is rapping an art? is it poetry?

Question

one? neither? both?

what is rap?

Answer 1

For one, rapping was not created in the 1980s with hip-hop, it's been around for hundreds of years in most cultures. Classical music had its forms of rap, American folk music has a lot of rap, Johnny Cash has rapped a lot. So they've all found merit in it.

Now with Hip-Hop, a few things to remember is that it's still incredibly young, and still evolves very quickly. It was created in the early 1980s in the Block Parties of New York, and orginially was a blend of Djing, Beat-Boxing, and break dance. Rapping wasn't originally a main component, but MCs at the parties began to add in their own words over everything else to get the party stronger... and overtime became the dominent person in the show. It's sort of like Jazz. Jazz started off as a very functional music intend for dancing, but evolved over time to many things, rap is evolving now, but to what... whether we will ever see acid rap.. we'll just have to wait.

Answer 2

to know the origin of rap:

http://createidealworld.blogspot.ae/2013/10/rap-comes-from-arabian-origins.html

Answer 3

I think it started out as both poetry and an art form. Back in the day when The Message was recorded rappers truly seemed to have something to say. Unfortunately it evolved into racist, sexist, homophobic crap. There are a few rappers now who are trying to return the art form to a forum for positive expression. Hopefully the positive growth will continue to progress because rap is in a sad state right now and everyone wants to use "I'm just keepin' it real" as an excuse. Even if that is the situation you grew up in, wouldn't it be better to try to improve it rather than using it as an excuse for asinine behavior.

Answer 4

It's poetry, combined with music and theatrics. It's tricky because sometimes you can have weak poetry combined with an awesome beat and theatrical performance, and it results in good rap. If you were to isolate the poetry and read it on a page it's not that great. Of course, there are instances when the poetry matches the performance aspect.

Answer 5

Yes and no. Rap, Hip and hip hop is a form of expression, it can be colorful and abstrct or real cold and callus. Think of the word as a point brush and the song as a portrait, the artist is painting the portrait of his life or the life he sees, lived, hoped to live or prophesizng how he will live or how things will impact against the life he chosen. Look beyond the music and grasp the lyrics, look beyond the lyrics and embrace the meaning of the artist thought. look beyond the thought and notice the all circumstances causing that thought to take place. Change the world by showing them the evil you are faced with wthout entering in it but know you propelling it by speaking of it even if you are not doing it. Its truly a parodox of art imitating life and then life begins to imitate art on a greater degree. Oh the irony of it all.

Answer 6

Rap is art if you look back at its roots and history, but nowadays, it mostly has constant refrences advocating sex, drugs, and killing. Rap made in the 90's and before is considered art to me. If you want a rap song that is poetry, the song, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" by Digable Planets, perfectly exemplifies poetry in rap.

Answer 7

In my opinion...rapping is an art and poetry.
But if your going to listen/perform it needs to be in an artful sense...not the popular way it is today...talking about the baby's mommas and smoking weed and crap like that. If rappers and rap want to be respected as an art (because it is) they need to perform it like an art

Answer 8

I think it is art and poetry (and both of those things can be terrible if the wrong person has their hands in them). I think freestyle rappers are on par with jazz musicians as far as improvising and I have been very impressed with some.

Answer 9

It's junk and noise, with no redeeming quality.