Poll: The Escapist's perception of rap music

[Lordmarkus]

I only like the Rap from the gangsta era, late 80's/early 90's. NWA, Public Enemy etc for the reason that the beats really feel in your gut and the lyrics aren't to shabby.

Todays emulsion of Rap and pop into beatpop are really sad.

I'm glad so many people here seem to enjoy Rapper's Delight as I do.

No one forgets the best bass line in music history.

 

[AWDMANOUT]

A good 95-99% of rap I find annoying and aggravated. The other tiny percentage is the Linkin Park songs with Jay-Z or whoever in them. Those are pretty cool.

 

[Vitor Goncalves]

I am a geek. I will get that out of the way first. Everybody I know knows I am a geek - I am not shy about it.

This for some reason makes it surprising when people learn my favourite type of music is Rap/Hip Hop/Urban. Apparently being a geek and liking rap doesn't happen. When I ask what they expected me to like, nobody has ever given me a straight answer.

I understand why many people think it is crass:

"Im soaking it all up, while your girls sucking me" - An Immortal line from Lloyd Banks
"I don't mean to be pushy pushy, I'm just in it for the p**** p****" - An awe-inspiring line from N-Dubz

But some urban songs have some quite deep lyrics

"Let's dance in style,Let's dance for a while,
Heaven can wait we're only watching the skies"

Jay-Z ft. Mr Hudson

So I wanted to know what your opinion is of rap music and why, and if you have shared any experiences like mine.

Any self rescpecting geek likes at least one kind of metal.

And those lyrics are originally from alphaville ("Forever Young"), early 80's song.

 

[Strykz]

I voted it's all rubbish which I doubt, but everything I've heard (probably mainstream shit) has been bad/terrible.

 

[Ponch]

As my high school Geometry teacher was fond of saying: "You can't spell crap without rap/"

But I feel that newer, I guess modern rap has mostly lost it's way. Now people seem to only want to get paid instead of doing it for the music. As I explained to a friend while watching NOTORIOUS, it used to be about talent, whereas now anyone with a demo and some tats can get signed. (We were actually talking about why Biggie was always able to find a new chick to bang, but the principle is the same.)

 

[Dok Zombie]

So, the whole "geek + rap" thing is confusing. As geeks typically "like, read too far into things."

Tell that to MC Chris.

 

[Azaradel]

I guess there's some of it that isn't entirely awful, but yeah... I pretty much think all of it is absolute garbage.

 

[Nazulu]

Can't answer the pole. It was really good for about 20 years but these days everything is bland and weak.

 

[Cody211282]

I do have to say that I dislike the genre as a whole, but there are a few songs I enjoy and have on my Zune, best example is Right Round I don't know why but I like it.

 

[Actual]

 

[JWW]

Terrible lyrics (usually); great beats. Not the best genre.

 

[Junkle]

I don't really like it, but there are times where it fits. I just hate the stupid stuff, which is all anyone in my dorm seems to play.

 

[Caligulove]

Just a matter of finding real Rap music.

The stuff you see thats saturated these days isnt real rap. That shit is rubbish.

When you find real rap that focuses on free-form, lyrics and little to no musical accompaniment, then you see how brilliant it can be. The crap in music is always replaced by the new crap, the good stuff is always around though.

 

[ddq5]

I like Eminem, Dr. Dre, Tupac, and a few others. Can't get enough of Baby Got Back and Ice Ice Baby, but for completely different reasons.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

The mainstream stuff is absolute crap. I know I sound like a hipster, but it's true. The most mainstream I'll go is Jurassic 5. Most of the underground stuff that focuses on writing intelligent lyrics and even some of the stupid lyrics like Ivan Ives are great.

But have you seen the iTunes top charts list? It's saddening, really.

 

[SodaDew]

I mostly like Hard and classic rock, but i like some rap; ill listen to Eminem

 

[RanD00M]

Most of the rap that I have heard is bad.But there are some rappers/rap bands that I like.I am quite fond of Jay-Z and Flobots.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I'm far from a rap fan, and I do think a lot of it is trash, but I won't deny there are certain artists/songs I do enjoy.

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

Like every other genre of music; what's popular is rarely what's good, I mean, that's like saying Nickelback is the greatest rock band. To answer the question, yes I love rap and hip-hop but my nerdy demeanor seems to conflict with this too. Just yesterday a friend of mine burst out laughing when I told him I was listening to NWA.