Is Rap art?
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Rap is a genre of music, and thus art.
The problem with it is that 98% of what is commonly considered "rap" is not music. It's someone talking with a beat going in the background.
When the lyrics mesh with the beat, and the combination serves to heighten the experience, then yes, it's art, and sometimes damn good art.
Unfortunately, I've yet to hear any rap that qualifies for that.
The problem with it is that 98% of what is commonly considered "rap" is not music. It's someone talking with a beat going in the background.
When the lyrics mesh with the beat, and the combination serves to heighten the experience, then yes, it's art, and sometimes damn good art.
Unfortunately, I've yet to hear any rap that qualifies for that.
This. I haven't found a decent rock song on the radio in years, so I would hardly expect anyone to find good rap songs on the radio.Fightgarr said:
Though truthfully, a lot of the good stuff is old today. Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco are alright rappers, but both do make a bunch of garbage songs with a few gems in between (why the hell am I always hearing "Stronger"? That isn't even close to the best song in that album.)
That being said, I am a huge Black Star fan even though they only released one album together and that was about ten years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiNwTL0HQRI Respiration feat. Common
Yes. Problem is rap has too many wannabes who only rely on stereotype and catch phrases instead of actually making good stuff.
Get Rich Without Trying. That's rap. But that's also every media fad that people capitalize on. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel if rap decides to have more 'rap ARTISTS' in the mix.
And you don't stop.
Get Rich Without Trying. That's rap. But that's also every media fad that people capitalize on. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel if rap decides to have more 'rap ARTISTS' in the mix.
And you don't stop.
Fair comment. I'm one of those people who honestly believe that there are more talented artists out there than there are mainstream entertainers.NoMoreSanity said:
Because what you see are the Lil Wayne's, the Soulja Boy's, the 50 cent's, most people assume that's what Rap has to offer, when they only count for one or two out of the 41 sub genres of hip hop music.
I also think that there are a few better rappers out there in the mainstream than Eminem. He started off really good, but the talent has been wasted somewhat with the 'ass like that' songs among others. But either way, a great deal of mainstream rap is bad art, yes, I'll have to agree.
I agree with everything you said except for Lupe Fiasco. I personally don't think I have heard a bad song from him so far on either of his albums (except maybe 'the coolest')and I think he's also a lot better than Kanye West. I like the fact that his content is somewhat eccentric.YuheJi said:
I also think that the problem with telling people about rock in the exact same respect they are talking about hip hop is they have grown with rock. They subconsciously ignore the crap the way we do, but then turn around and say '99% of rap sucks' when we know that's bullshit, technically we could say the exact same thing.
And it doesn't help their case when the best examples people can come up with are either bands from 40 years ago or one or System of a Down/Disturbed.
Personally, I hold graffiti as a higher art form than I do rap. Graffiti at least you can end up with something pleasant to see. But I digress.Warwolt said:
I do not consider rap an art form because it's literally trying to be a modern-day Shakespere with redundant bass lines. However, unlike the eternal bard, there's no thought process, it's all "give me whatever I want now."
I've always thought that art means to elicit strong emotional responses in people. And seeing how many people who have posted in this thread have a vitriol hatred of rap, I can't say that rap is not art.
^ This - Nowadays the cRAP we get from America is about that and only that. It's not art!nathan-dts said:
I'd rather say I'm on a boat Ft. T-Pain is more art that! Not that I hate that song, It's funny!
What are you calling rap?
Is Run DMC rap? Hip-hop, I'd say.
Is Tupac rap? I'd say so, honestly.
Is Grandmaster Flash rap or Hip-hop? I'd say hip-hop.
It really depends what you call what. Generally, the music I would call art tends to be Hip-hop.
A lot of rap is 'bad' as it's mentioned.
As hip-hop progressed to that shit I don't like...then, well, yeah. I just listen to old stuff now.
Is Run DMC rap? Hip-hop, I'd say.
Is Tupac rap? I'd say so, honestly.
Is Grandmaster Flash rap or Hip-hop? I'd say hip-hop.
It really depends what you call what. Generally, the music I would call art tends to be Hip-hop.
A lot of rap is 'bad' as it's mentioned.
As hip-hop progressed to that shit I don't like...then, well, yeah. I just listen to old stuff now.
Speaking as a popular music student and a particular fan of rap (although a player of jazz, funk, rock, metal and fusion) it is indeed art.
It is the musical form of a vast cultural phenomenon, that of hip-hop. When "rap" and "art" are mentioned, Run-DMC spring to mind; they achieved things musically and socially off the charts.
Gangster Rap is art, but perhaps less valid; it is social exploitation. They are playing to a mass demographic, playing on stereotypes. There is no apparent intent to further music as an art form in itself, but you have to remember that music for music's sake is recent in terms of the grand scheme of things; music began as and will always primarily be a social activity, and in terms of a social activity, even the degrading, basic gangster rap fulfils its function.
...But jazz is better
EDIT: after reading some of the terminology used in this thread:
"hip-hop" was originally the name of the subculture arising in The Bronx involving b-boy and MCing. Later it came into use for the musical side of things.
"rapping" was originally a verb, the vocal style used by the MCs who rapped over the DJ mixes. Society adopted it also as a name for the musical side of things, so the two are fairly interchangeable, but I see it as more fundamentally true to the nature of hip-hop to deem things which are close to the center of the subculture (authentic rap, and other less exploitative activities like breakdancing) as hip-hop, and rap as more of a musical offspring, for example, gangster rap came out of hip-hop culture.
It is the musical form of a vast cultural phenomenon, that of hip-hop. When "rap" and "art" are mentioned, Run-DMC spring to mind; they achieved things musically and socially off the charts.
Gangster Rap is art, but perhaps less valid; it is social exploitation. They are playing to a mass demographic, playing on stereotypes. There is no apparent intent to further music as an art form in itself, but you have to remember that music for music's sake is recent in terms of the grand scheme of things; music began as and will always primarily be a social activity, and in terms of a social activity, even the degrading, basic gangster rap fulfils its function.
...But jazz is better
EDIT: after reading some of the terminology used in this thread:
"hip-hop" was originally the name of the subculture arising in The Bronx involving b-boy and MCing. Later it came into use for the musical side of things.
"rapping" was originally a verb, the vocal style used by the MCs who rapped over the DJ mixes. Society adopted it also as a name for the musical side of things, so the two are fairly interchangeable, but I see it as more fundamentally true to the nature of hip-hop to deem things which are close to the center of the subculture (authentic rap, and other less exploitative activities like breakdancing) as hip-hop, and rap as more of a musical offspring, for example, gangster rap came out of hip-hop culture.