Rap IS NOT Music

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Also, I can't think of any swear words with only 3 characters 

Are you sure you didn't mean:

**** out of me

and

******* annoying   

That is just how the censor works. when you say the word |-|ell, for instance, it replaces it with 3 stars.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Oh, and I despise rap. Seriously, how could anybody call this music? It is simply bad poetry set to a heavy beat.

[piano_learner]

Oh, and I despise rap. Seriously, how could anybody call this music? It is simply bad poetry set to a heavy beat.

Thanks Ludwig. I didn't realise it was a REAL censor.

I can understand the analogy about rap. However, would you consider it any more acceptable if the artists didn't consider it music themselves? What If someone wrote good poetry to a heavy beat? Would you be able to tolerate it or at least appreciate the artistic intent?

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

What If someone wrote good poetry to a heavy beat? Would you be able to tolerate it or at least appreciate the artistic intent?

Possibly, but my problem with rap is that so much of the time, the overall message I get from is depressing. Take Eminem for instance, usually, all I get out of his music is, "I'm going to kill my mother, my wife is a ***, I like to smoke crack, I raped my sister... etc." Why would anybody want to listen to that?

Then, people say, "Don't blame him! He has had a horrible life!" So..... why do you want to hear about it? To be depressed? Oh that makes sense.

About 'good' poetry, what do you define as 'good'? Without curse words? Without drugs, sex, and violence? In other words, where the main reason that people listen to the stuff is taken out? My opinion is that rap is like pornography for the ears. Most people don't listen to it because they 'like the music'. It seems that they listen to it because: A) They enjoy the fact that there are no rules, and that the so called 'artist' can say whatever they want, or B) they use it as an escape from their own lives, by listening to somebody elses problems.

Of course, I could be wrong. Obviously, this doesn't apply to everybody. But from what I have experienced, this is the reason that the majority 'enjoys' rap.

[JK]

Considering what elements of music a piece must have so as to be called music ie. rhythm, melody and some form of harmony we must say and accept that rap IS music, however that is of course not to say that it is GOOD music.....! Personally I cannot stand most rap music, compared to opera i think it is an insult to music with very often aggressive lyrics and no sense of subtlety what so ever! Of course consdering whether rap is or is not music causes us to consider what music is and is not, which is very much down to someones opinion. For example some people would consider Cages' 4:33 to be music, personally I acknowledge it as an experiment that if nothing else makes us question our ideas about music, but I don't consider it music. For me music has to have a structure, some form of harmony whether this be tonal or a-tonal; these two things for me are essential to music, melody is not so important. Of course this is a matter of opinion but is an interesting thing to think about, what is it that makes one thing music and another thing not, it's harder to define than you think, once you actually try!

[meisel]

Wow, this is just plain stupid. Many people know alot of things they don`t know. Impressive.

[piano_learner]

Possibly, but my problem with rap is that so much of the time, the overall message I get from is depressing.

Of course, I could be wrong. Obviously, this doesn't apply to everybody. But from what I have experienced, this is the reason that the majority 'enjoys' rap.

Ludwig,

I'm wondering if the only reason you hate 'Gangsta' RAP and Popular RAP is because of the negative messages rather than it not being music.

Would your opinion be different about this RAP 'music' which probably has positive message to the same type of beat.

https://www.happyheartmusic.com/christianrap.htm

I can't speak personally about the music because I don't own any of it.  Just curious.

N.B: I am not a promoter or supporter of Christian music. I'm just looking for different opinions/perspectives

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Ludwig,

I'm wondering if the only reason you hate 'Gangsta' RAP and Popular RAP is because of the negative messages rather than it not being music.

Would your opinion be different about this RAP 'music' which probably has positive message to the same type of beat.

https://www.happyheartmusic.com/christianrap.htm

I can't speak personally about the music because I don't own any of it.  Just curious.

N.B: I am not a promoter or supporter of Christian music. I'm just looking for different opinions/perspectives

  Well......

Aside from the lyrics, Rap just annoys me. The negative messages bother me, but I just don't like the music in general.

Wow, this is just plain stupid. Many people know alot of things they don`t know. Impressive.

What are you talking about? How can somebody 'know a lot of things they don't know'? And how is that impressive/stupid? 

[rachlisztchopin]

I don't mind the message rap promotes...I just don't like it because the music completely SUCKS as well a lot of other popular music. It is about the publicity and money, not the music (or they wouldn't make the music so crappy).  It's amazing how many ignorant minded people there are in this world (and the not so ignorant minded that STILL listen to this simple music).

[JK]

Wow, this is just plain stupid. Many people know alot of things they don`t know. Impressive.

Its comments like this that make people not want to post here, myself included. I mean what does it mean, if you're going to make a sarcastic comment pease explain it and back it up with an argument or an opinion so we can all understand, and maybe even respond. Otherwise if you have nothing else to say other than things like this than you might as well not bother.

[meisel]

Its comments like this that make people not want to post here, myself included. I mean what does it mean, if you're going to make a sarcastic comment pease explain it and back it up with an argument or an opinion so we can all understand, and maybe even respond. Otherwise if you have nothing else to say other than things like this than you might as well not bother.

Okey, i will explain what i mean. How can people say that a whole genre is crapmusic? First of all, have these people listened to ALL bands and persons within that genre? There are good and bad quality music in every genre, i believe. Do they understand the music, in a way that they have opinions of what is good and bad without just preferring what is most similar to another genre that they like better? Do they have insight in that type of music? How can people just say that that the whole genre is crap?? Just because they dont understand the music, doesn`t necessarily mean that there is a objective scale that puts rap way down there, and classical and jazz on the top. Music is personal, and as long as people listen to it and like it, why should the "music elitists" look down on them?
I dont listen to rap myself, but i get frustrated when i see people judging things they probably dont understand.
"I dont know any black people, but i hate them!"

[donjuan]

Okey, i will explain what i mean. How can people say that a whole genre is crapmusic? First of all, have these people listened to ALL bands and persons within that genre? There are good and bad quality music in every genre, i believe. Do they understand the music, in a way that they have opinions of what is good and bad without just preferring what is most similar to another genre that they like better? Do they have insight in that type of music? How can people just say that that the whole genre is crap?? Just because they dont understand the music, doesn`t necessarily mean that there is a objective scale that puts rap way down there, and classical and jazz on the top. Music is personal, and as long as people listen to it and like it, why should the "music elitists" look down on them?
I dont listen to rap myself, but i get frustrated when i see people judging things they probably dont understand.
"I dont know any black people, but i hate them!"

I understand your opinion and I think it applies to pretty much all music with the exception of rap.
rap is bad taste and thats all there is to it.

[meisel]

I understand your opinion and I think it applies to pretty much all music with the exception of rap.
rap is bad taste and thats all there is to it.

Why is rap an exception?

[donjuan]

Why is rap an exception?

because rap doesnt have any message- and I go to highschool, I hear plenty in the hallways- its creation contradicts the whole meaning behind all other types of music.  Joy, fun, anger, anguish, pleasure...I cant find anything like this in Rap.  Now, I am all for making music that can be enjoyed by anyone- even those with low education and poor upbringing- but Rap crosses the line and I truely believe it is making the people who listen to it stupider every day.
donjuan

[meisel]

because rap doesnt have any message- and I go to highschool, I hear plenty in the hallways- its creation contradicts the whole meaning behind all other types of music.  Joy, fun, anger, anguish, pleasure...I cant find anything like this in Rap.  Now, I am all for making music that can be enjoyed by anyone- even those with low education and poor upbringing- but Rap crosses the line and I truely believe it is making the people who listen to it stupider every day.
donjuan

If rap has no feelings, why do people listen to it?
I`ve heard plenty of feelings in rap, especially anger. You say you hear it in the hallways... do you really think you understand and have a good view in the music then? Many people think the same about classical too. They have heard fur elise and the beginning of Beethovens fifth symphony, and says that "classical music is so boring". "Noise." Because they havent explored the genre, and dont understand how to listen to it.

[blindmouth]

its been a long time since ive been here....

anyways, i use andre 3000's (Outkast) explanation of rap:

"I met a critic, I made her s*** her drawers
She said she thought hip-hop was only guns and alcohol
I said "Oh hell naw!"  But yet it's that too
You can't discrimi-hate cause you done read a book or two
What if I looked at you in a microscope, saw all the dirty organisms
living in your closet would I stop and would I pause it?  Whoo!"

~humble mumble, from outkast's album stankonia

oh yeah ive finally heard scriabin's 8th sonata; the man is a mad genius!

[Locky]

roman, if you made this statement ("Rap IS NOT Music") to just see how many replies you could get you've certainly achieved your objective.

Personally though I can't understand why someone would seriously make a comment like this. For a start it an enormous generalisation.

The online dictionary (dictionary.com) gives this definition of music:

"The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre."
 
I would say rap falls into this defintion. It gives this definition of rap:

"A form of popular music developed especially in African-American urban communities and characterized by spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics with a syncopated, repetitive rhythmic accompaniment."

I must admit that Pocket Oxford's definition or music slides more in the favour of your opinion:

"art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds in a harmonious or expressive way."

But many would argue that rap fits into this definition.

Anyway, whether you're right or not, it's been a good subject to make people voice their opinions. Well done

[ChristmasCarol]

Interesting... why is it anyone's job to make a judgement call on a whole genre?  I don't care to listen to rap, but dang if I don't want to be in a society where it can exist and evolve and make me think differently about my own music.  In a book by a former member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Dickson, he told a story where the symphony walked out on the very idea of playing Brahm's music when it was first introduced... that's Brahm's baby.  I think snobbery is for the untalented, and the not very intelligent.   

[JK]

Interesting... why is it anyone's job to make a judgement call on a whole genre?

It is noones "job" to pass judgement on anything, but that shouldn't stop people from voicing their opinions and feelings about a particular topic or subject, if someones opinion includes making a statement about something that you don't agree with then you simply have to accept that and respect their opinion, assuming that it is backed up with sufficient argument.

In a book by a former member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra Dickson, he told a story where the symphony walked out on the very idea of playing Brahm's music when it was first introduced... that's Brahm's baby.

Secondly there is an ever so slight difference between the music of Brahms and modern day rap music, please don't compare them.

I think snobbery is for the untalented, and the not very intelligent.   

Rubbish. Why do you think this? Snobbery is certainly no sign of anyones talent and as for intelligence that really depends on the subject. As far as music goes if considering classical forms of music to be the ultimate, most carefully crafted and most intricately worked music that has the potential to express the most complex and extreme human emotion, makes me a snob, and if that as you would say makes me untalented and stupid, then so be it.....

[ChristmasCarol]

"if someones opinion includes making a statement about something that you don't agree with then you simply have to accept that and respect their opinion, assuming that it is backed up with sufficient argument."

Why don't you give rap music the same "respect of their opinion".

Brahms and rap are different, but musicians sticking up their noses to something new isn't.   

"if considering classical forms of music to be the ultimate, most carefully crafted and most intricately worked music that has the potential to express the most complex and extreme human emotion..."  You see, the main problem I have with this premise is that most of the music so described is 150 years old.   I love the music passionately, but I equally embrace the new, different and experimental.  I am also convinced that Beethoven and Bach and Mozart and whoever would have relished the equipment and opportunities of these modern times.  Just imagine a synthesizer in the hands of Beethoven! 

Exclusivity in any endeavor locks out so many people.  I guess I just am reacting to that.  I managed a symphony for a couple of years.  One time the principle bassoonist was there when I had set up a demonstration at a Boys Club so that the kids could meet several orchestra members to entice them to an upcoming concert.  It was near Christmas and I asked if he could play jingle bells.  He could not.  He couldn't play jingle bells if he didn't have the music in front of him.  This man writes incredible notes for the programs, has been doing music all his life.  I don't really care if he was refusing to play it or not able to play it.  It is a crippling mind set to me, to not be able to meet these impoverished children where they were and play a little Christmas ditty.  Maybe, just maybe if the these players had done a little rap ditty about orchestral music, the kids would have come and heard the splendid music you so love.

Pronouncements denigrating anyone anytime are dangerous ground in my mind.  Personally I am more bugged by Country and Western music.   However, I once heard a group called "The Dillards" at Boston's Jazz Workshop that blew me away with their artistry and energy. 

Folk, rap, country, etc are kind of the pagan aspect of musical culture.  The little people maybe, or whatever.  But there is something in their heart that is being expressed when they take the time to produce or perform that has value. 

Okay, I'll get off my bandwagon now.

[JK]

Why don't you give rap music the same "respect of their opinion".

I do, as i said in a previous post I certainly would agree that rap IS music, I just don't personally consider it to be good, maybe this is because I listen to classical music so much and therefore find it hard to get into, I just feel that sometimes if i have an opinion that suggests that I don't consider rap to be good music compared to classical than I am called a snob, which I feel is unjust.

Brahms and rap are different, but musicians sticking up their noses to something new isn't.

I understand exactly what you mean but rap music isn't really that new, its certainly been around for as long as I can remember (at least 15 years in that case). Also I think that maybe there is a difference, the reason why people didn't like Brahms' music or Stravinskys' music at first was because it wasn't understood (Stravinsky in particular with the famous premier of the rite of spring), I don't however feel that the same applies in quite the same way to rap music now. Also another aspect of rap music in particular that deters and worries me is the content of some of the lyrics and sometimes the image that is conveyed.

Just aside from this, I was having an argument with someone once about the difference between music that is popular and successful and music that is good, they were basically saying that music that is popular is automactically good, as you may already guess I didn't agree with this! Just because some music is popular doesn't mean it is good, it could equally be good marketing etc.

You see, the main problem I have with this premise is that most of the music so described is 150 years old.     

This, in my opinion, is simply not true, there is music composed within the last 20 years that I feel the same way about, even songs by the beetles and certainly not forgetting jazz musicians. If you say 150 years old then you are leaving out Wagners' Tristan, Rachmaninovs' music, Stravinsky, Debussy , Ravel the list goes on.

I love the music passionately, but I equally embrace the new, different and experimental.  I am also convinced that Beethoven and Bach and Mozart and whoever would have relished the equipment and opportunities of these modern times.  Just imagine a synthesizer in the hands of Beethoven! 

Yes I agree that new and experimental music is very valid and important. I think that rap music is important and that all experimental forms of music demand recognition. It is vital that people try new directions as in doing so it causes us to have dicussions like this and it causes us to ask oursleves what is it that makes music music? How do we define what music is? Of course it is impossible and is something that makes music so special as we can never fully understand how it works, why for example do certain sounds create certain chords and why do they have the effect on us that they do? However as new forms of music come and go some are bound to be dismissed by people as not being music or as not being good music, this is simply a matter of taste and a matter of what the induvidual thinks music to be, it is not snobbery unless there is no reason to back it up with.

Exclusivity in any endeavor locks out so many people.

I know exactly what you mean, but I don't think that classical music should be exclusive at all, there is very often a feeling, a very wrong feeling, that the world of classical music is only open to a select few people. This is a great tradegy as it puts people off from trying to get into it. Classical music may be something that only a number people can fully understand but it is something that everyone can enjoy. People sometimes ask me why classical-pop fusions make me cringe when it is bringing classical music to people that wouldn't normally hear it, I don't dispute that it does this but I think that it is uneccessary, classical music is not unaccessible to people and people shouldn't be made to feel that they can't try and listen to it because they are not musicians. It is a shame that classical music has this rediculous "elitist" image, as result it has to be packaged in such a way so as to appeal to people.

Pronouncements denigrating anyone anytime are dangerous ground in my mind

The little people maybe, or whatever.  But there is something in their heart that is being expressed when they take the time to produce or perform that has value. 

I hope you didn't miss understand me, I would never be disrespectful to people who like rap or whatever, and through liking classical music I do not think I am better than anyone else. In fact it is this kind of attitude that I can't stand, I like classical music but would never look down on people who don't, I acknowledge completely that folk music and even rap are valid and important forms of music and that people go out of their way to create these forms of music, it is that personally I can't warm to it and don't feel any connection with it.

[silvaone]

I dont like people taking the piss out of something they know nothing about

yes I agree that the ''rap'' music of today is generic gobshite , every beat the same, not even using instruments anymore I mean what is that

but if you go to the real roots of real HIPHOP (gangsta rap and hiphop are 2 separate things dont you forget it) The 4 elements of HIPHOP being MCing, DJing, Bboying and Graffiti Art (real art not stupid pre-teen obsessions for their own status)

anyway

if you go to the roots you find a music filled with truth, it was never about the actual music when MCing (rapping) it was about telling stories and Black America rebelling against the opression that was being brought against them

hiphop saved hundreds of kids lives, dont go into  a gang become a dancer (Bboy) dont go into a gang become a DJ..... kids didnt fight anymore they danced to the music of hiphop, Breaks, funk, soul and of course the new addition hiphop music itself

Rap is not music your right because rap is made with the voice, the music is entirely separate from the DJ.... but Rap is not a negative, REAL RAP is about social change and upheaval, not about money, drugs, guns, hoes, bitches, 40s, blunts, and the worst word to come into society ''bling''

learn your history - know-your-ledge

before spouting off random shite about stuff you dont even know about

peace to all

- Silva

[silvaone]

Oh and also people here are only ever mentioning the mainstream which is F-U-C-K-E-D- up because the mainstream is shite, its not associated with hiphop...... when you listen to real hiphop listen to Big Daddy Kane, The Last Emporer etc.

[rob47]

hahaha respect silvaone 


https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,8880.0.html

this true

[rob47]

and now that im reading this old thread, i see some one, possibly Ludwig van Rachabji my old nemesis  said that eminem only talks about killing his mom raping his sister? (never heard that one but....), but that's waht you'll read somewhere.  If you listen to his cd's he's just talking about life from a persepective you can't possibly understand unless you've been there.  He reveals a society which you normally wouldn't see, and becomes  a medium for a message you are completely unawarre of.  Eminem lets you look in from the outside: otherwise you'd just be like an aristocrat back in those, aristocrat days, completely unaware of what happens in the inner city.  Sure you can choose to like or dislike it, but it is idiotic to say its crap because you don't understand it.  Rap has a message, whether you choose to acknoweldge that or not.  And it's much MUCH MUCH more important than Beethoven's 9th symphony. (the message, that is)

that's right I went there 

[Siberian Husky]

fa sho..

me n silva know whats up..

BBOYS!!..

[silvaone]

you a bboy husky?

- Silva

[Doodle]

Think about this:

In Beethoven's time, what was family entertainment?  The educated and cultured in society would dress up, and go watch live music.   They didn't have recording technology or lots of different entertainment avenues.  Even the middle class would have considered going to a concert to be a treat.   To be a musician meant a career.  People on every streetcorner would pay you to entertain.

In modern times, the public has an infinate variety of entertainment sources.   A great number of these are absolutely free.   Famility entertainment?  If music in the country had 1/8th of the budget of sports in this country all of us could have music jobs.  Our culture has changed and higher level music is no longer appreciated.   Our schools barely teach music education at all.  Modern orchestras are failing due to lack of attendance each year.  Almost every musician in an orchestra has a part time job.  

Taking that into account should we be suprised that music being produced in this day and age doesn't compare?  Rap is very very simplified music.  As music education declined than what people could understand musically had to decline also.   As music jobs dried up, then talented people went elsewhere.  

I fight this trend.   I do not support the music industry with what they need the most.... my money.   I only attend local shows, with local musicians who I think are talented.  I also avoid sporting events like the plague.   That is a topic we should be discussing.   In every school I attended, the music department was lucky to have 1/20th of the sports budgets.   I had trouble getting $400 in rhythm instruments while the basketball team received $5000 in jerseys.   When a culture no longer values intellectual or creative pursuits than that culture is doomed.   Welcome to the decline.
D

[i_m_robot]

What's your view on the current music in our world?  I think all the music like POP, Rock, Rap, and any other form of stupidity called music come up by music morons is all crap.  I hate listening to all this crap, yes crap.

It's an embarassment when we look at how far we humans have come, and then to see that we idolize some high-school drop out who talks about raping his mother and killing his wife and other people.

Just for the record, Rap IS NOT Music, it has never been music and never will be music.  When you have a thug saying something that only the morons in society understand, and he doesn't even sing in it, how can you call that music?

I'm just voicing my hate for Rap and all the other crap in the world, it makes me sick to turn on the TV and watch Entertainment Tonight show some high school dropout moron who's moronic CD just went Platinum.

And then you see all these wonderful and talented Pianist's, who are struggling to jump start their career after a lifetime of hard work and dedication.

It's a big downside to us as humans.

Rap makes you more stupid, psychotic, and crazy.

Piano music makes you more smart, calm and intelligent.

My choice for music is Contemporary Christian, Classical, etc. I enjoy some very talented artists like Michael W. Smith, and others, because they dont' turn their music into something out-of-this-world-crap.  

But everything else in the world, all these no-talented Britney's and Justin's are a disgrace to the word music itself.  

you can hate rap all you want

but the people you insult with post probably have a much higher IQ than you

some of it's crap

some of it aint

Rap makes you more stupid, psychotic, and crazy.

it has been shown to make people a bit more agressive -that is all

a person could compose a piano piece to do much the same

[Derek]

Of course rap is music. It just usually lacks the dimensions of melody and harmony.

Now I'm no expert but I'm certain there exists a fair amount of benign rap which doesn't really drag anybody down.

The overtly coarse and violent rap, I of course abhor. But not because of the style of music itself. In fact, when I listen to rap, I can see immediately why it appeals to people. Its agressive, percussive and beat oriented nature is very (immediately) gratifying. I used to like 2 Unlimited, which features benign "lets make the floor burn" dance rap over cool synth melodies.

Bottom line: Artists who say profane, violent things should be ignored.  Rap itself may be a vital medium for some genuine artists to express themselves.

Obviously even if this were the case, I do not PREFER rap and certainly do not listen to it on a regular basis. I agree, Classical music is much better in almost every way. But Rap is, at least, worthy of being called music. Just not. Music.


Now to claim that Rock is not music is really startling, I think, because in Rock there exists a vast amount of extremely well written and expressive music.

www.opeth.com

 

to anal retentive genre mavens: I know Opeth is not considered plain old "rock."

It seems like all the best popular music these days is coming out of Europe. America's popular music, rock, rap, pop, all seems to be terribly insipid.

[silvaone]

Rap is the voice

HipHop is the movement

Anyother music genre is the melody

[llamaman]

Rap is considered music, but the definition according to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, the definition for music is the following:

The art of combining vocal or instrumental (preferably both) sounds to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.

Does rap combine both vocal and instrumental sounds? Also, is rap beauty? And as for Eminem, I've never heard someone swear so many times in one song 

[i_m_robot]

the people are what matters when it comes to the meaning of words

not the dictionary

by that definition only the romantic composer made music

[galonia]

And as for Eminem, I've never heard someone swear so many times in one song 

Er - you should listen to more rap artists, then - my impression is that Eminem does not swear as much as many many other rappers.  One of my statistician friends wanted me to carry out significance testing on my hypothesis though... 

[i_m_robot]

it's true

eminem's swearing only gets more notoriety because of the taboo and emotion behind it

[musik_man]

My roomate at college watched BET all day last year.  I can  safely say that all mainstream rap sucks, and is without redeeming quality.  The preceding statement is a fact; it is not open for debate.

[Siberian Husky]

you a bboy husky?

- Silva

yeah..and if i remember correctly..i knew you way back in the day..i think we met on some bboy forum or file sharing program..we talked on AOL/AIM a few times....from what i remember..we were both newbs and you sent me some pix of you practicing hollowbacks haha..right on...

i bboyed for like...4 years..but my shoulder put me out of comission for good after several reinjuries..i miss it..i miss mighty 4..and freestyle session...and outforfame..and other local hot spots...im here in the bay CA...i never ran with any crew..but still represented for the area...never really got into the politics..just loved to dance..i remember my favorite crew being Circle of Fire from seattle..that E.T. is my idol man..still is even though i dont bust anymore...

you still dance man?

[Siberian Husky]

oh yeah..and everyone complains about the swearing...that because of you ignorant superficial asses think so self righteously about yourselves..and when listening to rap..your selective hearing keeps you fixated on what you could easily use to justify your already ignorant and uneducated notion on how rap music is garbage?...im sorry but you know nothing of music if you turn your nose up to it..having a prefferential opinion is a beautiful thing and is what sets us apart from everyone else..we are different yes...but to see all of you nit pick at every miniscule surfacing attribute that gives you foundation for slandering the music..this is the birth of PURE immaturity and lack of patience...i appreciate all music..rap..hip hop..country..jazz..reggae..classical..contemporary..new age..techno..house..funk..blues..blue grass..jazz...easy listening..metal...grunge..emo..pop...hindi..opera..popular musicals...Industrial..alternative...gangster..nursury rhymes...spoken word...accapella...from eminem to tim mgraw...to bob marley to RJD2...from binary star to Incubus to linkpin park to skinny puppy..my list goes on..and its beautiful...im very appreciative of expression...i too disagree with some music..and i too dislike listening to certain music..but NO music is rediculous to me...the ugly rap industry is just a horrible manifestation of a bueatiful world..HIP HOP.,.many of you cant distinguish between RAP and HIP HOP..and THIS is why i make these allegations on how you uneducated fools point blindly at what you dont know...but to sum my point of view up..if you dont know..then shut the f*ck up

[rob47]

well put Luis!!

I'm proud to have lost the battle to you.

[jazz_man]

What's your view on the current music in our world?  I think all the music like POP, Rock, Rap, and any other form of stupidity called music come up by music morons is all crap.  I hate listening to all this crap, yes crap.

It's an embarassment when we look at how far we humans have come, and then to see that we idolize some high-school drop out who talks about raping his mother and killing his wife and other people.

Just for the record, Rap IS NOT Music, it has never been music and never will be music.  When you have a thug saying something that only the morons in society understand, and he doesn't even sing in it, how can you call that music?

I'm just voicing my hate for Rap and all the other crap in the world, it makes me sick to turn on the TV and watch Entertainment Tonight show some high school dropout moron who's moronic CD just went Platinum.

And then you see all these wonderful and talented Pianist's, who are struggling to jump start their career after a lifetime of hard work and dedication.

It's a big downside to us as humans.

Rap makes you more stupid, psychotic, and crazy.

Piano music makes you more smart, calm and intelligent.

My choice for music is Contemporary Christian, Classical, etc. I enjoy some very talented artists like Michael W. Smith, and others, because they dont' turn their music into something out-of-this-world-crap.  

But everything else in the world, all these no-talented Britney's and Justin's are a disgrace to the word music itself.  

I have to agree with you...  all of my friends listen to that kind of music.  It's everywhere.  The radio, CD stores, TV, school dances...  It's hard to get away from it all and just relax and enjoy some classical music.   

My least favourite type of music is rap.  The lyrics make me sick.  Every time I hear it it just seems to be more swearing... more violence...

Piano music is not the only "good music", per say, I also enjoy jazz and reggae and some other types,  rap to me is just some swearing paired with violence along with music that makes no musical sense. 

[Jacey1973]

Well i also HATE rap music, classical is definitely my favourite.

But since school i've loved indie/rock my favourite bands/artists being Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, Muse, No Doubt, Bjork and lovin the new album by The Killers - it's fantastic especially the songs "Jenny was a friend of mine" (obviously written about me  ) and "On top"...Anyone else heard it?

[rob47]

let me try something new. Jazz man this isn' an attack against you.
 

My least favourite type of music is classical.  The strings make me sick.  Every time I hear it it just seems to be more slow tremolos... more boring waltez...

Rap music is not the only "good music", per say, I also enjoy deathmetal and techno and some other types,  classical to me is just background music paired with a occasional solos along with music that leaves me sound asleep.

[Torp]

Is it too late to learn to appreciate Rap and Hip Hop?  Or better yet, am I too old to appreciate the nuances that make them separate genres?

I ask in all seriousness.  My musical tastes grew out of the 80's hair bands and into the progressive rock scene of today.  I have often been intrigued by the rhythms and the message of rap/hip hop (combined b/c I'm not smart enough to know the difference) but have never been exposed to it for various cultural reasons.

Any recommended starters?  Why?  What should I look for in the music/message etc.?

I would say my musical opinions are much like SH's.  There is much that I may not "like" but I believe it all has validity as a means of expression.  And listening intently to that expression can develop empathy for the life that created it.

Jef

[silvaone]

yeah..and if i remember correctly..i knew you way back in the day..i think we met on some bboy forum or file sharing program..we talked on AOL/AIM a few times....from what i remember..we were both newbs and you sent me some pix of you practicing hollowbacks haha..right on...

i bboyed for like...4 years..but my shoulder put me out of comission for good after several reinjuries..i miss it..i miss mighty 4..and freestyle session...and outforfame..and other local hot spots...im here in the bay CA...i never ran with any crew..but still represented for the area...never really got into the politics..just loved to dance..i remember my favorite crew being Circle of Fire from seattle..that E.T. is my idol man..still is even though i dont bust anymore...

you still dance man?

hey man thats mad - the internet is a small place afterall sorry to hear about your shoulder bro its a sad loss when a bboy gets an injury so bad they stop dancing, its like HipHop lost a soul...... hope one day you are able to take it up again man

yea Im still dancing occassionally, got alot better hope since we last spoke on AIM (Im on broadband now - have been for about 3 years I think) I been real busy lately with exams and everything so havnt had time to train.

will get back into it soon enough I hope

take care of yourself

pz

- Silva

[ako]

Is it too late to learn to appreciate Rap and Hip Hop?  Or better yet, am I too old to appreciate the nuances that make them separate genres?

I ask in all seriousness.  My musical tastes grew out of the 80's hair bands and into the progressive rock scene of today.  I have often been intrigued by the rhythms and the message of rap/hip hop (combined b/c I'm not smart enough to know the difference) but have never been exposed to it for various cultural reasons.

Any recommended starters?  Why?  What should I look for in the music/message etc.?

I would say my musical opinions are much like SH's.  There is much that I may not "like" but I believe it all has validity as a means of expression.  And listening intently to that expression can develop empathy for the life that created it.

Jef

I'm taking secondary education courses at my local university. The professor for the course titled "Literacy Across Content Area" is a researcher on how to use popular culture (esp. hip hop) to aid in teaching secondary students different subjects like reading, writing, math, science, etc. This is the first time that I've been exposed to hip hop and what it is all about. According to my professor, there are 4 components of hip hop: dance, rap, DJ and graffiti. When a person decides to do hip hop, s/he usually do all 4 components. It's rare for a person to just do rap... of course, one can be better or prefer to do one than the other. If you want to learn more about it, try looking for courses at your local universities under popular culture.

When I learned more about hip hop's history and background, I find all my previous prejudices against it gone. It is the form of expression of an entire culture and I respect that no matter what my musical taste is.

[dlu]

I've really given up on having opinions...just spawns three page threads that go nowhere...

You don't like rap music?...don't listen to it...

If that is what mainstream popular culture likes...get over it...

Listen, appreciate, and play the type of music that you like...tHe EnD

There is no point in arguing about these things...

DLu

[Torp]

I'm taking secondary education courses at my local university. The professor for the course titled "Literacy Across Content Area" is a researcher on how to use popular culture (esp. hip hop) to aid in teaching secondary students different subjects like reading, writing, math, science, etc. This is the first time that I've been exposed to hip hop and what it is all about. According to my professor, there are 4 components of hip hop: dance, rap, DJ and graffiti. When a person decides to do hip hop, s/he usually do all 4 components. It's rare for a person to just do rap... of course, one can be better or prefer to do one than the other. If you want to learn more about it, try looking for courses at your local universities under popular culture.

When I learned more about hip hop's history and background, I find all my previous prejudices against it gone. It is the form of expression of an entire culture and I respect that no matter what my musical taste is.

Thanks for the reply.  Does your class use any type of text book or source material that covers the history and background?

I do find it interesting that many people on this thread have talked about Rap and Hip Hop as distinctly different genres, but your class is indicating that Rap is merely a subset of the larger Hip Hop genre.

[silvaone]

I'm taking secondary education courses at my local university. The professor for the course When a person decides to do hip hop, s/he usually do all 4 components.

I would disagree, as a member of the hiphop culture I know first hand many people only take part in one or two elements of the culture really, rarely does one person contribute to all four elements

hey but, cool class anyway :p

- Silva

[Siberian Husky]

yeah nice class


but 4 components?..this is a nice broad view..but if you want to get in depth..theres also street poetry..spoken word..there are several TYPES of dances..boogaloo..poppin, lockin, and the infamous "breakdancing" or bboyin...Dj's can range from house DJs to old school hip hop DJs..afrika bambaataa was one DJ who really hazed the solid lines between hip hop culture music...MCing..or better known as "rapping"..can be from battles..to freestyles..to spoken words..to music writing..mind you..a freestyler and a music making MC are two different styles and worlds than can sometimes be meshed together...



ahhh..its a vast world out there..hip hop that is..its just so sad that people are so stuck up and ignorant to allow the media to spoonfeed them what things are like....AKA Eminem and 50 cent..

[mikeyg]

Retards
Attempting
Poetry