give them some credit.
Just cos its not your personal favourite type of music, don't dismiss it as nothing.

[zap2]

I wish...but no I doubt it. Its still popular with the youngens(not all of us, but some)

[tringo]

Commercial rap is dead, but most true fans realize that the good **** is underground now.

Just look at people like Papoose, MF doom.

[killr_b]

Reign in the METAL!!!!!!!

Hell, I'll settle for any rock based new style taking over. :cool:

[Cybergypsy]

I could only dream...........

[applemacdude]

i hope it is - it is meaningless and fuels agression in our streets - the sooner it dies the better for the good of all people - it is rubbish which has no merit.

macpanda

yea all that aggression in your suburb streets eh?

[FullCollapse]

in general i think rap/hip hop is garbage. there are a few artists who are good at it, but it's awful listening to a hits radio station or watching mtv. it's really a shame that's the way it is. there's often little talent and no innovation.
people need to stop listening to such awful music. casual music listeners will listen to anything that mtv and the radio tell them to. the black eyed peas won a grammy for the train wreck that was "my humps"... come on now. i'd be surprised if they wrote any of that song.

[tedrjr03]

Commercial rap is dead, but most true fans realize that the good **** is underground now.

Just look at people like Papoose, MF doom.

i agree with this guy right here, most people on here are critisizing the only rap they heard:commercial rap.

They say 50 cent this 50 cent that,if they knew something they would understand 50 cent isnt popular with hiphop heads, they think he's garbage too.

The one person who said rap is easy, i can tell he isnt able to rap, what about all those emo bands who only scream, talk about some talent there

[thedude110]

If it ever had any gravity, this thread has really deteriorated.

Really? Are we all busy agreeing that pop-music is candy? Whether it's got naughty words or no?

I like candy. I like art, too.

Categories are totalitarian and genetic. Deal.

[A-Dog]

I've listened to rap & hip hop on and off since I was a kid, and a lot of my friends still listen to it, so I've gotten to hear a lot.

Let's just say that people like Biggie & Tupac left a large footprint. A lot of popular new rappers don't have a damn thing to say, and they're not even smart. There's not anyone with even a fresh style like Snoop Dogg had when he first came out. It's the same problem in rock or alternative music right now--the past looms large, the newer artists aren't up to the challenge of exceeding what came before.

On the bright side, I do think it's a natural progression away from what's been tried and true, and we won't be able to pigeonhole artists, esp. black artists anymore as just rappers or hip-hoppers. Look at Cee Lo Green and what he's doing as part of Gnarls Barkley. Look at Outkast. Rap artists just need to have the soul and balls to rise above what everyone else is doing and pave a new way.

[A-Dog]

I would also add that just like rock, the people who get the most exposure (right now especially) are usually some of the worst in the game.

There is some great talent out there: Blueprint, Alias, Themselves, Restform Bodies, Sage Francis. Even Ghostface Killah put out one of his best albums recently. The mainstream is always shallow.

[MacNut]

Certain genres find a way to reinvent themselves. Rock does it every 10 years. What has rap done to really change itself besides talk about pimps and hoes.

[psychofreak]

Certain genres find a way to reinvent themselves. Rock does it every 10 years. What has rap done to really change itself besides talk about pimps and hoes.

Rap seemed to be taking a change with Eminem, but it never happened. When Eminem gained popularity it seemed like white rappers could be successful without the cheese-factor, but there wasn't really anyone else...

[MacNut]

Rap seemed to be taking a change with Eminem, but it never happened. When Eminem gained popularity it seemed like white rappers could be successful without the cheese-factor, but there wasn't really anyone else...I remember people talking about how Rap was taking over then and Rock was considered dead. I wonder if the whole boy band pop craze of the late 90's might have swallowed up the inroads Rap was making.

[psychofreak]

I remember people talking about how Rap was taking over then and Rock was considered dead. I wonder if the whole boy band pop craze of the late 90's might have swallowed up the inroads Rap was making.

I would rather listen to 50 Cent than McFly any day...

[Blue Velvet]

What has rap done to really change itself besides talk about pimps and hoes.


Thus showing you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about...

[A-Dog]

Rap seemed to be taking a change with Eminem, but it never happened. When Eminem gained popularity it seemed like white rappers could be successful without the cheese-factor, but there wasn't really anyone else...

There were, they just didn't get big. Em cornered the market.

[someguy]

What has rap done to really change itself besides talk about pimps and hoes.
Thus showing you have absolutely no clue what you're talking about...
Yeah, you forget drugs, but that's not exclusive to Rap.

[applemacdude]

in general i think rap/hip hop is garbage. there are a few artists who are good at it, but it's awful listening to a hits radio station or watching mtv. it's really a shame that's the way it is. there's often little talent and no innovation.
people need to stop listening to such awful music. casual music listeners will listen to anything that mtv and the radio tell them to. the black eyed peas won a grammy for the train wreck that was "my humps"... come on now. i'd be surprised if they wrote any of that song.

that can be said about any music genre

[spicyapple]

Rap may be dying but some genres will live on forever... like polka. :p

Like heavy metal, rap songs are hard on my ears, so I will go out of my way to avoid them. Of course, I prefer the softer hip-hop sounds from positive role models like Kanye West, LL Cool J and Queen Latifah.

[MacNut]

I prefer the softer hip-hop sounds from positive role models like Kanye West, LL Cool J and Queen Latifah.You forgot Will Smith.:p

[jamesi]

Commercial rap is dead, but most true fans realize that the good **** is underground now.

Just look at people like Papoose, MF doom.

totally agree. commercial rap was only good back in the day when it was still original. the death of biggie was the end for me, and esp since nas takes his sweet time releasing anything. underground rap now is pretty good, im really impressed with the raw talent

[Dont Hurt Me]

Rap is Music? I didnt know.:D

[mkrishnan]

Ignoring everything else... I was wondering about the comment about the top ten albums. Did that sales year not include the release of Late Registration? I thought that album did tremendously well...

[Tom B.]

Rap is Music? I didnt know.:D

You make it so hard to do as your name says. :mad: :p

[MacNut]

Rap is Music? I didnt know.:DRap is to music as Britney Spears is to talented.:p

[Tom B.]

Rap is to music as Britney Spears is to talented.:p

You must really like Britney Spears.

[MacNut]

You must really like Britney Spears.And if you think Britney Spears is talented, that would explain why you think Rap music is good.:D :rolleyes:

[Airship]

And if you think Britney Spears is talented, that would explain why you think Rap music is good.:D :rolleyes:

He never said he thought Britney Spears was good. Rather, since rap is good, that must mean that you who made the statement must appreciate Spears accordingly.

[MacNut]

He never said he thought Britney Spears was good. Rather, since rap is good, that must mean that you who made the statement must appreciate Spears accordingly.It never works when you have to explain the joke.....Since Britney Spears is not talented the saying Rap is to music as Britney is to talent implies that Rap isn't music.:rolleyes:

[jayb2000]

Questions like this are so open to interpretation it is pointless to ask them. :rolleyes:
What is Rap? Is it Blondie in Rapture? Mike Skinner aka The Streets?
NWA, Ice-T, Eminem, 50-cent, Will Smith? East Coast or Wast Coast? Gangsta Rap or

If you define Rap as songs where the vocals are mostly spoken and rhyme, then no it is not dead nor will it be for a very long time. Any more than Rock is dead or Punk is dead or Classical is dead.

[Chris Bangle]

Rap is far from dead. Especially in the UK. If anyone has heard Sway, Akala, Lethal Bizzle, Kano, Taz or JME would agree.

And in the US its not doing too badly either, Clipse's new album 'Hell Hath No Fury' is amazing and so is Lupe Fiasco's 'Food & Liquor'. Ludacris, T.I. and Obie Trice's newest albums are also all really good too. Not to mention hundreds of underground artists as well.

I think many of the people that think rap is dead are only listening to the commercial stuff that gets played on the radio 100 times a day.

Most of you don't know how much effort goes into rap music, from the lyrics to the production.
Also, most rappers have made millions from the unluckiest of upbringings. Give them some credit.
Just cos its not your personal favourite type of music, don't dismiss it as nothing.


UK Rap=Crap Its R&B that is the future. Danity Kane, infact anything from Bad Boy Entertainment, Almost anything produced by timbaland.This is the furutre. How can you say UK Rap is good. Channel U is awful.

[mkrishnan]

UK Rap=Crap Its R&B that is the future. Danity Kane, infact anything from Bad Boy Entertainment, Almost anything produced by timbaland.This is the furutre. How can you say UK Rap is good. Channel U is awful.

I do have to admit that I've always found hip hop & R&B crossovers to be the best. Most of my favorite songs are songs that feature artists from both genres. I even just have one genre as Hip Hop & R&B on my iPod.

[Tom B.]

UK Rap=Crap Its R&B that is the future. Danity Kane, infact anything from Bad Boy Entertainment, Almost anything produced by timbaland.This is the furutre. How can you say UK Rap is good. Channel U is awful.

Have you even listened to any of those artists i listed? I don't think so. :rolleyes:

[latergator116]

Rap/Hip-Hop is not dead, and won't be anytime soon... it's sounds pretty ignorant to hear people judge rap music when they know little to nothing about it.

[MacNut]

Ok a poll has been added.:)

[LumbermanSVO]

I've been listing t rap for about 10 years now. I haven't listened to much mainstream stuff in about 5 year, it went downhill as most mainstream formats have.

I do listen to KEXP and have been turned on to many new fantastic artists in many genre's, rap being one of them.

Here are some Seattle area based hip/hp artists I'm digging: Blue Scholars, Common Market, Macklemore, Cancer Rising, Boom Bap Project and Oldominion.

[princealfie]

Hell no, as long as DJ Primo, Pete Rock and Prince Paul live, rap forever!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Cassie]

Ugh...I wish. I don't like rap, nor do I think it has any positive effect on culture.

I'm an 80's rock, and country girl.:cool:

[princealfie]

That's right rap is dead if it sounds better than poetry like Blackalicious' Alphabet Aerobics.

"Blackalicious Alphabet Aerobics Lyrics

(Now it's time for our wrap up
Let's give it everything we've got
Ready? Begin)

Artificial amateurs, aren't at all amazing
Analytically, I assault, animate things
Broken barriers bounded by the bomb beat
Buildings are broken, basically I'm bombarding
Casually create catastrophes, casualties
Cancelling cats got their canopies collapsing
Detonate a dime of dank daily doin dough
Demonstrations, Don Dada on the down low
Eatin other editors with each and every energetic
Epileptic episode, elevated etiquette
Furious fat fabulous fantastic
Flurries of funk felt feeding the fanatics
Gift got great global goods gone glorious
Gettin godly in his game with the goriest
Hit em high, hella height, historical
Hey holocaust hints hear 'em holler at your homeboy
Imitators idolize, I intimidate
In a instant, I'll rise in a irate state
Juiced on my jams like jheri curls jockin joints
Justly, it's just me, writin my journals
Kindly I'm kindling all kinds of ink on
Karate kick type brits in my kingdom
Let me live a long life, lyrically lessons is
Learned lame louses just lose to my livery
My mind makes marvelous moves, masses
Marvel and move, many mock what I've mastered
Niggas nap knowin I'm nice naturally
Knack, never lack, make noise nationally
Operation, opposition, off, not optional
Out of sight, out of mind, wide beaming opticals
Perfected poem, powerful punchlines
Pummelling petty powder puffs in my prime
Quite quaint quotes keep quiet it's Quannum
Quarrelers ain't got a quarter of what we got uh
Really raw raps, risin up rapidly
Riding the rushing radioactivity
Super scientifical sound search sought
Silencing super fire saps that are soft
Tales ten times talented, too tough
Take that, challengers, get a tune up
Universal, unique untouched
Unadulterated, the raw uncut
Verb vice lord victorious valid
Violate vibes that are vain make em vanished
? well would a wise wordsmith just
Weaving up words weeded up, I'm a workshift
Xerox, my X-ray-diation holes extra large
X-height letters, and xylophone tones
Yellow back, yak mouth, young ones yaws
Yesterday's lawn yards sell our (yawn?)
Zig zag zombies, zoomin to the zenith
Zero in zen thoughts, overzealous rhyme ZEA-LOTS!....

(good....can you say it faster?)"

And I didn't learn any SAT or GRE vocabulary words by listening to Kellie Pickler or Martina McBride or the worst offender of them all, that Keith Urban guy.

[TJIrwin]

UK Rap=Crap Its R&B that is the future. Danity Kane, infact anything from Bad Boy Entertainment, Almost anything produced by timbaland.This is the furutre. How can you say UK Rap is good. Channel U is awful.

Nonsense. Listen to the stuff coming out of the UK and there's some proper talent involved. To go in with the previous list I'll add Plan B too. Some amazing work coming from him and I'm not a fan of rap at all usually.

[Swarmlord]

I hope so, but somehow I doubt it.

Maybe if more caucasions would start listening and rapping to it, it would become uncool faster. Where's Vanilla Ice when you need him? :cool:

[Millwood]

rap artists today are such garbage. and believe me, i used to love rap. especially when the notorious big was alive, but I think jay-z was the last great rapper. there are so many crap artists out now, i don't know who is who.

[MattG]

We can only hope.

[ghall]

Everyone at my school listens to rap, it drives me crazy. I hate it so much, it's so obnoxious (am I the last hope for my generation?:rolleyes:) That's all that plays at school events, and when I try to play my rock music out loud they cringe, like it's poison.

[spicyapple]

(am I the last hope for my generation?:rolleyes:)
Yes, you are. Start making babies, or it will be too late for us.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/sixtyninepalms/idiocracy.jpg

[shecky]

haaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[princealfie]

Everyone at my school listens to rap, it drives me crazy. I hate it so much, it's so obnoxious (am I the last hope for my generation?:rolleyes:) That's all that plays at school events, and when I try to play my rock music out loud they cringe, like it's poison.

Even rock sucks nowadays. Where is Steely Dan when we need them?

[Tom B.]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
I've said it before and i'll say it again. Anyone who thinks rap is crap has only ever heard 50 Cent's singles, and all the stuff that gets played on the pop music radio stations. If you actually listened to some of the better stuff, you would realise how good it is.
All you people that think rap is crap are just like the people who think that Macs are crap, without even using one.

[someguy]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
I've said it before and i'll say it again. Anyone who thinks rap is crap has only ever heard 50 Cent's singles, and all the stuff that gets played on the pop music radio stations. If you actually listened to some of the better stuff, you would realise how good it is.
All you people that think rap is crap are just like the people who think that Macs are crap, without even using one.
This is basically true. Most people that think rap sucks haven't heard any of the good stuff and are basing their statements on what they've seen and heard on MTV and the radio - which I would agree is basically crap. Just like a lot of rock on the radio is crap, too - repetitive garbage with incoherent morons blowing their vocal chords out.

[Swarmlord]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
I've said it before and i'll say it again. Anyone who thinks rap is crap has only ever heard 50 Cent's singles, and all the stuff that gets played on the pop music radio stations. If you actually listened to some of the better stuff, you would realise how good it is.
All you people that think rap is crap are just like the people who think that Macs are crap, without even using one.

Uh, how are we supposed to find this "good stuff" if it's not played on radio stations, movies, or some other public venue?

The only rap song I've heard that I even remotely liked is "Swap Meet Louie" and that's because I can understand the words, it's funny and it has a good beat.

[thewhitehart]

My gripe is that MTv doesn't exist anymore as a music channel. I remember "the old days" when MTv used to play music.

Then they came out with MTv2 as a music channel, on account of MTv not playing music anymore. Gee, that turned out well. The voice of a generation demanding change has become a standard for conformity. MTv is one giant celebrity obsessed bling-bling "reality show."

Rap shares the same fate. It's dying in the sense that it doesn't offer a message anymore. It's the same self-indulging meaningless bubble gum pop garbage that the media pumps out 24/7 nowadays.

Rap started losing its relevance when 2Pac died. It won't die completely, but it has changed to the point of being uninspiring and unoriginal.

[ghall]

Yes, you are. Start making babies, or it will be too late for us.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f241/sixtyninepalms/idiocracy.jpg

I'm on it! I will not fail you!

[2nyRiggz]

Rap is in major need of something else right now...no disrepect to all that southern rap but its mostly sucks. I'm a old school hip-hop fan but they don't make hip hop like that anymore...sad:(

The bitches/bling and hoes aint helping either..



Bless

[nateDEEZY]

To often I see people generalizing an entire genre because of a handful of terrible "artist."

Why is it that when this discussion comes to mind about rock and rap, people forget about the rockers of the 70's/80's "Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll." Although the lyrics of there songs may have not always incorporated that lifestyle as much as rap did. But the newspapers, and articles sure as hell showed it.

You got your good and bad eggs on both sides of the spectrum, but people are so quick to easily dismiss rap as a genre.

Like many people have mentioned already, Run D.M.C., Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. both have left a good footprint in the culture. Common, NAS, Talib Kweli, Gangstarr, Kanye West, The Roots and Black Eyed Peas (Before Fergie) all have had the potential to leave something with the genre. But like so many otherse are at the mercy of the radios and music industry.

But just cuz a genre isn't my cup of tea I won't completely dimiss it and say it's crap.

So what's the difference between Rap and Hip-hop, I thought they are one in the same.Anyone can rap as long as they can rhyme a few words and find any generic beat. There is no talent really involved.

Hip Hop is an urban culture consisting of four elements, Turntablism (DJ's), Emcee's (Rappers), Graffiti (Artist) and Break Dancers (B-boys/Visual Arts).

Like some had already said, I really wish Rap would get back to it's roots with the DJ and Emcee. But no doubt I love what the roots and gym class heroes is doing with the music.

[paddy]

Too be honest I'd be much happier to see heavy and death metal gone. That stuff assaults my ears.

[Tom B.]

Too be honest I'd be much happier to see heavy and death metal gone. That stuff assaults my ears.

Me too. To be honest i think all people that like that stuff (including all that other goth stuff) are wanna-be murderers who dream about killing themselves. :)

Yes, I said it.

[MacNut]

Me too. To be honest i think all people that like that stuff (including all that other goth stuff) are wanna-be murderers who dream about killing themselves. :)

Yes, I said it.Then why is it that the rappers are the ones killing each other.:rolleyes:

[Tom B.]

Then why is it that the rappers are the ones killing each other.:rolleyes:
Sticking to the sterotypes I see :rolleyes:
All rappers are murderers, all rappers are drug dealers, all rappers are pimps. Keep telling yourself that.

[2nyRiggz]

Then why is it that the rappers are the ones killing each other.:rolleyes:

You clearly don't know what you are talking about....you don't think those rockers be at each other necks as well coked up..its all the same song.. conflict although petty at times.

Hip hop is a culture that many crew up on and is not crap...some of you are too caught up on that "pop" crap.

Hip hop: De la soul, redman, wu-tang, pac, big, Nas, tribe called quest, gang star, common, mos def, KRS ONE etc.

Hip hop shouldn't be called crap just because a few stale artist are just that..stale

Thats like calling all rockers coked up bums


Bless

[paddy]

Thats like calling all rockers coked up bums


Wait, you mean they're not all coked out bums?!! :p ;)

[nateDEEZY]

Too be honest I'd be much happier to see heavy and death metal gone. That stuff assaults my ears.

Haha. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/r3veng3/werd.gif

That brings to memory, Homestar Runner on the subject of Death Metal. (http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail141.html)