Don't Like Rap's ganster image

[n yusef]

I'm not going to try and say rap doesn't suck, or even that it's good here, so please don't troll.

I saw a link to Kanye West's article in Time Magazine, and my suspicions on why nearly all popular rappers were former gangsters are confirmed:

Originally posted by Time Magazine
The first time Kanye West asked the folks at Roc-A-Fella records to let him rap, there was an uncomfortable silence. As a producer, West had churned out hits for Roc-A-Fella's intimidating trio of stars--Jay-Z, Cam'ron and Beanie Siegel--and earned praise for his great ear and tireless ethic. But in 2002 the idea that someone like West could be a successful rapper was faintly absurd. "Kanye wore a pink shirt with the collar sticking up and Gucci loafers," recalls Damon Dash, then Roc-A-Fella CEO. "It was obvious we were not from the same place or cut from the same cloth." Says Jay-Z: "We all grew up street guys who had to do whatever we had to do to get by. Then there's Kanye, who to my knowledge has never hustled a day in his life. I didn't see how it could work."

Roc-A-Fella wasn't the only label to pass on Kanye (pronounced Kahn-yay; it means "the Only One" in Swahili) West. Executives at record companies large and small failed to reconcile West's appearance and demeanor with their expectations of what a rapper should be. They had no idea how to market him. "It was a strike against me that I didn't wear baggy jeans and jerseys and that I never hustled, never sold drugs," says West, 28, who grew up in suburban Chicago and often dresses as if he's anticipating an acceptance letter from Exeter. "But for me to have the opportunity to stand in front of a bunch of executives and present myself, I had to hustle in my own way. I can't tell you how frustrating it was that they didn't get that. No joke--I'd leave meetings crying all the time."

Record companies don't want to show rappers that don't conform to that image, because they want superficial music that gets kids to think it's cool (cool == listened to == $$), not something that may or may not sell well, but is better (this is why art and business don't work well together). Gangster rap has already been proven to make tons of money, so why should a record company gamble with someone who isn't proven.

Kanye doesn't have that "I'm a big, tough, black man who should be in jail" thing going for him, which, as it turns out, is a good thing (Whooda thunk it? :roll: ). Rap music's popularity shot straight up with the prevelence of gangster rap, so record companies decided to play it safe and not venture out into different sub-genres of rap. The funny thing about this is that Late Registration will likely be the best selling album of the year.

EDIT: Typo.

 

[TWills]

<<<Not a big rap fan. Never will be.

 

[shilala]

Rap sucks.
Gangstas suck even more.

 

[n yusef]

Didn't I say at the beginning og the OP that if you don't like rap, don't post. Nef somewhere else please.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: n yusef
Didn't I say at the beginning og the OP that if you don't like rap, don't post. Nef somewhere else please.

welcome to ATOT...

 

[Kalbi]

my love for rap died with tupac in 8th grade

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: quakefiend420

Originally posted by: n yusef
Didn't I say at the beginning og the OP that if you don't like rap, don't post. Nef somewhere else please.

welcome to ATOT...

I expected this. My postcount isn't that high, but I've been a lurker for a year and a half now. I just think my thread is special and should be exempt from the nef effect.

 

[CKent]

Blame it on the record companies

No, blame it on white suburban wannabes. The image sells, of course it will be promoted more heavily. If you want to hear some good rap that isn't about "gats" and "hoes", check out Aesop Rock.

 

[spaceman]

i blame this all on spike lee.

 

[LeadMagnet]

I'll listen to rap when there is a FLAMBOYANTLY GAY rapper

 

[Corporate Thug]

its not secret that hip hop companies encourage a thug image...

 

[AdamSnow]

Originally posted by: shilala
Rap sucks.
Gangstas suck even more.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: n yusef
Didn't I say at the beginning og the OP that if you don't like rap, don't post. Nef somewhere else please.

Yes you did. That's precisely why I did it.

 

[frankgomez75]

Originally posted by: RBachman

Blame it on the record companies

No, blame it on white suburban wannabes. The image sells, of course it will be promoted more heavily. If you want to hear some good rap that isn't about "gats" and "hoes", check out Aesop Rock.

ROFL.... that website is funny as shiat!

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: LeadMagnet
I'll listen to rap when there is a FLAMBOYANTLY GAY rapper

Google "Caushun"

 

[EmperorIQ]

Originally posted by: Kalbi
my love for rap died with tupac in 8th grade

I am not trying to imply anything negative like "omgtupac sucks" but I don't see why so many people find him to be that great of a rapper. Can you recommend me some songs in particular that makes him stand out from the rest? I've heard his songs, but I just don't get it. Maybe I missed the important ones?

Thanks.

 

[sniperruff]

im listening to NWA and im loving it. i hate new rap.

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: RBachman

Blame it on the record companies

No, blame it on white suburban wannabes. The image sells, of course it will be promoted more heavily. If you want to hear some good rap that isn't about "gats" and "hoes", check out Aesop Rock.

True, the suburban white kids with size 40 jeans and white T-shirts love the gangster rap, and they make money, but signing more artists like Kanye West will get a lot more 20- and 30-somethings into rap. The people who grew up with Run DMC and the like, but gave up on modern gagster rap.

 

[Giscardo]

Originally posted by: n yusef

Originally posted by: RBachman

Blame it on the record companies

No, blame it on white suburban wannabes. The image sells, of course it will be promoted more heavily. If you want to hear some good rap that isn't about "gats" and "hoes", check out Aesop Rock.

True, the suburban white kids with size 40 jeans and white T-shirts love the gangster rap, and they make money, but signing more artists like Kanye West will get a lot more 20- and 30-somethings into rap. The people who grew up with Run DMC and the like, but gave up on modern gagster rap.

Too bad none of the 20-and-30-somethings who are jonesing for the likes of Run DMC, Slick Rick, Pharcyde, Biggie, Tupac, Rakim, WuTang, Nas, and The Fugees (classic era versions of the latter three) actually like Kanye's corny, conceited lyrics.

 

[mdchesne]

i don't care about image. let them dress as they want! It's just an excuse for hating their music saying "they look like gang bangers and so, they must promote hate. "

 

[destined]

its sad that rap is more about the beat and the video than the content.

 

[Ronstang]

All that says is that if the people want sh!t you will deliver them sh!t which doesn't say much about the people who like that crap.

 

[ViciouS]

Kanye's second album isn't as good as his first, and it wont be the best of the year. I'm a huge fan and hope he comes back strong. I'm sure hes going to go multi platinum though.