Rap/Hip Hop: Rock Fans' Opinions?

Question

(partially inspired by some clown from the rap section earlier) :)

Where do you stand with it?

This is too long for a YA post. Here's a link to the complete question on my blog. Feel free to answer it here or there:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-yLYNLrI3crThyzDCqpuUZUlcJjTzLQ--;_ylt=Aia5LWz3GfOVIOWC6hM4CNmsAOJ3?cq=1

btw, if by any chance you don't see the entry, hit refresh.

hedzy- that would be correct. Yes. That clown! Interesting how far a little public humiliation can go, eh? ;)

Answer 1

Well, Rap and Hip-Hop has never been to my taste, except maybe from some of the really old stuff.
I *really* can't stand the rubbish that is all over the radio at the moment ~ every song / artist sounds the same.

But, if people like it, then that's their choice.
Everyone has a right to listen to whatever music they want, but {and yes, I know which Q you're refering to}, I will not put up with people trying to tell me that Rock "is not music", or that what I listen to is rubbish. It's my choice to enjoy the music I like, as it is theirs.

Answer 2

First off, "props" for mentioning A Tribe Called Quest, they're one of my favourites.

Anyway, I can't be overly critical of Rap and Hip Hop, as a few years ago, that was /all/ I listened to. I still listen to a few of the artists that were my favourites [Tupac, rest in peace, will always have my respect], but my tastes changed - and I don't enjoy a lot of it like I used to.

What p's me off is the few people here that claim that Rap isn't music. I think that's such an ignorant thing to say.
I loathe Country with almost every bone in my body but I couldn't disrespect the effort that those musicians have put into their work and claim that it isn't music just because I don't like it. Urgh.

I think, to find /any/ good music these days, you have to look under the radar.
As Rock fans, we should know that what is shown on the TV [FOB etc.] isn't an accurate representation of what "true" Rock really is - the same is happening to Rap, a lot of their artists are being misrepresented, that's just what I think, people may think otherwise.

Answer 3

most of my friends like rap in some way shape or form, and over the years i have tried to understand why or how they might like it, but i just can't...for me the problem i have with it does not involve the subject matter of the writing, it's that i don't think the style requires any real talent

think about it, what exactly are rappers doing? they're talking quickly while something is playing in the background, it's almost like a simulation of music, or music like it might have been in it's earliest and most primitive forms at the time of the introduction of lyrics...and the content of the writing for the most part does not bother me, they can write about what they want and you're right, a lot of classic rock involves the same subject matter...what bothers me about the writing in rap is that nowadays anyway there's nothing to it, i can go and write something down on paper today that rhymes, put some synthesizers in the background, send it to a record company, and if it sounds good to them i could be the next superstar...the classic example of this to me would be the soulja boy song, i mean, that kid's like 17 years old, i'm positive that he didn't put more than a minute's thought into that and just put some synthesizers into it and boom, he's a superstar all of a sudden

so while i have tried to understand and appreciate rap, i just have a great deal of difficulty doing so

Answer 4

I'm SURE that much like rock, rap has gone for the most part downhill these past few years, and the mainstream radio material should not even be compared to what the underground has to offer.

Public Enemy has been to put to shame by the likes of Lil' Jon, Ludacris, etc. There was a time when rap music had something to offer to the world politically and fought for what they believed in, something ALWAYS to be respected in music. Granted, even wayy back when, there were mentions of "hoes" and the obscenities you hear in today's rap, but to a muchhh lower degree.

I very much respect some rappers, such as Run-DMC, who has campaigned for the eradication of the word "ho" from the entire music industry because of the way it degrades and disrespects women.
Not to mention Tupac, who, aside from his less-than-perfect lifestyle, was nothing short of a poet, releasing continually substantial and respectable music.

As for the underground thing, I'm pretty sure that goes without mention. It's common knowledge that you should never judge a genre until you've heard the underground, and I've gotta say Fonz, some underground rap is, plainly and simply, GOOD.

However, the garbage that we hear on a daily basis and that IS ROCK EVEN MUSIC guy listens to is pure crap. Its all about three main things - women, money, and drugs. & once you've heard one song, you've heard them all.. "I have so much money, I get all the women, and drugs screwed up my life."

Answer 5

Nailed Him Fonzie! Good Work Brother
I'm down with You. I won't smash on Rap as many others will. I myself enjoy some Old School Gangsta in the vein of Dr Dre Snoop Dogg Ice Cube & Ice T
I have honestly eclectic and wide ranging Music tastes.
I'm first and foremost a Metalhead, but all Metal all the time makes Jack a dull boy....You know.
And props for mentioning Public Enemy too

Answer 6

I respect some rap musicians, especially the ones that actually know how to rap and create good beats. Those include Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Outkast, NWA, etc. (I don't know many good rap artists).

As for listening to it, I don't listen to much rap, since I don't really like it. I do listen to rap, but not traditional or modern rap. The rap I listen to is basically rap metal (or rap with hard rock riffs). And no, I am not talking about nu metal (Linkin Park, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, etc.). I'm talking more like Rage Against the Machine. I'll take any more recommendations if the metal is actually good. In fact, I just might get some Run-D.M.C. and Beastie Boy albums.

Answer 7

I'm not a big rap fan, but I can appreciate some... especially the older stuff where their raps were well-written (Tupac, Arrested Development, even a bit of LL Cool J).

But this stuff that you hear on the radios where it is all about "Booty" or how much money that they have, that is where I draw the line and lose a bunch of respect for them.

However, I would love to see any rapper come out and truly rap about something meaningful, like how rap was in the 80s and 90s. I would have no problem buying a record like that.

Answer 8

I'm going to give an honest and unbiased oppinion.

I appreciate the rappers who actually have talent, Lupe Fiasco, Immortal Technique, Talib Kwali, Tupac, etc.

What I don't appreciate is all the no-talent mainstream crap that has dominated the music scene as of late, Soulja Boy, Hurricane Chris, 50 Cent, etc.

So, I have no problem with rap, as long as the artist has talent, which I haven't seen much of in the rap scene in recent years.

Answer 9

I've always had a taste for the cool stuff...Public Enemy, Run DMC, Cypress Hill, Salt n Pepper, EnVogue, Boyz 2 Men, Bone Thugs and Harmony, Ja Rule, Snoop Dog, I even saw the Michael Jackson Victory Tour as my first concert (w/ Eddie Van Halen). I don't listen often, but I do listen.

Answer 10

I'm open minded to MOST sort of music.

I used to hate and look down at rap music. Thinking it was the worst form of music and any talentless tom could do it..

Over the last year i realised. it takes as much talent to rap then to play the guitar or to paly the drums. The fast flowing words needs great energy and rhythm.

Obviously there are rap songs which are annoying and over rated.. Like many ROCK songs. I dont let such songs change my mind over the whole genre. There are songs like Sweet Child O mine which i find annoying but still Guns N Roses are one of my favourite bands..
Rap is a little bit over-rated nowadays.. and i dont like rappers like the ones on MTV.. They claim to be ghetto, but they make multi-million dollar vids with white suits and limousines and live in mansions... Very ghetto isnt it?

: )
Its a huge trend now.. much like a genre i can relate - to punk.

People shouldnt judge the whole scene by the likes of the obvious ones like Soula Boy etc.. the underground rap scene here in the UK has a lot to offer and people should definitely check it out..
I hate it when people judge my taste in music when they dont know the first thing about it.. therefore i dont judge something i dont know about..
:)