why does some rap music always talks about killing, hating, running from police, violonce, acting tough,etc.?

Question

Many of you might be surprised that I am of the black race and don't find most rap music to be cool. I have friends that listen to it, but i really don't know why they do (they don't even know half the time what lil' john is saying) I'm not sure why a lot of people find the stuff enjoyable to listen to. And like country, it all seems to sound the same. I like to listen to old school artists like 2pac and MC hammer, all of which i can tell what they are saying and can understand why they are saying it. I also listen to some classic rock like Aerosmith and the Stones, which I think has a good beat, and it seems to me nobody else has a problem with it. I'm not saying that I hate rap or people that listen to it, I just can't figure out why some people seem to love it and listen to it all the time, i don't know. I KNOW there are other rap songs that talk about other stuff like love or going through hard times, etc. (which is all good stuff with a point), but its not as popular.

Answer 1

Rap music is ignorant! It is further degrading the minorities who write and perform this crap.....

"The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come true."

In order for a group to overcome ignorance, it must first accept that it is NOT what it is portrayed to be!!!!!!!

Answer 2

I think most rappers sing about there past. There are still singing about it because there are still people in the same situation they were in. I think some of the rap music gives young people hope. I don't agree with the killing stuff but it is a real thing to allot people of what there world is like . What should they really sing about is the real guestions things that they never had.

Answer 3

I don't listen to it much myself. I agree that some of it is just plain ridiculous. But my understanding is that many people like the music more than the words and even when they do like the words it's more about fantasy or listening to a story, than anything else. We have a tendency to enjoy stories of the underdog fighting back. It's really not as different from what we were listening to back in the "old days" as you think. I can think of a few classic rock songs that were a bit like that, they just weren't as graphic. But, any way, as long as it sells, they'll keep doing it, and they'll keep going futher to stand out to from others. Like any other artist.

Answer 4

I think you're trying to distance yourself from the stereotypes associated with rap, and I can totally understand where you're coming from! The media and society always try to tie rap music to so called "black culture" in America, but, contrary to what popular wisdom teaches us, blacks were not the first rappers. Old High German literature as early as the eight century employed the type of lyrik and beat constellations that you see in today's rap. Much of it has a tempo very similar to the "Ballade" (Goethe and Schiller's "Die Kraniche des Ibykus", for example), and these very old literary techniques, combined with the modern day lyrics written by current rappers, actually provide for some ingenious music! I think the kind of rap that we hear black americans do is a tremendous social statement and most definitely deserves great recognition- but know that it is not unique to black america, and also obviously requires quite a bit of talent and proficiciency with language and words!

Answer 5

Have you seen "Rock of Love Bus"? Those chics make the girls from "Flava of Love" look like angels. They dress like skanks too and shake their @$$es but no one talks about them. Why is that? Also those "other genres" Talk about sex drugs and death. And the kids who listen to that stuff aren't exactly "model citizens" For those of you who do say "rap is about drugs/sex/degrading women" you must have stopped listening to it in the early 2000's because that's played out. The subject matter is more about money and clubbing. No one talks about gangs in mainstream rap. And there's less talk about selling drugs. If you'd rather hear about none of the above, I suggest you listen to conscious rap. And you don't sing rap BTW. There's no notes to sing DUH!!! As for the artistic side of it, yes 90's rap wasn't the most positive thing to listen to but the rappers of that time put some passion into their craft. You had real MC's that can come up with great lyrics and had a good flow. You had to tell some type of a story to get and have some talent to get recognized. Now all you need is a good beat and a catchy hook to get air play. No one cares about your skills as a rapper any more. People don't invest into quality anymore.

Answer 6

A lot of times, rap artist "rap" or sing about what they can relate to. That's why most of them rap about how they grew up in the "ghetto" or "da hood". A lot of them only know about how either their moms worked two jobs to make ends meet, a fine woman (or B**ch, as they sadly refer to) that they screwed, or their encounters with police and the "system". If you notice, most of the rap artists that make it big didn't come from a two parent home or "perfect life style". Most children of today love it because they can relate and that's all they know.

Rapping is nothing about poetry with funky beats added to it. It's just sad what they rap about!

Answer 7

I wonder about that too, because thsoe rappers are now celebrities, the onlything they really have to run away from are papparazzi and fans. I agree, the only reason i really listen to rap either they're parodies, or i like the beat.

Answer 8

yea well hip hop has changed alot over the years. but some MCs still rap about how they feel. if it's killing that they feel, they rap about killing. if it's pimpin ho's, then they rap about pimpin hos. i personally love rap esp. hardcore, and i guess some people listen to it cuz they can relate to the artist in some ways. i'm only assuming

Answer 9

they usually talk about this stuff because its what sells records most black ppl believe that they have to live this rough life and enjoy listening to music they can relate to so that is what drives the artists to continue this.
i am also of the black race so don't flip out

Answer 10

I don't like much rap either. Originally, rap was used to protest something. Now, it has become something totally different. MC Hammer is awesome. The older rap is when they had a good beat and stuff.

I agree with you.

This is why I don't listen to actual rap, but Weird Al parodies (White & Nerdy RULES!!!!)