Exactly how is rap not music?

Question

I have heard many people state that rap and hip-hop are not music, but no one ever constructs a proper argument to demonstrate their point. I'm not a huge rap fan, but I don't believe that the fact that it is different from music that you enjoy makes rap unmusical. The fact that you find some of the lyrical content distasteful is also an insufficient argument.

If you feel that rap is not music than I would like to see you do more than just state your opinion; I want you to tell me exactly why you feel this way.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Well, it all has to do with ones definition of "music". My definition includes musical notes and meter.

Most rap does not have a tune. It does not have musical notes. You couldn't write it on a conventional musical staff.

Rap is lyrical. It is obviously poetry. It is rythmic. Music? I don't think so. Can you play the tune of a rap piece on any musical instrument?

Again, it all boils down to semantics and the definition you choose for music. By my definition a drum solo is also not music because it likewise is rythmic but not melodic.

Answer 2

i am a big fan of heavy metal, and to us metal heads, we look at how many hours these great guitarists spend working and learning the giutar, and spend countless hours to have a farout solo, and then there is the drummer, who spends his time keeping the beat of the song, and then usually he has an insane solo, all of these take talent, and wen we look at rap, we see, or i see, some guy who wants money fast and so ''raps'' bout bang'n bitches and hoes, like where is the taste there? i grew up in the ghettos, and lived in a bad ''hood'', but, i dont and cant see were these guys are comming from, everything is done over a computer, so there is nothing there, no talents, just noise, and half the worlds they say, they maked up, and are not even found in an english dictonary, so little thought and time has been put into this, were as other styles of music take thought, and skills, rap, is just someone mummbeling about nothing! i think they need a real job! :~)

Answer 3

Rap...it is a beat with a few lyrics, it dosent take talent to pull it off. Where are the instruments, singing, dare I say it *talent*? If the "artist" actually put an ounce of effort into it and tried to make it a song instead of a rhyme it might actually be interesting. I quit listening to rhymes as a child *as my taste evolved*

Answer 4

In my opinion,Rap is a art form of a poem with a beat....Music must have a melody that can be played on a MUSICAL instrument.When the melody is played, the song is able to be identified.

Answer 5

Well, most rap songs have the same exact beat and they cant think of anything to right about so they have to rap about how good chicken noodle soup is and yeah things like that.. i cannot stand rap i think that its a waste of time and space on the radio but thats just my opinion.

Answer 6

The artists you listed aren't rap. There are still actual rap artists like Eminem and Kanye West.

Answer 7

technically it's music, but it lacks the composition of other genres. rap and/or hip-hop are composed mainly of a beat, a couple reapeted notes, and the lyrics. other genres tend to be more musical

Answer 8

Contrary to popular belief, hip-hop IS music. A very bad genre of music, but music nontheless. Rap is degrading to women, promotes drug use and "street culture". Real hip hop died in the 80's long before my time. That's why i listen to rock.

Answer 9

Most of the time...talking no singing with pre-recorded music in the background, that's probably why...

Answer 10

rapping is not singing, but i think it is music