Why don't you like rap/hiphop ?

[ermi]

Just curious.

There's a Roman saying: De gustibus non est disputandum (or something ) , which means tastes (likings) are not to be discussed... or that thay cannot be discussed...

Let's ignore that saying for a moment and discuss. I understand that it's not always easy to do, but if you have any words to express something about rap music, do so.

I like some rap A LOT, but most of the rap, I DON'T like. Maybe I'll write the reasons later on.

I'm writing here in this forum, also because a lot of times I read and hear from non-rap musicians that they used to like rap back in the days or that they like the underground artist.
I don't understand why. IMHO I think that the quality only improved in these years... Maybe because they just turn on MTV and see "In the club" or some retarded song by Nelly...
There's A LOT of rap and most of it is not on MTV.

Please, take a listen to Jay-z's "You don't know" (produced by Just Blaze):
http://users.volja.net/neres/YouDontKnow.mp3
... and tell me what's not good about this song.

Also some other songs, like "Drop it like it's hot". What's wrong with that song?

I have a lot of other mainstream, new, non-underground rap songs I would like you to hear.
I like a lot of music genres, btw. (But rap is the one I listened to mostly, I think.) I think can recognize the quality of a good rock/jazz/dance/... song. It's just that I don't always get any particular feeling about it.

off topic: Are U2 supposed to be very good? I think they're pretty average, I can't explain why are they so famous. But I haven't heard most of their songs, honestly.

[farlukar]

I can't tell from any kind of music why i like it... reasons for not liking a piece of music could be it being dull or monotonous or unimaginative, but that still comes down to "not my cup of tea" anyway...

As for rap in particular (which I don't listen very much), for me at least the rapper needs to have some serious skills and the music should be more than just a simple beat accompanying him/her.
Basically, the inverse of 50 cents.

Are [ insert random popular band name here ] supposed to be very good? I think they're pretty average, I can't explain why are they so famous..

... agreed

[RapRogue]

Too many republicans listens too it!!!

Nah, I like it there is good and bad of everything.

Put too many whiners attuned to the same frequency and you will get an astonishing amount of people under the same q factor. Or if you live in the south a 3k rally (kkk).

Now 3k that is a racist year if you ever heard of one!

[geoslake]

because too much is too much

[Shuzhen]

Who says I don't like hip-hop? You judging me, but you don't even know me!

I've heard some Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, etc I've liked, some other group (or krew or what have you) I don't remember (think their name began with a g), that I think was kind of unknown but was excellent, musical hip-hop with a mainstream feel. I like Jurassic 5, Beans, APC and some of that.

The Jay-Z thing is sort of so-so, I like some of the brass and basic beat, but not the pitched up vox, the lyrics don't speak to me at all and some of those James Brown scream type things are just not very cool IMHO.

But like

[dharmawan]

yeah u dont know is a badddd tune..all about just blaze, heatmakers

[crimsontider]

Too much style with too little substance.

[dharmawan]

some other group (or krew or what have you) I don't remember (think their name began with a g), that I think was kind of unknown but was excellent, musical hip-hop with a mainstream feel.

g g g unit bwoyee

[ermi]

all about just blaze, heatmakers

Chea!

Actually, I think those are two of the best beatmakers, at least in the last few years.

I might post some Heatmakerz produced song, as well. But I have the feeling that if one is not used to that style he might not like it at all.


crimsontider: Which music genre has more substance than style?

[electro]

Hip hop used to be very creative and interesting. Unfortunately it was been deliberately dumbed down as it became more and more corporate. Not it is pure retrograde trash.

Hip hop today functions an audio safari for white kids from the suburbs (classic fantasies of negro savages from the 18th and 19th century). It is nothing more than character assination of the young black males who created it and a brainwashing tool for the youth. The modern form of minstrelsy.

The ku klux klan probably starts off thier meetings by showing modern Rap videos made by the likes of 50 cent.

[Armadillo]

well, I like some but I've never bought a rap/hip hop cd. Mainly cause I care mostly about music and lyrics are far down the list for me, probably 80/20. Hip hop is more like 20/80. Simple eh.
It's better than Rock though

[aMUSEd]

I thought Dead Prez summed it up rather nicely in their "HipHop" regarding the contradictions inherent in the medium.

[ermi]

Interesting thoughts, electro.

I don't think I agree on hip hop being (much) less creative than before. Many tend to forget that at the beginnig hip hop was very simple in their lyrics...

[John Vulich]

Because most, not all, of it sucks! And stupid-rich-suburban-white-kids have tainted it by thinking they could gain "street cred" by consuming it!

Never really cared for Hip Hop but I do like some older Rap acts like Public Enemy 'cause they just plain rocked.

[advaya]

Interesting post ermi...

But trying to convince others that they should like/dislike a particular genre (based upon your own personal feelings toward it) is perhaps a little futile...

BTW... the Hip Hop scene of today kinda reminds me of the boyband scene of the late 90s earlly 2000s... Not in the sense that the styles are similar... its because the whole genre is inundated with carbon coppies and cookie-cutter artists... One does something cool, and a month later 100 others follow suit...

But that's just my opinion...