I dare everyone to listen to this song and not shed a single tear.

[Badassassin]

Hey look, a rap song trying to be inspirational! And failing miserably! There's not a billion of those lying around!

Honestly, this song does make me tear up, but only because I'm weeping at the state of the music industry.

I seem to remember a thread recently about how elitist this site is...

 

[SirLT]

No tears here, and I've listened to this song at least 4 times through now.

Criminals, in general, do not make sympathetic characters, rapists even less so. Well dealing drugs can potentially be excused or explained by the characters situation, single mother who was an addict during the kids early life (but than later quit), father was absent, lived in a ghetto and felt that dealing drugs was the way to get the life and things he wanted, its very hard for me to consider a circumstance where rape is purely the result of, or even primarily due to, situational factors.

As such, it is very hard for me to view Billy as purely a victim of class discrimination, oppression, the 'systemic problem' of racism, or any of the other reasons posited for Billy's behavior in this song. Selling drugs to be able to afford food makes you a survivor (that said, it is not the reason given for said action in the song), beating and raping a woman to prove you are 'cold hearted' or a 'real thug' worthy of the big leagues make you an asshole, and unworthy my sympathy.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to go try and break the newly formed association between this trite song and Love Story (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVNWeeKoHEw) which is a song I actually enjoy.

Edit: minor sentence correction.

 

[MaxwellEdison]

Why would you post Immortal Technique here?
I love his stuff, but seriously, way too many people here just hate the genre of music to care beyond having an opportunity to insult rap.

And honestly, it didn't bring a tear to my eye, either. Immortal Technique never really had that effect on me.

 

[NotSoNimble]

Even if you don't like hip-hop you have to listen to this song. It is one of the only songs that has ever had me speechless after first hearing it. Its such a tragic story and I find myself on the verge of tears at the end of it. Its just that powerful of a song and this is what real hip-hop should be not all that shit about swag and partying, but real shit that has a message.

What's tragic? Evil begets evil. That's a really old, rather over used story device. There is no reason to feel sorry for any of the evil people mentioned in that rap. Big shock, they continue to do evil.

What message do you think that song has? That you shouldn't be a complete piece of shit? This is a new concept for you? Seriously, I don't get it.

 

[BonsaiK]

Even if you don't like hip-hop you have to listen to this song. It is one of the only songs that has ever had me speechless after first hearing it. Its such a tragic story and I find myself on the verge of tears at the end of it. Its just that powerful of a song and this is what real hip-hop should be not all that shit about swag and partying, but real shit that has a message.

I really didn't like the song much. I've never liked Henry Mancini's "Love Story", it's a pretty obvious, hackneyed choice for a sample, right up there with Vanilla Ice using Queen's "Under Pressure". Straight-up lazy beat-making. The big problem with a lot of "message" rap, especially the more underground stuff, is that the music is often an afterthought and it really shows here. Also didn't care about the supposed "message" anyway (which is what, anyway? Society sucks? The ghetto is hard?), as soon as the protagonist is revealed as a drug dealer early in the song I lost interest. At the end after he'd done countess other dumb things I would never have done in the same position I thought "sounds like the death of a complete fuckwit to me", and didn't have much sympathy for the mother either as she was obviously a pretty crappy parent to raise such an idiot. No tears from me. Oh well, it's not terrible I guess, at least it wasn't the usual conspiracy-theory claptrap Immortal Technique usually bangs on about.... but it's sure not in my top ten of "most moving rap songs".

 

[wastedyouth89]

First off, I love this song. Second, I would never consider this a song to make you cry. A song to make you think, a song to make your mouth gape open when you hear the end, but not one to cry to. I really think this is one of the few rappers out there with a real message but his music isn't going to make me cry.

 

[redmoretrout]

Not hiphop, but rap. Based of a true story that isn't about inner city living, the only song to ever make me feel sad.

Thank you for introducing me to a rap song that I actually enjoy. That was much better then that crap the OP posted

 

[Drakenian]

Coming back to this thread, you wanna hear a song that's messed up? Listen to '97 Bonnie & Clyde by Eminem. Jeeeesus, son.

 

[L0ki]

Pointless thread, you propose a challenge you cannot prove via the internet. Can not prove anyone actually listened, and can not prove if the did or did not cry even if they did.

 

[axlryder]

didn't have much sympathy for the mother either as she was obviously a pretty crappy parent to raise such an idiot.

I can't imagine an emotionally healthy person with passable knowledge of the 'ghetto', parenting and a poverty stricken life could possibly take a position of total apathy or contempt towards that mother's plight. I honestly can't. Note that when I say ghetto I'm speaking colloquially: places like Taylor Homes, Englewood, etc.

 

[Jegsimmons]

yeah, no....it bored me more than it mad me sad.

you know what song does bring tears to my eyes?
this:

 

[Vitagen]

This song consists of the following:

8 measures of piano melody, played in loop
Generic drum beat, also loop
Generic impoverished-kid-wants-to-be-a-"gangsta'"-and-commits-suicide-when-(s)he (but usually he)-realizes-what-(s)he (but usually he)-has-done story told in rhyme that is periodically kinda sorta in rhythm with everything else

The only part where it seems like any effort has gone is the story, which actually tries too hard.

He's the kind of song that makes me cry:

I've heard it over 100 times and I still tear up every time.

You know you basically just said that a kid's first pet dying is more tragic than the situation of black people living in ghettos struggling to survive. I can't really explain in words how fucked up that is.

You know you basically just said that you don't understand that there's more to emotion inducing songwriting that coming up with a tired cliché and setting it to "music." I can't really explain in words how moronic that is.

To be serious, though, writing a genuinely moving song takes careful attention to melody and the contrast in emotion. You'll notice the pet song brings you up to a sort of "bawwwww" state before kicking you down into a "waaahhhhh" state, and while the song didn't make me cry, it did elicit a stronger emotional response in me than someone choosing to commit crime to look cool. Really,

Did you even bother listening to the whole song?

because if you had you might have noticed that that's what the song's about. It specifically says things like "He wanted to be major like the cut throats and the thugs," not that "he desperately needed money so he went and ... shot and raped people?" Yeah, this doesn't make sense any way you construe it. Crime is a choice, not a necessity.

Huh, I seem to have used a solid square foot of screen space. I am genuinely saddened by that. I guess I just got on a rant. I apologize if I've seemed rude, Instinct, I don't think you're a moron. I just think you really like this song and are upset that others don't. Sure, you've overreacted more than a little, but we as humans are hardwired to react that way when people disagree with us (as evidenced by my post).

Also, whoever mentioned Hotel California, that song sends shivers down my spine every time I listen to it.

 

[NotSoLoneWanderer]

Not a single tear, bro. It takes more than 'Homie grew up in the ghettos. Shit's sad, yo' to make me feel something.

Did you even bother listening to the whole song? I don't think you did and if you did you didn't really listen to it. Its not just "Homie grew up in the ghettos. Shit's sad, yo" and if you think so you are just an ignorant person as well as being racist.

I did, and I fail to see how I'm being racist when that's what the song's actually about.

That's not what its about its about the struggles of everyone and especially those in the black community who think their only way out is being a thug and selling drugs to make it. Which is continuously pushed by those in the media and the music business. You're clearly ignoring the struggles of those in the "ghettos" when guess who put them there white people. Guess who tries desperately to keep them there? White people like yourself by being ignorant and oblivious to the issues. Try to tell me I'm wrong when white people put black people in the situation they are in. The least you can do is listen to the whole song and put a little more thought into your response.

That's uh...that's a kinda broad statement there buddy. I've actually written out about three long explanations for the condition black America as it is today but they were impossible to write without highlighting inaction and negativity in the black community compared to that of the Irish, Jewish, Asian, and a few other communities faced with inequality in America. Skin color was a major difference in the struggles of the black community compared to the communities above but...you know what it doesn't matter. Just try not to be so broad with statements about the "black community" and remember it's not just us but "Native" American, Spanish, European, hell now that I think about it Americans just hate everybody for a while until they become accepted. Anyway this song could have been song by and about Mexicans in the barrio or white trash in some flat square shaped state and it would've been the same.

 

[BlazeRaider]

Sorta long :/ but while the story is quite sad, I've heard sadder stories, as I often read books concerning less then happy realities, so no tears sorry. While we are on the subject, this has been one of the few things to make me cry through pure verbal means.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

I'd listen to it, but if I say I didn't cry, I guess that makes me an ignorant racist. So, yeah, not happening. I'll stick to my blues and power ballads for my emotional saddening, not rap or hip-hop, regardless of the contexts. That kind of music just doesn't affect me. It lacks eloquence, which goes a long way to me becoming emotionally attached to a piece of music.

A song which actually affects me emotionally, though?


Trust Waits to wax the melancholy juuust right.

Ahh, I do love Tom Waits. This one tears me up almost every time I listen to it, also:


I'm Australian, so I grew up with "Waltzing Matilda"; the way the song uses the ideas from that old folk song is just... masterful.

 

[Gudrests]

Even if you don't like hip-hop you have to listen to this song. It is one of the only songs that has ever had me speechless after first hearing it. Its such a tragic story and I find myself on the verge of tears at the end of it. Its just that powerful of a song and this is what real hip-hop should be not all that shit about swag and partying, but real shit that has a message.

Tragic story of what? A greedy fucking kid who only thought of himself? Whats the message...don't rape your own mother? Being a useless piece of shit makes you a useless piece of shit. I know the neighbor hoods like this, Was I born their? No, My parents worked their asses off, Do I know people who were born here? Yes, My best friend as a matter of a fact. Are his, mine, and this kid's in the songs dreams all the same? Sort of, we want to be successful. But there is a difference between that useless waist of life in the song, and me and my friend. It's called being a human being. Last I checked I never sold drugs, raped anyone, or killed myself. Neither did my friend. Last I checked when we want to succeed we do something useful about it. You think the "White man" put black people where they are? They keep all the black people down? Then you are as dumb an ignorant as you sound right now. We have a black president and you can honestly say that with a straight face? When the government AND schools give better treatment to minorities because they are a minority? You ever look at government grants for school? On 50 pages of them I qualified for 5, My black friend was laughing adding up all the money he could have gotten for school. This is completely diss-regarding grades OR income levels.

Now you want someone here to feel sorry for some piece of shit who would do all of that described in the song? And don't say there was no other way, It's called not being dumb, Yes their is. He chose the easy way, the ***** way.

Keeping them in their place....You have alot to learn about life then. I don't feel sorry for people who think to get higher in life they have to act like that. I laugh when I see it on the news, what would they of said on the news for him? "An inner city youth fell to his death near brutal rape and murder scene of his mother?" OK...

Not a single tear, and Mods, When I get that suspension that's probably coming to me. Leave this open so this ignorant user can see it. .....Shead a tear.....Like asking to cry for a gambler who lost his money.

 

[Bento Box]

This song really surprised me; I expected it to be his girlfriend.

No, the song didn't speak to me. It didn't touch me. Stories of shitty people doing shitty things, and meeting with freak coincidence and a dead relative resulting in a life-shattering epiphany is pretty much the story of any hip-hop song that even bothers to touch on the idea of moral consequence.

Yes, it is the story of a youth in shitty consequences -- but the people we remember are the ones who rise above their shitty circumstances. The kid in this story embraced them. In the end he doesn't even work toward retribution or redemption. He has a .22 in his hand. He could have killed the monsters around him, or run from his situation and worked to redeem himself, to turn his life around and to turn around the lives of others. That might have gotten at least a nod out of me. With this song, I have a hard time even feeling sad.

I understand that IT does lots of good work, and I'll applaud him for that, and support him wholeheartedly. It doesn't mean I have to respect him as a performer.