Rap

[Fifty]

Given the demographics of CFC, I'm guessing most of you hate it, but I'm curious anyways. What do you think of rap music? Do you like it all, hate it all, like some of it?

Personally, I think that some rap is very good and does not get the credit it deserves. Granted, a lot of it is just the standard "money, guns, girls" type of stuff, but some of it is really good. I really like some DMX, Nas, Mobb Deep, Jay-Z, and some others.

So what do you think of rap?

Please don't say "it isn't music". I'm more or less talking about the lyrics. Of course rap won't be music compared with classical, rock, or other types of music; that much is obvious and as such does not need to be discussed here. Think more in terms of the lyrics.

 

[Tomoyo]

I don't mind. Yesterday during Advertising and Design class we had a kid playing rap really loudly with many curses, but no one cared... including me.

If I had to decide, I would say that some rap is actually good. (and Chinese rap is just plain funny! )

 

[kryszcztov]

Too many lyrics to be good (IMHO).

When you drop out the large "money, guns, girls" stuff, you don't have much left to deal with. I might like some of it, but since I'm not attracted, I don't know. The least I do is using this kind of music to make fun of people (you know, the stupid way they have to debit their thousand words, facing the camera, and moving their hands like they do). On the whole, it's a kind of music that has a low focus on music actually, and a much too large focus on messages. When you drop out all the lyrics related to the authors' background (in France, the "ghettos"), you don't have much left either.

If you know some rap bands or artists who avoid those clichés and try to make real efforts other than finding a thousand rhymes, then I'm all ears. Until then I carry on with alt. rock. (a genre that finds some of its roots in black music as well)

 

[TrailblazingScot]

It isn't music

Seriously, rap can be extremely emotive as a type of music, but I've yet to find it promoting positive attitudes or emotions. Personnally, I have grown out of rap and bemoan the effect it has had on children.

Death to rappers.

 

[Flintlock]

:thumbdown Personally, I hate it. All of it. Period.

Unfortunatly, it makes up part of the latest fad at my school, which is listing to either country or rap music. Of course, I doubt anyone actually likes country, and they just say that they do to go along with everyone else. As far as rap goes, all I really know is that it disgusts me.

 

[Akka]

There is some small, tiny part of rap that can, sometimes, be good. But it's really exceptionnal.

On the whole, rap sucks, blows, and overall is so much crap that you need to imagine new words just to tell how much it's a big pile of rubbishing excrements.
That someone could ever listen to such amount of *censored* noise is beyond me, let alone buying it. To see that it is in fact so popular that it's invaded the waves, the games and the culture, gives me pulsions of genocide.

 

[stratego]

Rap is superb music. I especially like freestyle battles as it takes a really talented person to come up with rhymes on the spot. Rap's self enpowering attitude is a good balance to the emerging punk rock which says life sucks and everything hates me.

 

[GEChallenger]

Of course, I doubt anyone actually likes country, and they just say that they do to go along with everyone else.

Watch it there, buddy-- I love country and certainly don't enjoy it just to 'go along with everyone else.' Country's pretty much all I listen to, with some old southern rock, classic rock, and maybe a little bluegrass.

About rap... don't care for it it at all, lyrics or rhythm. Although some of the reggae-type isn't that bad... Don't like R&B or either. I don't deny that some forms of rapping takes some sort of talent, but I can't stand the whole hip-hop atmosphere and whatnot. That, and the lyrics are often incomprehensible or just stupid.

 

[BloodyPepperoni]

I listen almost only to rap, and I despise metal.

'It's only about money and girls'

Well, perhaps, but is it bad? What's wrong with money and girls?

And compared to the depressed 'emos' crybabies...well, no need to say more

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I listen almost only to rap, and I despise metal.

'It's only about money and girls'

Well, perhaps, but is it bad? What's wrong with money and girls?

And compared to the depressed 'emos' crybabies...well, no need to say more

I am in agreement with a French-Canadian. Take pictures, guys, this doesn't happen often.

 

[Azadre]

I enjoy a lot Jay-Z. He seems to always stay fresh. Of course, I also enjoy Dr. Dre, but his rap is of one style.

 

[Tomoyo]

Pictures?

 

[newfangle]

I like it when rappers really try to break the mould, such as Outkast for example.

But then, hardcore rap fans probably regard Outkast in the same esteem as hardcore punk fans regard Mediocre Charlette.

 

[Norlamand]

I've listened to rap since the time of Curtis Blow, Run DMC and Kool Moe D, Eric B and Rakim and many more......
Most of the crap today doesn't interest me at all. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop and a few others are decent.

 

[stratego]

Most of the crap today doesn't interest me at all. Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Snoop and a few others are decent.

Ice Cube! Is he still around?

 

[MCdread]

I like it when rappers really try to break the mould, such as Outkast for example.

But then, hardcore rap fans probably regard Outkast in the same esteem as hardcore punk fans regard Mediocre Charlette.

I don't know if Outkast is considered rap by the rap purists, but out od all the rap music I have heard (not much...), I'd say they are the only group that I like. In fact, I think they are among the best musicians of today in any genre.
Out of that, the best rap I heard is french. I think the french language is much more suited to rap than english.

 

[Yom]

Rap is what I usually listen to, but only the good stuff. Jay-Z and the modern stuff is okay, but only for it's rhythm, not its lyrics. When it comes to lyrics, Tupac is the best, and Nas's Illmatic (Nas Escobar, not the new stuff he does) is awesome. Plus, when I'm pissed off NWA and groups like that are always good to listen to. Sometimes it's good to listen to stuff about money and girls, but I usually like the more meaningful rap, or the songs with extremely good rhythms and just sounds good.

 

[stratego]

Out of that, the best rap I heard is french. I think the french language is much more suited to rap than english.

Let's test it out.

bonjour, mon nom est
bonjour, mon nom est
horh horh horh Slim Shady

Does have a good ring to it.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

I have a lot of respect for music forms that a lot of people dislike, e.g. metal. But so far what I have seen in rap is the promotion of a certain image in order to get a big corporation money. I've seen much more ego put in the music and lyrics than actual artistic creation.

Indeed, atonal singing to a computer-generated backing track, to me at least, is very dull music. I'm sure there are a few real musicians making rap, and I'm ready to listen once I find them.

Though freestyle rap is better than any other sort of rap I've heard so far. The improvisation is just saying that these lyrics are real - not something a songwriter wrote. True originality and talent.

 

[Fetus4188]

As a rule I hate all of it, but every rule has exceptions, and every once in a while I'll fall in love with a catchy song.