Why do you hate Rap???

[seashale76]

To the OP: Yeah, I don't hate rap. Personally, from an objective standpoint, I do like some rap. However, when I begin to analyze things on a deeper level it loses the initial 'that's cool' factor for me. I really don't care that other people like and listen to rap. If you like it you like it.

1) Being over 30 and a white woman doesn't exactly make it acceptable for me to outright state to anyone (in person) that I appreciate rap. When I've expressed this to some people (white and black) in the past, they are either extremely amused or offended to hear that I like some rap. I wasn't attempting to elicit either response. We like what we like sometimes, even though some of us hardly fit the stereotype.

2) Lyrics- On the one hand, I appreciate the lyrical genius of some folks, yet I dislike the explicit, often anti-Christian themes. This is probably the biggest issue I see- but it exists in the non-rap music I often like and listen to as well.

3) I simply am not from a culture where I can truly connect with the cultures presented to us via rap music. It's out of my realm of experience. I can't even begin to know whether or not things are exaggerated to us through the music or if it is accurate social commentary. How much is stereotyping? I posted those two humorous videos a few posts back to show some white folks self-stereotyping to either prove a point and/or to be humorous- why would it be any different in African American culture? How much does that type of rap (which shows an extreme side of life that exists in limited areas) have an effect on some youths who wish to imitate/recreate that reality where it never existed before? Perhaps I tolerate other genres of music better when I have more of a cultural connection of some sort to them? It's the most likely explanation.

 

[Skilletdude]

I just don't like it... just like I can't stand Southern Gospel... if people like, I don't care. I just find it goofy myself although there is a song here and there that I'll like. My brother loves rap and there are a number of Eminem (sp?) songs I thought were pretty decent. But it's usually cause he as other elements mixed in there and it's not like a pure, hardcore rap song (Toy Soldiers, Till I Collapse etc)... I can see why a lot of hardcore rap fans don't like him much. But other than the song here or there, it just isn't my taste.

 

[christian78]

The majority of the responses in this thread sound like guys who stumbled on a 30 sec snippet of a 50 cent song.

You say that the majority of rap is vulgar and discouraging of God's message. Well believe it or not, the majority of this genre is underground so I doubt you've heard half of it. Fact of the matter is, the concious rappers will never get the amount of plays or publicity as the commercial "money, cars, and women" formulated rappers the labels are pushing. Listen to a rapper like Lupe's Hurt Me Soul, Kanye's Heard Em Say, or Nas' If Heaven Was A Mile Away. Even Kanye's Never Let Me Down...though admittedly Jay Z utters the most vulgar self glorifying verses ever to start off that track. Essentially, stop judging hip hop by what you here on the radio. Real rap lovers know you have to dig deep for quality musicians and most don't care for the filth that's overtaken the mainstream.

 

[b.hopeful]

I'm an over 30 white woman...and I'm a fan of rap. I have been since I heard the needle drop on Rakim record,lol.

I live in the burbs now and my neighbor is a union electrician by day and an emcee/dj by night. Our generation grew up on rap so it's not that unusual to find 35-45 yo's listening to rap.

If you think of rap and think of 50 cent or Lil' Jon.....then it's no wonder you aren't a fan,lol.

 

[WhiteWillow]

Have I said I hate rap? I find some of it catchy.

 

[theFijian]

my thanks to whoever bumped this 5 yr old thread for the trip down memory lane

 

[xxPhilxx]

my thanks to whoever bumped this 5 yr old thread for the trip down memory lane

Always glad to help...

 

[Big Mouth]

Why do I dislike rap? Because I am a woman who doesn't appricate being refered to as a b*tch and/or a hoe.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Why do I dislike rap? Because I am a woman who doesn't appricate being refered to as a b*tch and/or a hoe.

Not all rap is like that. Take my favourite artist, Scroobius Pip. He doesn't refer to women by any derogatory term. Although I'm sure at least one of his songs could be seen as anti-religious, although it is more against the manipulation of people through religion rather than religion itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAqcbmSC3XQ

My favourite of all his songs. The video's a bit odd though. I can understand the wings on Pip show that he's a guardian angel but I have no idea why people have televisions for heads...

 

[SparkyMaddie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsv2LrdXf1Y

 

[Rich48]

I have said it before, and will say it again. Rap is NOT music--it is noise. There is no melody, no harmony, no nothing other than a beat, and endless repeating of useless so-called lyrics, which often demean women.

Rap is junk. Plain and simple. It does not meet any defination of "music". Long after ANY rap artist's so-called music has been forgotten, the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoveen, and the like will live on.

This IS music!

YouTube - Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" 4th movement

 

[xxPhilxx]

This IS music!

YouTube - Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" 4th movement

That is some good stuff!

 

[yahwehsninja]

Eminem is the man!!

 

[theFijian]

I have said it before, and will say it again. Rap is NOT music--it is noise. There is no melody, no harmony, no nothing other than a beat, and endless repeating of useless so-called lyrics, which often demean women.

Rap is junk. Plain and simple. It does not meet any defination of "music". Long after ANY rap artist's so-called music has been forgotten, the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoveen, and the like will live on.

This IS music!

YouTube - Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" 4th movement

...unsubscribes from thread...

 

[yahwehsninja]

I have said it before, and will say it again. Rap is NOT music--it is noise. There is no melody, no harmony, no nothing other than a beat, and endless repeating of useless so-called lyrics, which often demean women.

Rap is junk. Plain and simple. It does not meet any defination of "music". Long after ANY rap artist's so-called music has been forgotten, the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoveen, and the like will live on.

This IS music!

actually the definition of music is this: an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

so rap is music. if you don't LIKE rap, that's different.

 

[Guy Incognito]

I have said it before, and will say it again. Rap is NOT music--it is noise. There is no melody, no harmony, no nothing other than a beat, and endless repeating of useless so-called lyrics, which often demean women.

Rap is junk. Plain and simple. It does not meet any defination of "music". Long after ANY rap artist's so-called music has been forgotten, the music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoveen, and the like will live on.

This IS music!

YouTube - Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" 4th movement

Yes, that is music... but so is Hip Hop. Just because you don't think so, doesn't make you right. You're argument is plaqued by ignorance.

Lyrically speaking, mainstream Rap is no more evil than any genre of music.

Lyrically speaking, underground Hip Hop is some of the most lyrically focused music you can find. KRS One, Public Enemy, Black Star, these groups aren't about sexualizing women. These guys are about empowering their people, talking about the wrongs blacks still encounter, taking accountability in your words, etc.

You have the right to your opinion, and your taste in music (which in terms of classical music is really good haha), but I think you couldn't be more wrong about your opinion on rap/hip hop.

 

[Trashionista]

It's arrogant, obnoxious, talentless, musical retarded, womanizing dribble! The slang is moronic. How anyone can be so lazy as they can't say a whole world and must drop a few letters for no reason is beyond me.

I know about rap. Rap is ment to express suffering. To express the hardships of the rapper. But most of it is all cursing and talking about their...ahem...women, to put it nicely and G rated.

Rap is simply, when broken down "Retards attempting poetry". They claim you need talent to make a good rap with good lyrics and rhyme, but when you make up words like "shizzle" and "skeet" and stuff like that to rhyme, you have no talent. Making up words so you can rhyme is idiotic and sad.

Your argument would be stronger if you weren't misappropriating the term 'retard' or using it as insult.

Anyways, there's some rap I quite enjoy; MC Solaar, K-Os, Saul Williams, 2Pac, Common, NWA, Kanye West, etc. There's quite a bit I dislike, but there's a lot of metal and subgenres of metal that is moronically crappy and embarassing to the genre as well (KoRn or limpbizkit anyone?)

That said, I hate this argument that rap videos are so mysogynistic, when you can watch a country music video and see country bumpkins strumming tunes as chicks in mini-coveralls gyrate, or you can Youtube one of David Lee Roth's offerings and watch some very campy examples of female exploitation.

 

[Guy Incognito]

It's arrogant, obnoxious, talentless, musical retarded, womanizing dribble! The slang is moronic. How anyone can be so lazy as they can't say a whole world and must drop a few letters for no reason is beyond me.

I know about rap. Rap is ment to express suffering. To express the hardships of the rapper. But most of it is all cursing and talking about their...ahem...women, to put it nicely and G rated.

Rap is simply, when broken down "Retards attempting poetry". They claim you need talent to make a good rap with good lyrics and rhyme, but when you make up words like "shizzle" and "skeet" and stuff like that to rhyme, you have no talent. Making up words so you can rhyme is idiotic and sad.

Every genre of music that features lyrics has it's share of relentless womanizing lyrics. If you're offended by it in rap, you logically should be offended by it in all music.

If you know rap, you should also know that not as much of it is all cursing and sex talk as the media has made out. Granted, that's what we'll see the most of, but sadly that is because quite simply, sex sells. Country music, Rock, Reggae, Punk, virtually every genre that can sells features scantily clad women (a trend that started before Rap became mainstream, by the way). You should also notice the trend that is somewhat beginning to emerge in hip hop; a steer away from the misogynistic, gangster style, and is headed in a more 'consious/alternative' direction (which in a way is somewhat of a return to the old school mentality).

As for the comment that is retards attempting peotry; in some cases, this can be true (i.e.: Lil John, Soulja Boy, pop-rappers, artists of this nature), but that is hardly the case for the entire genre. KRS One has peotic lyrics, k-Os, Mos Def, Shad, Rakim, Tupac; (some of, as some of his stuff was very 'gangsta') these guys (just to name a few) are poets. They bring a message (though not always), they bring style of delivery, which they blend into clever word play and rhymed delivery.

Rap has a place in society, it is a voice for a group of people. And like any 'voice' before it, it will have both it's good and bad moments, it will say both empowering and embarrassing/insulting things.

Just for kicks, here's a brief selection of k-Os lyrics, followed by a song by Shad:

k-Os' verse from 'Top of The World' by The Rascalz:
Now, this is a message in the bottle, like Robinson Caruso
I cant' feel the warmth of the sun, I'm like Pluto
So I open seven shakras, break the seven seals
Bust the dopest rhyme just like Kaleel
Jebron, I bring the dawn to decepticons
It's that of the dreaded fist with Misfit and Red 1
I used to read the psalms and uhh, holy Koran
Now I only read the birds in the trees, then I'm gone
Like a breeze on a summer day, never run away
From the judgement day when armaggedeon come say
If I had 24 hours to live, here's what I'd do
I'd make everybody know G-O-D's inside of you
And spread love from Kelowna to Kalamazoo
'Cause no matter how many are called the choosen are few

Rock To It - Shad:
YouTube - Shad K - Rock To It

 

[JamesAH]

Why I don't like Rap:

No harmony
No melody
All style no substance
No soul
Nothing creative

Just my opinion.

 

[Rich48]

Why I don't like Rap:

No harmony
No melody
All style no substance
No soul
Nothing creative

Just my opinion.

Totally agree!