Does anyone at Progressive U listen to rap music? It used to be a way to discuss important topics or interests by cleverly twisting words. All I hear when I turn on the radio is uneducated people who discriminate against other races and types of people and talk about how awesome they are at getting women to have sex with them or other disturbing things. This only proves how awful our society is becoming .. where is the creativity? I am disgusted with the popular rap music. I am a big rap fan, however. I think that rap is such an incredible genre. When you hear a good rap song, you're like, "Wow ... that's incredible." Good rap equals clean lyrics with a clear message over well-prepared music. I'm so sick of hearing that junk on the radio .. most of it all sounds the same and there is no real distinction. I don't think you have to be any particular color to rap, either. I think you should be able to rap regardless of whether you came from the hood or whether you're filthy rich. Rap is getting dumber and dumber. It is time for good rap artists to take the spotlight.
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Check out my post on good rap: Common, Talib Kweli and Lyfe Jennings. I feel exactly what you say. The junk is good for working out/chilling, but thinking? Not at all.
Rap has definitely CHANGED for the worst. Sex sales and so now that is all that rappers talk about. Some even brag about past criminal acts. Many of the songs are degrading. What happened to rappers like... don't push me I'm to close to the edge, I'm trying not to lose my head...it's like a jungle sometimes.....
"True beauty is a function of the soul"
Agreed. It's blinding, as all it ever talks about is money and girls; shallow things. Some artists make appearances to commercials that advertise something worthy, but alas, not all artists do as it may ruin their reputations as "thugs".
I'd also appreciate some actual English, too... the music doesn't encourage much of that.
Rap has definitely changed, yes, but I do still like some of the new rap.. or at least new in the sense of the past 5 years. Some of rap I cannot stand, but I do like some songs a lot.
true to that! Rap is definitely worse than before. Whatever happened to rap that conveys a positive message? I am not really a rap fan, but i would be if there is more positive rap because I am sick of these messages about bling and women portrayed in these rap lyrics lately.
I've got a few posts on hip hop. That's actually my concentration in school right now: hip-hop and african american studies (w/ a minor in music business). It's my passion.
Rap music these days isn't as conscious as it used to be. But that isn't all of it. You've got rappers these days like Kanye West, Talib Kweli, and Common who talk about more than just freakdancing and having sex. Most music they play on the radio are basically dance songs, that have nice beats that make you want to "lean wit, rock wit it." But at the same time, some of these same rappers do have great songs on their cds that talk about more than the usual, yet these aren't the songs that you hear on the radio. An example of rappers who do possess more than what some may actually think are Jay-Z, the Game, Nas, and DMX, who can talk about their struggles growing up in the hood or about God or about being chased by death.
Out of them all, I respect Kanye West the most because with his first album The College Dropout, he brought back conscious rap, which challenged the big emphasis America puts on education and exeplified humor at the same time. He is truly amazing and intelligent, and he didn't have to go to college to become the success that he is now, which I guess was his point.
Yeah, I do like individuals such as Jay-Z and The Game .. I haven't heard much of Nas and DMX but I have liked what I heard. I care for neither Kanye West's music nor his personality. I don't care for him at all. Rap music as a whole is not doing well, but there are definitely some rappers out there that are great.
Kanye West did not "bring back conscious rap." He just brought back the pop version of it. Common, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, and others have been advocating conscious hip hop long before Kanye's inaugural album.
some ill emcees with a clear cut message, ah yeah, that's something to see. Check out the following links to hear some as you've said, "incredible music" that's thought provoking and soul stirring:
datruth.net | flame314.com
reachrecords.com | crossmovementrecords.com
Hey, I don't know about the first three, but I've heard about Cross Movement for awhile and I've been wanting to check them out for a long time. Anyway, thanks, I'll check 'em out.
you are so right and in so many ways. Today all rap and hip hop represent is things relating to having women and some degrade the women and many other things things that do deserve respect but like you said some song are good in some ways