Why do people listen to rap?

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Spineshank

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
7,728
1
71
Yea i love Lupe as well. I listen to all sorts of rap. But then again i listen to all sorts of music. Metal is still by far my favorite though.
 

Tencntraze

Senior member
Aug 7, 2006
570
0
0
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
To me jazz isn't music because it has no melody, but obviously some people appreciate it so it must be legit.

I can see your point if you're talking about 'modern' jazz, or some of the free-form stuff, which doesn't do it for me, but if we're talking 'classic' jazz standards, there's a distinctive melody, followed by solos, then back to the melody.

Oscar Peterson - You Look Good To Me is something I've listened to quite a bit. Two bass players and a piano.

Of course, I couldn't give half a damn for vocals/lyrics most of the time anyway, so it's all coming back to that whole 'personal preference' recurring theme in this thread. I personally don't care for rap, but I guarantee that there are songs in *every* genre that I'd like (including polka), but since there are so many people and so many interpretations, I might not have heard it yet. I'm still willing to accept that I'll hear a song that will change my mind about a genre at any time, but it also doesn't mean that I'll constantly listen to rap looking for that one song.

 

JJChicken

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2007
6,165
16
81
Originally posted by: Tencntraze
Originally posted by: Throckmorton
To me jazz isn't music because it has no melody, but obviously some people appreciate it so it must be legit.

I can see your point if you're talking about 'modern' jazz, or some of the free-form stuff, which doesn't do it for me, but if we're talking 'classic' jazz standards, there's a distinctive melody, followed by solos, then back to the melody.

Oscar Peterson - You Look Good To Me is something I've listened to quite a bit. Two bass players and a piano.

Of course, I couldn't give half a damn for vocals/lyrics most of the time anyway, so it's all coming back to that whole 'personal preference' recurring theme in this thread. I personally don't care for rap, but I guarantee that there are songs in *every* genre that I'd like (including polka), but since there are so many people and so many interpretations, I might not have heard it yet. I'm still willing to accept that I'll hear a song that will change my mind about a genre at any time, but it also doesn't mean that I'll constantly listen to rap looking for that one song.

*listening* so far so good

 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: Deeko
Why do you listen to whatever shit YOU listen to? I'm sure most rap fans don't consider to "be music" eiher.

There is no "formula" that defines what music is, music is whatever sounds good to you.

Actually, there is a formula. Rap is "music" that has had the melody portion removed, leaving just the rhythm. This style of music was often used in war and tribal ceremonies through history (drums beating, chanting, etc), which is where it's roots are based.

I myself don't care for rap not because of it's sound, but simply because it doesn't really take any formal talent to create musically. There is some skill involved in creating the lyric and being able to read it quickly, but that's about the extent of it. It's a lot like what the Beatniks from the 1950's did- read poems over a beat. The difference is the people playing the beat were drummers and bass players that had to learn how to play an instrument over many years. Today, everything is synthesized and clips are taken from other people's work to provide an artificial rhythm- instant gratification. This creates an environment where talent can be artificially mass produced instead of coming naturally.

So, rap music is music---but only in a very minimal sense. There are formulas for every style of music---it's how we can tell the difference between a country-western song and a polka. We get new styles of music when formulas and theories of two different styles are mixed together (for instance southern rock). Since rap doesn't really have anything to call it's own, it's at a genetic dead end...it can't evolve anymore. This is why many people blame this style of music for the downfall of the entire industry.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: hiromizu
What's funny is how the modern rap style originated from a white punk rock chick.

:confused:

Rap came from the streets of NYC. Hip-Hop originated in discos in the late 70's.
 

LS21

Banned
Nov 27, 2007
3,745
1
0
on a related note, i was driving my car this morning, thinking how good mos def's black on both sides is. my 123 has to be 36 Chambers, Illmatic, and BOBS
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
29,932
3
81
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: hiromizu
What's funny is how the modern rap style originated from a white punk rock chick.

:confused:

Rap came from the streets of NYC. Hip-Hop originated in discos in the late 70's.

in the south bronx the south south bronx :music:
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Ahh what you need is some fresh Nerdcore Rap to drown the playa hatas!

I'd give you some links to some aforementioned music, but that'd be bad to post on here :p. I mean who can beat a rap about Back to the Future or World of Warcraft?
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,883
19,112
136
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Ahh what you need is some fresh Nerdcore Rap to drown the playa hatas!

I'd give you some links to some aforementioned music, but that'd be bad to post on here :p. I mean who can beat a rap about Back to the Future or World of Warcraft?

ytcracker > FSR ;)
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
ytcracker > FSR ;)

You know of teh robotz? :Q

I liked their BTTF song but I wish they didn't play that one tiny instrumental clip throughout the entire song... it kinda ruined it for me.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: Deeko
Why do you listen to whatever shit YOU listen to? I'm sure most rap fans don't consider to "be music" eiher.

There is no "formula" that defines what music is, music is whatever sounds good to you.

Actually, there is a formula. Rap is "music" that has had the melody portion removed, leaving just the rhythm. This style of music was often used in war and tribal ceremonies through history (drums beating, chanting, etc), which is where it's roots are based.

I myself don't care for rap not because of it's sound, but simply because it doesn't really take any formal talent to create musically. There is some skill involved in creating the lyric and being able to read it quickly, but that's about the extent of it. It's a lot like what the Beatniks from the 1950's did- read poems over a beat. The difference is the people playing the beat were drummers and bass players that had to learn how to play an instrument over many years. Today, everything is synthesized and clips are taken from other people's work to provide an artificial rhythm- instant gratification. This creates an environment where talent can be artificially mass produced instead of coming naturally.

So, rap music is music---but only in a very minimal sense. There are formulas for every style of music---it's how we can tell the difference between a country-western song and a polka. We get new styles of music when formulas and theories of two different styles are mixed together (for instance southern rock). Since rap doesn't really have anything to call it's own, it's at a genetic dead end...it can't evolve anymore. This is why many people blame this style of music for the downfall of the entire industry.

Music itself is a cultural construct.
 

Xavier434

Lifer
Oct 14, 2002
10,373
1
0
I imagine the real reason why people listen to it is very similar to why people listen to any kind of music. Listening to rap creates a certain feeling for people and that feeling is different for everyone. Some people enjoy the feeling it creates for them and others do not. Hence, different tastes in different music.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Music itself is a cultural construct.

That's partially true, but there are mathamatical reasons why some notes go together with other notes. What's cool about music theory is it's part art and part science :)

 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,883
19,112
136
Originally posted by: Aikouka
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
ytcracker > FSR ;)

You know of teh robotz? :Q

I liked their BTTF song but I wish they didn't play that one tiny instrumental clip throughout the entire song... it kinda ruined it for me.

The sample worked for me in that song, but I can see how it would be annoying to some.
F the MPAA is classic stuff :p