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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think rap is crap?

123 replies

JoanThursday1972 · 01/04/2023 09:28

I just heard In My Hood by Ice Spice on the radio with absolutely stupid lyrics.

Go back to the late 70s and up to mid 80s and it's good. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Sugarhill Gang etc.

Now it's rap mixed with grime and stupid lyrics that we'd be disciplined about if we said this in the workplace. Bitches, hoes, drugs and knives aren't art, they're a quick fix for talentless people to get attention by thinking it's oh so clever to be a gangster's moll.

And it's dreary and boring too.

OP posts:
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5
DojaPhat · 01/04/2023 11:10

One of the interesting things about rap is that traditionally it has been ‘porch music.’

This is one of the most staggeringly ignorant and offensive posts I've ever read in all my years on mumsnet. It's absolutely appalling.

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 11:12

DojaPhat · 01/04/2023 11:10

One of the interesting things about rap is that traditionally it has been ‘porch music.’

This is one of the most staggeringly ignorant and offensive posts I've ever read in all my years on mumsnet. It's absolutely appalling.

Of course it isn’t. I’m saying that traditionally it is music which is accessible to many who don’t have access to music classes and such. Anyone could go out and join in, ie rappers talking about being in people’s porches and having rap battles/learning to rap by watching. Many rappers talk about it.

Herja · 01/04/2023 11:16

MoneyInTheBananaStand · 01/04/2023 09:49

It's a cliche but listen to Akala's fire in the booth and tell me it's shit.

This!

VeryApple · 01/04/2023 11:18

@Skippityboboo @MoneyInTheBananaStand came here to say Shotty Horroh and Akala 🙌

Neilsfavouritechilli · 01/04/2023 11:20

I recommend the album Stemma by Doc Brown and as a pp mentioned Akala. Not gangsta rap, real London rap. Homeward by Doc Brown is a proper tune.

Herja · 01/04/2023 11:28

Lowkey
Plan B
Rodney P
Ocean Wisdom

There is so much lyrically and linguistically clever rap/grime/hip hop. I don't think it's my favourite genre, but its the one I always come back to. One that has music for when I'm happy, scared or raging. The one that talks about things I care about. The only one, bar opera, that can genuinely shock me with its skill (when done well...).

Jonei · 01/04/2023 11:29

Yep it's crap. Can't stand it.

Justnotcricketing · 01/04/2023 11:45

This is a really interesting thread! I am going to look the suggestions up!

lipstickwoman · 01/04/2023 11:49

I haven't heard any rap ever I don't think is utter rubbish. But then a lot of people wouldn't appreciate my taste in music

That's just how it is.

VeryApple · 01/04/2023 11:50

@lipstickwoman I guarantee you've heard rap at some point but it was described as pop or r'n'b.

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 11:53

VeryApple · 01/04/2023 11:50

@lipstickwoman I guarantee you've heard rap at some point but it was described as pop or r'n'b.

I don’t think the poster is saying they’ve never heard a rap song. They’re saying they’ve never heard a rap song they don’t consider ‘rubbish.’ So they’ve never heard what they consider a good rap song.

foxlover47 · 01/04/2023 11:54

I love machine gun Kelly ( going to see him again in London soon )
Yeah a lot of the older lyrics are a bit spicy as it were but aren't most rappers telling their story as it were

Pedrotok · 01/04/2023 11:58

Best not mention the city girls to the OP then 😂

I refuse to believe there’s not 1 simbi song you’d like though. Everyone loves Woman.

professionalnomad · 01/04/2023 11:58

Aesop Rock
Deltron 3030
Run the Jewels
Jurassic 5
Kno

So much great lyrical, clever rap out there

phoenixrosehere · 01/04/2023 12:08

Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Common, I would even throw Linkin Park in there considering it is considered Rap rock.

Country, Rock, Pop Music also have questionable lyrics and tones including the things you mention including glamorisation of alcoholism yet it is only rap that is constantly called crap and pulled up. Also, rarely see posts about these genres being called crap. I will also add the same things are in many movies genres yet again not an AIBU about those things either.

I listen to all of them and other genres but I know for the most part it is either storytelling or experiences that are similar and differ from mine and don’t go out doing such things.

phoenixrosehere · 01/04/2023 12:09

*and glamorisation

whyhere · 01/04/2023 12:29

I've never, at any age, been able to stand rap - it actually makes me feel physically ill!

DojaPhat · 01/04/2023 12:31

This reply has been deleted

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User135644 · 01/04/2023 12:35

Dreadful rubbish that killed popular music.

TheVanguardSix · 01/04/2023 12:41

51 here and I was born in Long Beach, California. Grew up on old school hip hop/rap- love all of it… love Dr. Dre/Snoop/West Coast, etc.

Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, The Creator are insanely good.

Scuttlingherbert · 01/04/2023 12:41

I think some rap is crap and some is amazing. It can be funny, moving and more likely to reference politics and current affairs than normal singing.
(Or it can be bollocks about violence and sexism.)
I think it can involve more skill than writing the lyrics for a normal singing song.

I went to a pub once where there was a rap battle in the basement and it was absolutely amazing. They got the audience to shout out topics and they picked 3 (I remember one was like mental health or medication or something) and the rappers just came out such clevers things off the tops of their heads. It was in Bristol and was like a West country 8 Mile.

Bestes · 01/04/2023 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Well how terribly kind of you. I do hope that sending me this message has improved your day.

funtycucker · 01/04/2023 12:55

Kanaloa · 01/04/2023 11:10

Also a lot of the classic 90s/00s American stuff is great for storytelling and tone. Lost Boyz doing ‘Renee’ a lot of the OutKast stuff. Tupac of course. Yes he talked about drugs and gang violence - but why shouldn’t he? He was reflecting a societal problem at the time he was writing. Keep Ya Head Up was a favourite of mine when I was a young mum. Basically there’s tons of stuff, but if you’re so ignorant that you write the whole genre off, you will never be able to appreciate it.

Maybe as an entry song for people who are genre illiterate, we like Snoop Dogg doing the Affirmation Song too.

Renee is one my favourite songs ever

VeryApple · 01/04/2023 13:42

@Kanaloa ah yes, my reading comprehension is not great today! Thank you. Sorry @lipstickwoman !

curlykate99 · 01/04/2023 14:25

There's also anti gun rap... There's rap about most things tbh you just don't hear it on the radio.