Do you feel todays rap music is better ethically than it used to be?

Question

Meaning, do you feel today's rap music is as degrading to woman and all about drugs/sex/violence and alcohol that it is hyped up to be? Or do you think the media and others make a bigger deal out of rap lyrics than it really is? Was it more innocent back when it was first came about? Or do you feel there is no difference between the rap artists of "yesterday" and now?

Answer 1

dude its worse than ever. ethics and rap are two opposites that will never meet.

Answer 2

It's probably becoming worse. However, I could care less about how degrading the lyrics are. The fact that rap is even considered music is quite sad because any person who acts like a "thug" and "is straght up" can be a rapper whereas real music actually requires talent. I see little musicality in rap whatsoever. It has the same EXACT beat repeated throughout the entire song and talking is talking, not singing. I am so disappointed that the 2000s have become known as the hip-hop decade.

Answer 3

I feel that there is definitely a difference. The rap of "yesterday" was more about the style and music itself. Sure, there is the occasional rap artist who is able to embody the spirit of the music as it was designed, but it seems like the majority are in it for the money and the fame.

They discover that fame by becoming what the kids today want them to be. They are looking for a rebel, someone tough who has been out in the streets. But what they don't realize is that they are getting someone who never walks outside without a bodyguard.

To sort of look at the evolution of rap, you can even look at certain jazz songs. Some of those artists are able to throw out rhymes and words ten times faster than those today. As you see how its grown, it has become a faint shadow of what it once was.

Answer 4

Most Rap music which is popular is crap. It's not because of the moral (or lack therof) content but because it's all sounding the same. The music is boring, repetitive - just like the lyrics. If kids are going to look to persons like Lil' Wayne or whatever jerkoff MTV is spotlighting at the moment for a role model, they have a bigger problem than just listening to bad music. We live in a culture of followers, everyone is trying to be like everyone else. Every now and then someone stands out as an innovator but thats the exception & not the rule. Bad influences were around way before Rap music. People tried the "blame Rap" card years back when groups like NWA & Snoop Dogg first came out. They pissed & moaned about Rap music promoting violence. Certain stores decided not to carry CD's with "parental advisory" stickers on them yet still sold movies such as Terminator & Die Hard (to name a few). The argument that Rap music is causing our youth to make bad choices is a losing one. I too would like to see more Kool Moe Dee's & Run D.M.C.'s but the reality is, we're in a different time. Materialism is at an all time high & good messages, lyrics & overall talent is taking a backseat to this. I respect the rappers who are doing their own thing regardless of what society or record companies find popular. You'll never hear much about these rappers because they aren't pitching fragrences, candybars or clothing lines - they're just staying true to their art. I think our youth is in more danger of becoming mediocre mindless sheep more than drug using, womanizing thugs. Things can & will change once people stop putting money into these kinds of acts. When clubbers are no longer shaking their assses to the pathetic clicks & whistles passed off as "music", when people finally burn out on hearing how many diamonds are in some idiots teeth - we might see some change.

Answer 5

The rappers who say they make alot of money, (none of them really do unless they are behind the scenes) talk about hoes, pimping, and killing each other are the only ones that are well known. all rappers are not degrading. common, mos def, talib kweli, the roots these brothers are not falling into that craziness and they don't get the publicity that 50 cent, lil john and lil scrappy get and they been rapping for alteast 10-15 years. so it depends on who you listen to and it's sad to say that certain rappers make hip hop look bad.

Answer 6

I believe that when rap first came out in the late 80;s it was about singing of going to the park and riding in the cars ect...now all it talk of is killing and ho;s and pimps and police and guns and it is degrading to all... i feel it;s negative and won;t let my son buy it or listen to it anymore,,kids look up to these rappers as almost gods and now they think it;s cool to get shot like 50cent and that is to sick

Answer 7

when rap was first made way back in the day it was materialistic but not like it is today.

They talked about partying and having a good time and being on the block with friends and things like that when it first came out.

then it moved into a socialy concious era where they began to talk about racisim, equal rights and politics.

then gangsta rap came on the scene, originally gangsta rap never gloryfied crime, gangsta rap talked about inner city life and subjects such as dugs, domestic violence, politicis, racisim and poverty. Gangsta rap was made to make social awarness to people outside of the ghetto about the ghetto and give hope and inspire people int he ghetto to keep going.

then rap reached its kind of medium stage, where it began to talk about having a good time in a more materialistic way such as sex and women along with the social and political views of things and life on the street.

and then it reached now, where there is very little talking about social awarness, life on the streets and politics and more about materialisitc things. Not like it orginaly was like partying and stuff, things such as money, jewlery, cars and prostitues. The very times it does talk about politics it tends to instead of talking about the issues more or less just slander a politician, mostly just bush, and give little reason or explination why. Today when they do talk about life on the streets, they tend to glorify it and try to make it seem cool. One key thing you can notice is back in the day rappers seemed to be targeting everyone as their audeince from kids, adults, politicians and women. While today it just seems they try to target teenagers.

Answer 8

Honestly, its disgraceful. The old rap was the best and still is. I dont even listen to today's rap. Its all about Shoes, Drugs, Sex, ect..

Answer 9

i dont kno...but what i do kno is that it is degrating and my friend made a good point...why did don imus get "fired" off the air when all these rappers are calling girls "hoes and whores" when they arent doing anything about that...and yes they are talking about sex drugs and alcohol!!! and may i add...RAP SUCKS!!! and i honestly can't say wether or not it was better back then or now...heck i dont even kno when it was invented...cuz i dont care for rap...the only "rap song" i like is white and nerdy from wierd al!!! LOL!!! so that is my WHOLE entire opinion to rap!!!

Answer 10

hoenstly i think the lyrics are degrading. I listen to it here and there though, bu i'm really trying to get off it, and i'm progressing so far. Rappers today are gettign rich off of their nonsense, but there are also some hip hop artits out there who actually talk sense in their music and i prefer them more other than bullcrap artists.The artists of yesterday are much better.