Is Rap Music Really Music?

[Good morning blues]

I used to say a similar thing. Then I listened to rap.

 

[Ryujisama]

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

^ This.

Honestly, I'm getting tired of all the butthurt people get when they claim Rap isn't music, but then turn around and mindlessly bang their heads to a guy screaming at the top of his lungs while some douche repeatedly hits a drum with his drumsticks as fast as humanly possible. On the other side, I can't say the same for the morons who claim rock/metal is mindless noise, and then pop in the last CD with a rapper with the word "Lil" in his/her name. It's all about extremes, guys. There are those who are good at what they do in the musical field they are in, and there are those who are simply in it because it sells.

The problem here is that the ones who are in it for the money are the ones with the most promotion, and thus are the ones that are heard the most, while the ones with some skill are pushed aside and must be sought out in order to hear them. Personally, I can remember a time when Rap actually served a purpose. It was a music that got people involved in their communities. Got them to open their eyes to what they themselves were doing to each other or were letting happen to one another. Rap used to start movements and revolutions. Sad the same thing can't be said these days. Still, don't count out Rap just because you only heard what's popular on the radio. Search through the classics. Who knows, you may find a gem amongst all the trash.

 

[Humble85]

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.

Music is not necessarily melody. Music can be without melody. The rhytmical delivery of Rap makes it music.

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, you have to tell me how a social message is a prerequisite to being "music"? I agree that Kesha should be pushed off a cliff, but what she makes is (obnoxious) music.

 

[tthor]

some rap music is music, however some rap are very lazy in that they are little more than some guy talking about random shit while music plays in the background. I don't hate all rap, just most of it (their are some rap songs/bands i really like, especially Japanese rap)

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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.

I love that song. something about it just seems so sad, it sounds like a person who can't come to terms with reality

 

[Harlemura]

I don't usually listen to rap music. Like, ever. But if it's included in funnies, I hear some. And as such...
Just a heads up, these lyrics may offend you. Yes, Alice in Wonderland may offend you. I hope your ashamed.
Hark? What's that I hear between the lyrics? It's definitely something... Oh, that's right, it's music.

 

[The Rockerfly]

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.

I think you have a lot of grit against some music but you are really directing it at the wrong target. What you want to do is direct it to auto tune, allowing idiots to become singers as long as they are reasonably good looking. However it comes with the set back of having moronic lyrics, musicians having no talent and they sound shit live.

Rap uses a lot of auto tune however so does pop

All music is very different in the last few years. With the increased amount of TVs per household, teenage magazines, internet providing instant access so the musicians have to be good looking. In the 80's there were some really ugly buggers at the top of the charts because all they could do was listen to that person. Now they have to be marketable and make money for large record companies.
Rock has changed since the 80's too, it's not just rap that has changed. Music has been mutilated to be as fake and money making as possible

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.

What about Nirvana? A lot of his songs had no change in melody and he literally spoke with the chord, his best example being teenage spirit

 

[MoD1212]

Come on now...
this still can't be popping up in message boards still.

Look i could sit here for a hour and list off all the smart non-gangsta/non-pop rappers out there

Or write a paragraph about how the the passion and the message that "REAL"MC's send is the kinda of stuff most genres today need more off

Or about Hip-hop's origin in everything from African folk to blues to spoken word to disco

but then i figure if you don't care to take the time to youtube ANYONE other than Lil wayne or some other B.s candy ass rapper then y should i take the time to explain it

I'm just going to continue listening to Lupe Fiasco, Aesop Rock, Mos Def, MF Doom, Atmosphere. or Nas
And enjoy my MUSIC in peace

 

[AvitaDeva]

When rappers rap they tend to have a pacing this pacing is based upon the instruments in the background if they keep in sync with this you create a sort of tune which can be some thing a kin to chanting...but at the end of the day your definition of music is simply your opinion...

Jean-Jacques Nattiez summarizes the relativist, post-modern viewpoint: "The border between music and noise is always culturally defined?which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus ... By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be."

that implies that any thing can be dubbed not music...

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

*sigh*

Yes, rap is music. It has actual rhythm, melody, and instruments.(admittedly, you know, computerized or whatever, but so is the soundtrack to "Inception". Is that not music, either?) Just because people "talk fast" in it, that doesn't mean it's any less valid as music. That doesn't even make sense. It's like saying that "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith isn't music because they sing very slowly. Do the lyrics generally suck? Yes. Are most rappers usually douchebags? Absolutely.(and i actually LIKE rap) But that doesn't mean rap isn't music.

I mean, I hate Twilight, but I acknowledge that it's a film and book. I don't get it.

 

[tthor]

*sigh*

Yes, rap is music. It has actual rhythm, melody, and instruments.(admittedly, you know, computerized or whatever, but so is the soundtrack to "Inception". Is that not music, either?) Just because people "talk fast" in it, that doesn't mean it's any less valid as music. That doesn't even make sense. It's like saying that "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith isn't music because they sing very slowly. Do the lyrics generally suck? Yes. Are most rappers usually douchebags? Absolutely.(and i actually LIKE rap) But that doesn't mean rap isn't music.

I mean, I hate Twilight, but I acknowledge that it's a film and book. I don't get it.

i think that a lot of rap Is infact music, however, some rap, moreso in recent years, tend to have little/no rhythm or melody in the vocals, it just feels like its just some guy talking about random stuff while music plays in the background. some rap I love, but some rap just seems like really lazy composing

 

[Claptrap]

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.

Pretty much this.

I don't listen to rap, But just because i don't like it doesn't mean it's not music.


I mean, I don't like metal, does that mean that metal isn't music?

 

[silasbufu]

It would seem obvious for any rap fan to tell you right now that "you have had a limited experience with rap music, so you don't know what you're talking about", and as much as I would like to be original in this post, I can't find a better answer. You don't know what you're talking about, and it's obvious.

 

[AvitaDeva]

lol Twilight has a terrible narrative and character growth is virtually nonexistent and thus it is not a book...same argument here so hell it has to make sense *Sigh* if you don't like rap music that is one thing but you can not deny it's status as a musical genre that is ludachris na move ***** get out da way lol

 

[blankedboy]

It is. Sadly. It's definitely my least favourite genre, but it's still definitely music.
And as for people who say ALL NEW MUSIC IS SHIIIIIIT, listen to this:


10 minutes of pure win.
Best part starts just before 5 minutes in my opinion....

 

[kestral]

When rappers rap they tend to have a pacing this pacing is based upon the instruments in the background if they keep in sync with this you create a sort of tune which can be some thing a kin to chanting...but at the end of the day your definition of music is simply your opinion...

Jean-Jacques Nattiez summarizes the relativist, post-modern viewpoint: "The border between music and noise is always culturally defined?which implies that, even within a single society, this border does not always pass through the same place; in short, there is rarely a consensus ... By all accounts there is no single and intercultural universal concept defining what music might be."

that implies that any thing can be dubbed not music...

Aaaaaand we can end the thread on that note, ladies and gentlemen.

 

[MoD1212]

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.

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.

If u looking for rappers with real messages that are still currently putting out MUSIC
you still have plenty of choices
Lupe Fiasco
J Cole
Aesop rock
Jay electronica
Jurassic 5
Mos DEF

and I'm going out on a limb here guessing you never rapped before but..
try rapping over a beat that someone has already put lyrics too
unless u wanna sound like a idiot on the mic you need to be able to at least keep a beat, you know like a tempo with a usually 4/4 measure count, with breaks and pauses and chorus and bridges and the better rappers also use musically techniques like crescendos(see Nas's One Mic for example)

There is no arguement rap is music,
rock is music
country is music
even cookie cutter shit pop music(rap/rock/singing or other) is music
whether you like it or find merit is all up to you

 

[badgersprite]

Yes. Absolutely. Just because you aren't hearing a lot of good stuff right now doesn't mean that there isn't some great rap to be had. Come listen to some old school beats and chillax with me.

 

[General_Potatoes]

Well I don't like listening to Rap but Cypress hill made a bit of a difference to my idea of it. But still its Heavy metal All the way

 

[Jekken6]

It's music, I just don't like a large majority of it.