Thread: Rap Music: Your Feelings On It

Well here goes my original thoughs on the matter. You may disagree and that is just fine. Please feel free to state your own views.
I was a big fan of the Early Rap with such groups as Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. The group that sang "White Line" I forget their name(little help?) and of course RUN DMC. Now these groups as all you rap fans no were before Gansta Rap came to the scene. It was at this time that I lost all interest in the music. I was a also a fan of Ice Tea and actually still am. I was turned off by the controversial song about killing Cops. This Gangsta Rap in my opinion should be banned. I feel it feeds the opressed expecially the youth. More precisely Inner city youth. I feel the lyrics and the bad ass gangster images are not good for these kids who look at these guys as role models and act, dress and speak the part of these Gangster rappers. The funny part is that most of them are not even close to the images they portray. You show one of them a gun they'll piss their pants. Others are true ex drug dealers and street smart wiseguys turned rappers. I'm happy that they found their way out of the Ghettos but really wish they would change the music and give their fans a more positive outlook on life. How about an ANTI drug song or love thy neighbor as you love yo mamma. or "call a Cop when you hear a Pop and save a brutha or sista" hell that shit rhymes right? Make a rap song out of it and give these kids hope damnit. don't turn them into the thing that you despised most about yourself!! Sure the rapper made his way out with music but the poor ghetto kids is still on the corner taking lessons from the brother that made it out and drives the Mercedes and dripping in gold. These guys are no better then the Drug lords. the Drug dealers wave rolls of bills around drive their Caddy up and down the street telling kids, hey you can have all this too if you follow my lead and sell my shit. These kids LISTEN!!! Then they follow. If the messages sent to them is nothing but violence and hate then that is what you will get out of these kids. I say "rap is crap" also. At least Ganster rap.
Now I know guys like GR8 will argue this from "his" standpoint that he is not influenced by the music but he is also an adult. And even though he may say he isn't influenced I'll argue that he is in some areas. Just the way he writes he speaks on topics such as this using their same lingo. Funny thing here, For the longest time I thought GR8 was black from how he spoke. I didn't even believe him at first and demanded a picture. hahahahaha Sorry GR8 for bringing you into this ya poor bastard. That is what you get for not being here tonight bitch. So even though G doesn't go out killing rival white boys or wearing gang colors, he is even a little bit influenced as we see in his posts from time to time. He can break into that ghetto talk in a heartbeat let me tell ya OR he can go in the Steroid room and talk like he is a PHd. Your a FREAK GR8 you know that?? hahahaha the man with 2 personalities an alter ego. Anyway great is intelligent but my points made were directed at the younger more influencial minds. Keep what I said above in that perspective and don't argue this as though I'm speaking about you unless your a poor black child from Hells Kitchen. Peace ya', Word Life lol

yo i love hip hop, rap, soul and rnb

they are the best genres of music ever heard IMO

i just like the sound, beats, vocals everything about the music appeals to me

i admit theres a lot of bullshit out there but theres also a lot of talent... 1 thing for sure rap music ain't the same without Pac n' BIG and its goin too commercial which is a shame, most of the stuff i listen to is early to mid 90's, a lot of shit is getting played out, i mean look at snoop, i just laugh at him now he coulda gone down as 1 of the greatest if he'd quit after no limit, his new shit is weak

peace

Originally posted by firestorm Is it good listening or is it just plain ole crap.

The latter.

NIce post Young. Good job. YOu like it and didn't dis me. Right on bro.

Originally posted by TheGreatSatan
The latter.

Can't forget you now can I satan? Your response was also very well thought out and excellently written. lmfao

And I only say it because it's all the same.

They all bitch about the ghetto and how hard life was, but not one of them tries to fix the problem. They make their money and leave. They leave their parents and family. And the reason they never fix the ghetto is because then they would have nothing to rap about. The shootings, the gangs, the crime it's all their own creation. If you take a shit you get to sit in it.

Amen to that my brotha.

I agree with Young, there is a lot of crap out there that grates on my nerves. But there is some really good rap also. I thrive on the good rap for my workouts. Don't really listen any other time though.

While I think that there's too much Christmas music on the radio these days, I do like to have carols playing when I am wrapping the Christmas presents. So I'd have to say that Christmas carols are my favorite wrap music.

Rap/Hip Hop...whatever you want to call it. I can take it or leave it. I don't think it's crap, but I don't go out buying rap CD's.

Originally posted by CaptainDeadlift
While I think that there's too much Christmas music on the radio these days, I do like to have carols playing when I am wrapping the Christmas presents. So I'd have to say that Christmas carols are my favorite wrap music.

I enjoy rap.

I like good solid rap music that has a purpose and a message behind it, I used to listen to Public Enemy, Tupac, NWA, etc. I can't stand hip-hop and R and B today, I think it is garbage for the most part. Good to dance to, but I would never buy an album of it.

Personal opinion is that it takes a lot more talent to actually play an instrument like a guitar or a piano and perform than it does to just stand with a mic and rap. Freestyle is always entertaining because at least it requires some quick thinking. Plus, they aren't singing, they are speaking - also requires no talent.

I'd rather listen to Jimmy Page or Hendrix doing a guitar solo any day of the week.

I hate rap sung by some particular artists. Seems like they try to make rhymes with nth but offensive words since it is hard to compose with common English.
btw i like Mike in Linkin park. His rap is not somehow different and well balanced with vocal talent of Chester.

I think a lot of good talent is being over-run by a lot of bad attitudes.
Rap used to be about original lyrics and a heavy bass line.....Now it seems to be more about rage, hate, and violence.
Funny thing is, without the guns, pit bulls and the abusive language, these "Gangstas" would just be a bunch of pissed of cowards.


POLKA RULES!

Can't stand the gansta rap crap... but I like some artist like Eminem.

Like I've said before I hate gangsta/bling-bling rappers with ignorant outlooks on life. I love hip-hop as much as I love classical, jazz or any other medium of self expression.

TGS I bet you can't resist "shaking it like a polaroid picture" when you hear "Hey Ya" on the radio and I know for sure you were getting "Jiggy wit' it" at least once in your life. I mean come on there are some innocent songs by rappers and then you have
(c)rap by chronic ne'erdowells.

You guys should check out Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock, Mos Def, Cannibal Ox, man there are alot of peeps out there that aren't fake studio gangsters and who rap about things normal peeps can relate to. Only problem is that they get no love from the radio or mtv becuase violence sells and that's all today's media wants to portray the fucking bastards!

Ah, Aesop Rock

No Regrets Lyrics
Lucy was 7 and wore a head of blue barettes
City born, into this world with no knowledge and no regrets
Had a piece of yellow chalk with which she'd draw upon the street
The many faces of the various locals that she would meet
There was joshua, age 10
Bully of the block
Who always took her milk money at the morning bus stop
There was Mrs. Crabtree, and her poodle
She always gave a wave and holler on her weekly trip down to the bingo
parlor
And she drew
Men, women, kids, sunsets, clouds
And she drew
Skyscrapers, fruit stands, cities, towns
Always said hello to passers-by
They'd ask her why she passed her time
Attachin lines to concrete
But she would only smile
Now all the other children living in or near her building
Ran around like tyrants, soaking up the open fire hydrants
They would say
'Hey little Lucy, wanna come jump double dutch?'
Lucy would pause, look, grin and say
'I'm busy, thank you much'
Well, well, one year passed
And believe it or not
She covered every last inch of the entire sidewalk,
And she stopped-
'Lucy, after all this, you're just giving in today??'
She said:
'I'm not giving in, I'm finished,' and walked away

(Chorus: x2)
1 2 3
That's the speed of the seed
A B C
That's the speed of the need
You can dream a little dream
Or you can live a little dream
I'd rather live it
Cuz dreamers always chase
But never get it

Now Lucy was 37, and introverted somewhat
Basement apartment in the same building she grew up in
She traded in her blue barettes for long locks held up with a clip
Traded in her yellow chalk for charcoal sticks
And she drew
Little bobby who would come to sweep the porch
And she drew
The mailman, delivered everyday at 4
Lucy had very little contact with the folks outside her cubicle day
But she found it suitable, and she liked it that way
She had a man now: Rico, similar, hermit

They would only see each other once or twice a week on purpose
They appreciated space and Rico was an artist too
So they'd connect on saturdays to share the pictures that they drew
(Look!)
Now every month or so, she'd get a knock upon the front door
Just one of the neighbors,
Actin nice, although she was a strange girl, really
Say, 'Lucy, wanna join me for some lunch??'
Lucy would smile and say 'I'm busy, thank you much'
And they would make a weird face the second the door shut
And run and tell their friends how truly crazy Lucy was
And lucy knew what people thought but didn't care
Cuz while they spread their rumors through the street
She'd paint another masterpiece

(Chorus x2)

Lucy was 87, upon her death bed
At the senior home, where she had previously checked in
Traded in the locks and clips for a head rest
Traded in the charcoal sticks for arthritis, it had to happen
And she drew no more, just sat and watched the dawn
Had a television in the room that she'd never turned on
Lucy pinned up a life worth's of pictures on the wall
And sat and smiled, looked each one over, just to laugh at it all
No Rico, he had passed, 'bout 5 years back
So the visiting hours pulled in a big flock o' nothin
She'd never spoken once throughout the spanning of her life
Until the day she leaned forward, grinned and pulled the nurse aside
And she said:
'Look, I've never had a dream in my life
Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven't pursued
I knew what I wanted and did it till it was done
So i've been the dream that I wanted to be since day one!'
Well!
The nurse jumped back,
She'd never heard Lucy even talk,
'Specially words like that
She walked over to the door, and pulled it closed behind
Then Lucy blew a kiss to each one of her pictures
And she died.

(Chorus x2)

1 2 3...
A B C...

Here's my feelings on rap........

Fire-as far as them being a bad influence on kids, thats becasue that's how they MADE IT. they didnt think "hmmm, one day, i'll write rap music and leave the ghettos of drugs, violence and gangs". They are the ghetto, they come from the ghetto, thats why they talk about the shit they do.

Secondly, like i've said sooooooooooo many times about sooooo many different situations.......Famous/Rich people/Athletes don't owe shit to ANYONE. Just because they are good at what they do, in this case, rappers, its not their fault that kids use them as rolemodels (when they talk about guns, drugs etc.). if kids want real role models, have them look to their parents and the people that mean something in their lives.

Anyways, rap nowadays IMO sucks. I like it alot more back in the early to mid 90's when there was Death Row (Snoop now sucks, Dre only really produces and 2Pac's dead), Wu Tang (who doesnt do that much shit anymore), Mobb Deep (who is still around, but is getting old), Biggie (who's dead), Ice Cube (who is now an actor)

I like all the old school guys so much better than all this stupid ass Bling BLing shit that Master P and his bitches turned rap into.

Originally posted by firestorm
Well here goes my original thoughs on the matter. You may disagree and that is just fine. Please feel free to state your own views.
I was a big fan of the Early Rap with such groups as Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five. The group that sang "White Line" I forget their name(little help?) and of course RUN DMC. Now these groups as all you rap fans no were before Gansta Rap came to the scene. It was at this time that I lost all interest in the music. I was a also a fan of Ice Tea and actually still am. I was turned off by the controversial song about killing Cops. This Gangsta Rap in my opinion should be banned. I feel it feeds the opressed expecially the youth. More precisely Inner city youth. I feel the lyrics and the bad ass gangster images are not good for these kids who look at these guys as role models and act, dress and speak the part of these Gangster rappers. The funny part is that most of them are not even close to the images they portray. You show one of them a gun they'll piss their pants. Others are true ex drug dealers and street smart wiseguys turned rappers. I'm happy that they found their way out of the Ghettos but really wish they would change the music and give their fans a more positive outlook on life. How about an ANTI drug song or love thy neighbor as you love yo mamma. or "call a Cop when you hear a Pop and save a brutha or sista" hell that shit rhymes right? Make a rap song out of it and give these kids hope damnit. don't turn them into the thing that you despised most about yourself!! Sure the rapper made his way out with music but the poor ghetto kids is still on the corner taking lessons from the brother that made it out and drives the Mercedes and dripping in gold. These guys are no better then the Drug lords. the Drug dealers wave rolls of bills around drive their Caddy up and down the street telling kids, hey you can have all this too if you follow my lead and sell my shit. These kids LISTEN!!! Then they follow. If the messages sent to them is nothing but violence and hate then that is what you will get out of these kids. I say "rap is crap" also. At least Ganster rap.
Now I know guys like GR8 will argue this from "his" standpoint that he is not influenced by the music but he is also an adult. And even though he may say he isn't influenced I'll argue that he is in some areas. Just the way he writes he speaks on topics such as this using their same lingo. Funny thing here, For the longest time I thought GR8 was black from how he spoke. I didn't even believe him at first and demanded a picture. hahahahaha Sorry GR8 for bringing you into this ya poor bastard. That is what you get for not being here tonight bitch. So even though G doesn't go out killing rival white boys or wearing gang colors, he is even a little bit influenced as we see in his posts from time to time. He can break into that ghetto talk in a heartbeat let me tell ya OR he can go in the Steroid room and talk like he is a PHd. Your a FREAK GR8 you know that?? hahahaha the man with 2 personalities an alter ego. Anyway great is intelligent but my points made were directed at the younger more influencial minds. Keep what I said above in that perspective and don't argue this as though I'm speaking about you unless your a poor black child from Hells Kitchen. Peace ya', Word Life lol

Well I am gonna go ahead and address some of these points you have made and Fire you know that you my man and I got love for ya but you are speaking from your perspective, and quite frankly you are not even close to understanding why they make this music or where it comes from. You say that they should make it more positive and it is a bad influence, well I say how dare you say that. This music is a reflection of society they experience so how can they talk about postitive shit when all your life is hopeless. One of teh biggest reasons Pac paintd the stories and images he did with his music is so people would take notice of all the bad shit that is going on, all the hopelessness that this group of people feel. That is what this gangsta rap is about. It is not their responsibility to provide a good influence to a scoiety that has neglected them and failed to give them any hope. That is how they feel and that is where they are coming from. It is extremely ignorant to try and place the blame on the kids when they have been failed themselves vy everyone else. Where was their role model huh? where were the positive influences in their life growing up, non existant. All this bad shit was around them and they are protraying it, how dare you ask them to paint you a better picture of their reality! Make sense to ya.
You talk about how these guys in real life aren't thuggs are would piss their pants if they saw a gun, well that is not true. This music originated from people that were living the lifestyle they speak of and they are definately still out there, I listen to them. The artists that you hear and are basing your statements on are the ones that aren't living that, instead they are stealing and marketing that image to people like you that aren't in the culture. That is where you get that impression from. These guys are fakes and are not representing teh art form correctly. These are teh guys that you should be telling to make their music less violent and a better influence, b/c they are the ones marketing it to your youth. They have no right to be telling the hopless story of others when they haven't gone through it, and they are the ones on the radio. You have never heard of any of my artists most likely, and that is b/c they are the ones with teh story to tell, they are the ones on the frontlines experiencing this shit. You cannot confuse the two. And that is one os the big problems in hip hop is the distinction between the two. The real niggas hate the fake niggas for bitin their shit, and teh fake niggas wanna be part of all of that so they can appear as "thugged out" and "real". This whole concept of being true nad keeping it real really took flight when Pac wasarround b/c before that, nobody was writing about the hopelessness of thugg life, people were screaming gangsta, but Pac made it more appealing. Since then everyone wants to be the rose that grew from the concrete even when they came from nice rich soil. That shit is watered down and fake, and represents nothing of the true hip hop culture. To base your concepts of rap on that shit is unjust and unfair, as well as innaccurate. Rap orriginated from the streets, telling the life of the street. That is what hip hop is. So for you people looking down on it judging that it is too violent. Do not look to the music, look ot our streets b/c that is what it is. Sure things are exaggerated somewhat for the purpose of story telling, as is all story telling, but you cannot tell them they are wrong for telling their story. Instead we should rally together to fight this poverty and hoplessness that these kids are born into. Then and only then will there be a more positive story to tell. You have no right to call it crap, look at the bigger picture and blame that, not the people who are merely telling the tales of the street.

" I didn't create Thug Life, not at all. This shit is all around us, what I did is bring it into your living rooms for you all to see...................... When we were fighting the Vietnam war, how did we know about all the things that were going on over there. Until we saw the picture broadcasted of how our soldiers were dying, it gave a new perspective. It made people think and when we saw that, that is what most likely ended the war when it did. If we didn't see those images we would've thought everything was fine. I figured if I could paint the picture of how things are on the streets for our black kids, then the country would see it and want to help clean it up, help people notice. You can't silence me, I am your child. ..................................Peace, what the fuck he mean peace, we can't have peace. Fuck Peace, How the fuck we gonna have peace when we dying, little babies getting killed, motha fuckas getting abused. Peace, you must be out your mind. We can't have peace util you motha fuckas clean up this mess you made, until you clean up the dirt out here. Fuck Peace, until this is addresses theres gonna be war out here...."

"T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E : The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everbody"

-(Makaveli the Don aka Tupac Shakur for those who dont' know)

Originally posted by ponyboy
Personal opinion is that it takes a lot more talent to actually play an instrument like a guitar or a piano and perform than it does to just stand with a mic and rap. Freestyle is always entertaining because at least it requires some quick thinking. Plus, they aren't singing, they are speaking - also requires no talent.

You obviously have never heard some of the greatest lyricist before. Putting together a lyrical master piece is much more dificult than learning guiter. With an instrument there are directions on how to proceed and what notes to learn. With rhymes there is none of that, you have to come with your own style, there s staying exactly on cue, there is mic presence, there a milion things that can make your shit sound fucked up and off track or sound beautifully poetic. It is much harder to put together something great. It is more difficult than writing poetry, there are metaphors, euphanisms, alliteration, and almost any thing else you can thinks of and even some shit you can't. No talent my ass, I could send you some shit to hear and then you would see. That is an insult ot say that it requires no talent. Lets hear you put together something and I will critique it from a lyrical standpoint. It is much harder than it looks

I like some rap, some for working out, some just for chilling in my car while I drive.

That said, gr81, what you are saying is that rap is peoples expression of how miserable their lives are, in hopes that others will take notice and come clean the mess up. Why dont they use that talent and what not to do it their damn selves?

Thats what I want to see, people trying to make things better instead of shaking everyone elses arm and asking them to.

Flex - I dont think we are where we come from... unless we let ourselves be that. However, I am in no way a certain class or group because I was once a part of that. If I want to associate myself with that for the rest of my life thats my own choice, but I shouldnt whine about it if I do.

Manic - "Hey Ya" is hilarious, great music video.

Originally posted by firestorm
1st I'd like to ask that this does NOT turn into a FLAME thread. I just want to see how people view Rap Music. Is it good listening or is it just plain ole crap.
If he were alive today Curt Henig of Wrestling had the view "rap is crap" hahahaha

I don't like ganster rap so much. But, I do enjoy some of the more "oraganic" hip hop like tribe called quest, common, the roots, pharcyde, slum village..etc.

Don't really care for it too much. But there is one funny dude who is worth listening too. Just one word: Afroman

afroman is a nobody that got famous by making one dumbass pothead song, as of rap today its all watered down everyone is doing the exact same thing talkin bout money, car, watches and hoez/ass. yes its gotten old and commercial just like grunge rock did a couple of years ago, no one is standing up and doing something different which made rap special in the first place. but with all that said im still a fan. and yes like gr81 said it takes a great ammount of talent to right a good rap song.

Originally posted by butterfly
Can't stand the gansta rap crap... but I like some artist like Eminem.

Eminem Rocks!