Is Rap Music Really Music?

[DiMono]

I say no. I define music very simply as something having a musical melody. Sung, played, strummed, doesn't matter, as long as it's present. Speaking quickly does not a melody make. Thus rap isn't music.

Which is not to say there's no rap out there worth listening to; on the contrary, some is both worthwhile and socially relevant. However, when the vast majority of it is about how cool it is to be a criminal, or to have hot bitches and big TVs, I think society as a whole can do without that.

Clarification edit: I'm not saying rap is bad or not worth listening to, in fact I'm quite fond of quite a bit of it. All I'm saying is that it shouldn't be classified as music, it should be classified as something else that's similar but different.

Topical edit: The conversation seems to have evolved to a general "what makes music music?" discussion, picking up on page 6.

 

[Wolfenbarg]

Uh? Raps are made based on beats, but many songs... many of the BEST songs in rap are accentuated by strong melodies. Just because you have limited experience with rap doesn't mean it's bad. It isn't all bitches and shootings, there are raps that tell tragic and triumphant stories, or mix familiar sounds in a way we haven't heard before.

You can have similar misconceptions about other music. Take metal for instance... I can be ignorant and state that I hate it because it's all growling and strumming or beating nonsensically with no rhyme or reason. But that is such a broad generalization that is weeds out a lot of what metal is about... it removes things that are both beautiful and heavy like symphonic metal and so on.

 

[TeeBs]

Oh bantering on about preconceived notions about something I haven't taken the time to understand, but oh I yearn to feel superior so I banter on.

I too used to think rap wasn't music, and still today its not my favorite form of music, But my god their is a point when you just have to suck it up and understand that just because you don't like something doesn't mean you need to demeanor it. In a way Rap is just Urban Folk music.

 

[unicron44]

Is it. Rap, from what I understand, stands for Rhythm and Poetry and I've noticed it's just slowed down disco (well really early rap like this:



In my opinion, which doesn't matter probably, dance floor music like Kesha I think isn't music. But all music we probably hate we think isn't real music.

 

[Kimarous]

Rap music is an oxymoron.

In all seriousness, though, I rarely consider rap to be "music", per se. It's more like "awkward rhymes with background instrumentation" to me, assuming they even succeed in the rhyming sense.

 

[Bon_Clay]

I say yes and I don't listen to any rap. Most of the stuff you get exposed to as someone who isn't interested in rap is going to be shit like Lil Wayne. Stuff with lyrics that make you think the person is legitimately mentally disabled. But that just means that person sucks, not the genre.

It is quite possible to still make good rap songs, and even the ones that aren't are still music. Just really bad music.

 

[Matrixbeast]

Rap is music.
And aside from some gangster and underground rap songs, I rarely hear about how 'cool it is to be a criminal.' Don't let your preconceived notions cloud your mind. Because if so, I'd think metal was all about being loud and obnoxious because my first couple experiences with it didn't go so well. You should listen to some good rap songs before you make such an accusation, because from the sounds of it, you've probably never listened to a full rap song before. :\
If all that screamer junk gets to be called music, rap does as well

 

[AvitaDeva]

This topic is so old it's ridiculous...people whom do not listen to rap and are not familiar with the hip hop and rmb movement should just leave it alone because it has connections to black culture and identity...

Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the artist speaks lyrically, in rhyme and verse, generally to an instrumental or synthesized beat. Beats, almost always in 4/4 time signature, can be created by sampling and/or sequencing portions of other songs by a producer.[2] They also incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands. Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a cappella or to a beat.

The roots of hip hop are found in African-American music and ultimately African music. The griots of West Africa are a group of traveling singers and poets who are part of an oral tradition dating back hundreds of years. Their vocal style is similar to that of rappers.[7] The African-American traditions of signifyin', the dozens, and jazz poetry are all descended from the griots. In addition, musical 'comedy' acts such as Rudy Ray Moore and Blowfly are considered by some to be the forefathers of rap.


take like three seconds to read some thing before you voice your opinion it makes you sound informed...

 

[x0ny]

It is music, the only difference is they're not singing with or to the melody.

 

[Woodsey]

Speaking quickly is somehow less valid than elongating words, is it?

Of course it's music. It has a rhythm and it's lyric-based.

 

[smithy_2045]

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it isn't music.

 

[Humble85]

Music is an art form whose medium is sound. Common elements of music are pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture.

All of those elements are commonly found in Rap, therefore I it's music. Its governed by the same principals as other songs. Theres just nobody singing, only someone speaking rhytmically.

 

[The Rockerfly]

*bangs head on a table*

You might not like it, you might think it's bad music but it is still music. It's not even that bad, you want hear bad?
Go to youtube
Search John Cage
Listen to a few of his writings

I say no. I define music very simply as something having a musical melody. Sung, played, strummed, doesn't matter, as long as it's present. Speaking quickly does not a melody make. Thus rap isn't music.

Even rappers that keep a consistent note is still music. However most don't, there are dynamics, pitch and rhythm. It is a simplistic writing style but it's still music. I think you need to get off your high horse and actually have a proper look at rap music, not just through what the media present you with

Which is not to say there's no rap out there worth listening to; on the contrary, some is both worthwhile and socially relevant. However, when the vast majority of it is about how cool it is to be a criminal, or to have hot bitches and big TVs, I think society as a whole can do without that.

The majority of it isn't like that. The only stuff that is like that is on MTV (or something similar) and if you honestly go to those sorts of places for any music at all you should be ashamed

Rap is the words of street. Search up Flobots, Cyne, immortal technique and Ice Cube. All of them are very political, very outspoken, use a good range of musical talent and blow any argument you had out of the water

 

[bl4ckh4wk64]

You can't spell "crap" without "rap." That is all.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Spoiler: Here's me proving you wrong.

Rock AND Rap
Next lot will be the greatest Rap artist ever in my opinion.
And Is this rap? Because it's the first modern song I have loved in a LONG time.

Calumon: I thought it was the street telling poetry? Then again, it always was kinda quiet.

 

[AvitaDeva]

And i tip my hat to The Rokerfly thank you for being informed and mentioning the Flobots they are a fantastic act and i challenge any one whom listens to them to tell me that they are not creating music.

 

[Zechnophobe]

Rap is often music. listen to most any rap. Isn't there instrumental, tonal accompaniment? Sure, the vocals might not be, but neither is the drum necessarily tonal. Does music that includes drums not qualify as music?

Music obviously doesn't require a singer. This is clear. If you have singer-less music, and then put a rapper over it, does it cease being music?

 

[DiMono]

​

Please give me a little more credit than that; of course I've listened to rap, otherwise I wouldn't have an opinion on it. Eminem's first two CDs were awesome (I haven't heard much of his work after them), I like Will Smith, and groups like Run DMC, Public Enemy and Beastie Boys are among my favoured in the genre. I'm also a huge fan of The Flobots' Handlebars, and I can't stress enough how important Tupac was.

That doesn't change my observation that in recent years, rap has generally abandoned the qualities and social messages that existed when Run DMC and the like were prominent. Tell me how "move *****, get out tha way" has a social message. Also Kesha (I refuse to use the dollar sign in a name) needs to die in a fire; "singing" about nothing but drinking and being a whore is no better.

Message aside though, if the lead voice (be it vocal or instrumental) isn't melodic, then it's not music, it's words being spoken with musical backing. There's a difference. Like I said, I'm not condemning rap as not being worth listening to, I'm just saying it's not music, it's something else.