HIstory Of Rap

[photoman13]

I still want to hear your opinion Hobie and yours as well Papipeguy. I rather enjoy talking about music. Rap isn't something I listen to much but it is still a form of music. You can say you hate it but saying it isn't music just seems as though no one else is allowed to enjoy it. Most popular rap I don't like and the lyrics can be revolting especially towards women. I respect you guys and Hobie I love the turntable thread you participated in! So please continue posting about music.

 

[number6]

Why wasn't Blondie's "Rapture" included?

 

[adam12]

monotone lip flapping done to a drum machine

What specifically are you talking about?
It would be an interesting discussion to convince those who do not like hip-hop music of its musical merits, maybe convince them otherwise as I tried to do in a thread weeks ago here, but the truth is most people have their minds already made up and nailed closed on the issue without offering specifics to support their opinion.
I make this statement because anyone who says that "hip-hop music has no melody" is probably not exposed to the wide range of stuff out there, no different than anyone who calls jazz "meaningless improvisational wandering with no direction", folk music as "whiny harmonica protest music", hardcore punk as "fast short songs with no talent", or metal as "loud screaming".
Complete bullshit based on little knowledge or exposure.
I honestly don't know what type of hip-hop music people with such opinions are talking about because all of it, in my opinion, has a very linear and direct form of melody, and most of it is actually more melodic than people tend to give credit. As to the criticism that there are no "chord progressions", well that is just plain ignorant of the entirety of the genre as well.
Personally an opinion is just that, but to levy stereotypes on an entire genre and abstain from more meaningful explanation serves no function other than to "get it off one's chest". If that's the purpose of the thread then so be it...

 

[photoman13]

Oh and you can whistle to rap. Check out the whistle song by Flo Rida. Not really my cup of tea but I whistle that tune all the time as it reminds me of the whistling in Sitting On The Dock of The Bay by Otis Redding.

 

[lordofthepiperings]

As far as the music goes I will give you that some rappers beats are very plain and repetitive. Case in point 'Lil Jon. If you've bought one of his albums you already own every beat he's ever made. But some rap producers go in a different direction. There's a few out there that will use the bass guitar more than the bass drum and throw more chord changes in there to pair up the bass guitar riffs with the keyboard playing etc. to give it more of a personality. I think that might be where you're not liking rap though. Good rap is highly reliant on the lyrics. Rappers like 2pac and Biggie Smalls, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Talib Kwelli they all have a point to make and so they focus a lot more on the lyrics. The beats are only accents to their poetry.

 

[adam12]

Personally I think DJ Krush is some of the most amazing music out these days. It is like a movie soundtrack. Very melodic and atmosphere like. And DJ Shadow's "Endtroducing" is one of the best albums ever, very innovative and creative stuff

 

[chopz]

one thing i do understand about rap that few seem to understand or realize: it's as old now as doo-wop was in the 80s. i as never a big fan of either, but gratefully, doo-wop wasn't considered "hip" by then. who knows, maybe it's the folk idiom that will bridge the generations, when grandpa can bust a rhyme along with the kiddies.