Poll: The Escapist's perception of rap music

[Wintermoot]

its mostly about someguy being insanly rich and slapping hoe,s

 

[RedDeadFred]

Flo-rida is pretty awesome.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Well, in general, rap is pure masturbation. Insecure homophobic misogynistic teenage power fantasy set to "phat beats."

You realize this after any amount of analysis.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2ICdCJNaKI
And if there's crack in a basement
Crack heads stand adjacent
Anger displacement
Two step arangements
You were a still born baby
Mother didn't want you, but you were still born
Boy meets world, of course his pops is gone
What you figure?
That chalky outline on the ground is a father figure?
So he steps to the next stencil, that's a hustler
Infested with money and diamond cluster
Lets talk in laymen terms
Rotten apples and big worms
Early birds and poachers
New York is evil at it's core, so those who have more than them
Prepare to be victims.
Ate up by vultures, the politicians,
In a dog eat dog culture, that'll sick 'em.
Lack of mineral, we take it personal,
A pigeon can't drop shit if it never flew.
Every day is no frills, empty krills
Broken 40 bottles and MC's with skills.
I rest my head on 115
But miracles only happen on 34th, so I guess life is mean.
And death is the median.
And purgatory is the mode that we settle in.
"No doubt."
I've got that Eve's Bayou sense of touch
So I fought, to touch every hand of a fan to read their thoughts
Battered wives, molested children
Roaches on the floor, rats in the ceiling
Cats walk around New York with two fillin's
One is in their mouth the other, does the killin'
I'm Vast Air, Kramer, top billin'
- Cannibal Ox, "Iron Galaxy."
Please, don't loudly exclaim blind generalizations on subjects you know absolutely nothing about.

One case study does not refute a stereotype, my friend. Even this is not particularly interesting to me, personally. I don't listen to most music for lyrical content anyway, it's more about a cool drum part, neat bassline, or sweet guitar riff. However, I like Clutch's lyrical word play and imagery.

 

[Kyber]

Some Rap is good, some Rap is bad

 

[MelziGurl]

Lyrics are the big annoyance for me when it comes down to most rap songs. As it's been pointed out, most songs are made up of ridiculous lyrics. Though provide something decent and meaningful and I tend to like it.

 

[MONSTERheart]

You can't go wrong with the smooth, aural sensations presented by the lyrical masters of classic rap and hip hop, those being V Ice, Niggaz With Attitude, Wu-Tang, and all the old school boys. I listen to some Lil' Wayne and his voice sounds like his air pipe is covered in cocaine powder. Old school > modern.

 

[4000quails]

You hardly do credit to your point by posting that drivel...

That set of lyrics completely fails to tell any kind of story. It was just a bunch of sentences loosely strung together which only make sense when preceeded by something that had a similar theme. Kind of like a word association game, but with words that make the rapper sound all dark and edgy...

Not impressed...

I admire a good rappers ability to tell a story with direction and purpose (Eminem's Stan for eg). But no matter what the theme of the song, if it doesn't make sense, it's probably just a load of meaningless crap.

That is, by far, the stupidest thing I have heard today.
And I just read a bunch of comments on Yahoo News.
Cannibal Ox do have a great deal of form and an entirely original poetic style. Poetry doesn't mean "storytelling time," and not everything has to have a sense of direction or purpose (not saying that Can O don't, but still, learn your art history). Innovation is far more important than how wonderful it reads, and Cannibal Ox is in many ways innovative. Have you listened to their production style? It's very gritty, and the use of samples and the beats are masterful and often polyrhythmic. The entire label of Anticon prides itself on its extremely experimental approach to the hip-hop genre, and cLOUDDEAD, no matter how elitistic they may be, do things very differently. It's a subjective matter, but you still have to respect when somebody does something different, otherwise you don't really care a whole lot about art.

One case study does not refute a stereotype, my friend.

Yes it does. A stereotype is a conventional, formulaic, or oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. That leaves no room for dissent in its intent. If it is just that much, a simple explanation (in this case, being: "all rap music is unintelligent"), then it must ALWAYS hold to that standard, otherwise it is refuted. If we both agree upon this definition, then you can agree that the stereotype is refuted. Cannibal Ox show creative process and intelligence in their act, so they can not be unintelligent. Therefore, holding that stereotype as a looking glass is flawed and illogical, unless you want to hold a statistical analysis of the stereotype. You would have to take a very wide sample, then, of that base material, and determine if it is illogical, then leaving room for experimental error: Because the music genre is millions strong, you would have to get a proportional sample, which I doubt that most are willing to provide. So, for all intents and purpose, yes, one case study does refute a DIRECT stereotype, and one hundred case studies refute a statistical stereotype. Because there are record labels like Anticon devoted to refuting the stereotype that rap music is unintelligent and succeeding due to the intense creative process that is required for their innovation (see: cLOUDDEAD), you could simply take them into account and use that as a ground for your belief, but you would STILL have to hold it to experimental error and proportional difference.
In short, leave music criticism to those who are unsettingly obsessed with music.

 

[Spinozaad]

The mainstream is rubbish.

However, artists like Mos Def, Scroobius Pip, Jurassic Five and Del tha Funkee Homosapien and many, many others are brilliant artists.

So a lot of it, is actually quite good.

*edit addendum*

If you equate all hiphop/rap with the mainstream stereotype, that's fine. Don't go berserk when I claim that all metal is made by long haired men in leather pants, screaming about silly fantasy while enjoying a sweaty, manly moshpit that can adequately be described as 'homoerotic'.

Yes, I went there. Not to flame, but to put opinions into perspective.

 

[TheEvilGenius]

The rap music my friends listen to is just garbage. They like Lil wayne and all those other dumbasses that can only rap about weed, bitches and money. I mostly listen to industrial and metal, but I do like rappers like Lupe Fiasco, Little Brother and most of the Wu-tang clan, they actually show talent and have real messages in their lyrics.

She said that she would give me greatness
status, placement above the others my face would grace
Covers of the magazines of the hustlers paper
the likes of which that I had never seen
her eyes glow green with the logo of our dreams
the purpose of our scene
an obscene obsession for the bling
- Lupe Fiasco; The Coolest

Why the fuck does it take 3 pages for someone to mention the guy who is arguably one of the best story-tellers in hip-hop?

I like G-Rap. Jadakiss, BIG, Lloyd Banks, Eminem to name a few. I don't listen to the radio cause it's loaded with monotonous samey bullshit music. Lil Wayne needs to die or lose his voice, Souljah Boi needs to learn how to spell and then fuck off that's just to name a few of several (dozen) artists (loosely used term) that I can't stand.

 

[ShakerSilver]

Meh. I don't like most of it. Especially all those ones about "Guns, hoes, boos, crime," etc. I heard that there is some good ones, but I don't think I'd be looking into it anytime soon.

 

[A_Parked_Car]

I don't really super enjoy it except on occasion, but rap has its place and I respect it.

 

[Evil the White]

When the music has a meaning to it, or it was written for a purpose, rather than say, written to show off how much money the rapper has, hen it's fine with me.

 

[GreatVladmir]

Nowa days its mostly crap, but with some superb albums in the past, its occasionally brilliant.

Classices like NaS, N.W.A., Cypress Hill, Wu Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, Yupac and Eminem make Rap and are some of the best lyricists ever.

Whilst shit like Fiddy Cent, G unit, D12, Mc Hammer, Lloyd Banks, Lil' Wayne and late Eminem give rap a bad name.

MC Hammer? How can you say MC Hammer gives rap a bad name?

Anyhooo, I don't particulary mind rap, the new stuff isn't as good as the old stuff (I maintain Slick Rick - Children's Story is one of the best hip-hop songs ever made) but as with all music you get good with shit.

If you equate all hiphop/rap with the mainstream stereotype, that's fine. Don't go berserk when I claim that all metal is made by long haired men in leather pants, screaming about silly fantasy while enjoying a sweaty, manly moshpit that can adequately be described as 'homoerotic'.

XD true, you can say that about metal music.

 

[Kasawd]

I enjoy the vocal style of rap immensely.

I don't find myself enjoying alot of straight rap, these days, though. A few of you have given me some new bands to try out, too, which I am thankful for.

It all depends on the content, for me. I'm not a fan of gangster rap.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

SNIP

One case study does not refute a stereotype, my friend.

Yes it does. A stereotype is a conventional, formulaic, or oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. That leaves no room for dissent in its intent. If it is just that much, a simple explanation (in this case, being: "all rap music is unintelligent"), then it must ALWAYS hold to that standard, otherwise it is refuted. If we both agree upon this definition, then you can agree that the stereotype is refuted. Cannibal Ox show creative process and intelligence in their act, so they can not be unintelligent. Therefore, holding that stereotype as a looking glass is flawed and illogical, unless you want to hold a statistical analysis of the stereotype. You would have to take a very wide sample, then, of that base material, and determine if it is illogical, then leaving room for experimental error: Because the music genre is millions strong, you would have to get a proportional sample, which I doubt that most are willing to provide. So, for all intents and purpose, yes, one case study does refute a DIRECT stereotype, and one hundred case studies refute a statistical stereotype. Because there are record labels like Anticon devoted to refuting the stereotype that rap music is unintelligent and succeeding due to the intense creative process that is required for their innovation (see: cLOUDDEAD), you could simply take them into account and use that as a ground for your belief, but you would STILL have to hold it to experimental error and proportional difference.
In short, leave music criticism to those who are unsettingly obsessed with music.

Ah, my mistake. I didn't clarify what I meant. One case study can refute a generalization, but not a stereotype. There's an important difference. Generalizations would be the things you're using in your examples, and are rather ignorant statements to make concerning something as subjective as music. Generalizations would be "All rap music is unintelligent" or "All rappers rhyme about bitches, guns, and sex". However, I know that not ALL rap centers on such subject matter, but that does not mean I can't say "A lot of rap music is unintelligent or about bitches, guns, sex, drugs, etc." This is a stereotype. Important difference, and the one I was merely remarking on.

I can also simply state my opinion as well. I don't really care for rap music in general, regardless of lyrical content, because I prefer to listen to the instrumentalists.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

Alot of it is bad, of course, but there are a few artists I love:

2Pac

Eminem (the older songs)

Jay Z

Fort Minor

Drapht

 

[twaddle]

Truthfully people, American Rap music died when tupac and biggie got killed. Now Rap in other countries actually does stem from what rap used to be in the us when it actually meant somthing. THe thing is u have to think outside your culture and check the music from other cultures as well. There was this arab rapper on the colbert report a while back who was really good. there are a few people who still see rap as a way of expressing there emotions deeply and profoundly, eminem used to be one, but it seems that the rest of the american rappers only apear to be so much chaft.

 

[Raven's Nest]

That is, by far, the stupidest thing I have heard today.
And I just read a bunch of comments on Yahoo News.
Cannibal Ox do have a great deal of form and an entirely original poetic style. Poetry doesn't mean "storytelling time," and not everything has to have a sense of direction or purpose (not saying that Can O don't, but still, learn your art history). Innovation is far more important than how wonderful it reads, and Cannibal Ox is in many ways innovative. Have you listened to their production style? It's very gritty, and the use of samples and the beats are masterful and often polyrhythmic. The entire label of Anticon prides itself on its extremely experimental approach to the hip-hop genre, and cLOUDDEAD, no matter how elitistic they may be, do things very differently. It's a subjective matter, but you still have to respect when somebody does something different, otherwise you don't really care a whole lot about art.

How is it stupid?

Those lyrics just don't make sense. Either that or I'm completely missing the point and it was the artist's intent to throw out random sentences...

Just because I fail to see how that is an example of innovation in songwriting doesn't change the fact that the song is meangingless without a sense of structure. If I can't read a set of lyrics and grasp what the song is about then the song has failed in one vital area of songwriting. The music could be amazing, the production could be sublime and I would recognize all that, but excuse me for not thinking much of those lyrics...

I'm not saying art needs to make sense to be meaningful. I just think you could have found a better example to represent rap music in your earlier point...

 

[eels05]

To be blunt I dont like any of it.
Any originality in the Genre died about 15yrs ago.

 

[The DSM]

Its all rubbish.

Then again I am a metal head, so take that with a pinch of salt.