AIBU to think rap is crap?

[JoanThursday1972]

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.

Rap began as an expressive medium from the streets of NYC. It generally expresses the experiences of those who were there in the 1970's.

Hit 'em up is a classic, but ugly and gang-related song.

It came from where it came from. Of course it can evolve but that's like asking for Gospel music not to mention God?

Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Nas, Akala, Dave, Kano, Ghetts... to name a few.

DS has introduced me to rap music, loved seeing Kendrick in concert with him, will see Nas later in the year.
Would definitely see Tyler the creator if he visits Chicago.

As well as Pulitzer Prize winning lyrics the genre is full of other relevant issues to talk with ds about. Mental health, suicide, drug use etc.
I don't like all the lyrics about women and Ds knows that but again we can like music without endorsing everything that is said.

I don’t think that is what the poster is saying. I think they’re pointing out it is usually rap that is picked apart on AIBU yet no other genre gets the same ire despite having the issues that OP has described. No one has said that there is anything wrong with people regardless of race liking/enjoying rap. It’s more the double standard when other genres get a pass and aren’t seen as one singular thing while rap is when it is not.

Did you manage to listen to any of the fantastic suggestions OP? Just curious since you were so sure the entire genre was crap and dreary/boring, filled with talentless artists and the only topic covered covered being ‘knives and hoes.’ If would be really interesting to see if you’ve changed your mindset with some of the amazing suggestions there have been on here!

I dont enjoy rap. I'm into gentle, instrumental type music that flows in the background. Rap music is demanding, takes over all other thoughts and needs to be listened to there and then. I appreciate that for some people this is the kind of music they want and need to listen to but I doubt it will ever be for me.

Not yet as I've been out all day but am planning to. I'm glad I started this thread now.

There are a lot of good suggestions - I would really recommend trying one of each artist since you might not ‘gel’ with someone’s specific voice. That happens to me sometimes.

I thought I would just mention to the OP that there's an excellent four part documentary called, "Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World" made by PBS and BBC Studios.

It covers the origins as an art form, how history shaped it and how it's become a part of the culture in my country specifically.

An additional series which is excellent is called, "Hip-Hop Evolution". It features hip-hop from all over the country.

I'm not the biggest rap fan but my son is a rapper and a performer of freestyle Chicano rap/Chicano Trap. It really is an art form and his means of expression as a Mexican-American in Houston.

Hip-hop and rap is just that, expression of a persons lived experience. I'll admit that I don't love it but I listen to it to learn about what people are experiencing through their eyes, through their words.

@Male101 digging that video out sent me down a very pleasant YouTube rabbit hole haha

I've seen a few of the rappers on the same record label live . Not murs though. Check out tech n9ne, mayday, rittz, krizz kaliko

Mac Miller - the second song on this Tiny Desk Concert with Thundercat is great

YANBU but some of the earlier rap is ok and I’ve always found Eminem good with clever lyrics.

just going to leave this beautiful masterpiece here for you.

The whole thing is a masterpiece. 2009 makes me cry.

@EgyptAdvice absolutely wonderful 😍

Yes! This is one of my faves. Hello fellow tiny desker 👋🏾

Love finding things on Tiny Desk. It's my go to for great music. Atmosphere is always so brilliant you can tell the artists love being there.

Try the Australian band Hilltop hoods, they aren’t mainstream but are successful hear and abroad.

Tom Misch is from Bromley - this is a great track

This is my favourite tiny desk concert

Some rap is crap some is excellent. As is every genre of music , arts etc