Is Rap Music Really Music?

[pulse2]

A person's interpretation of music is what matters to you alone.

To say rap isn't music is pure ignorance because then I could consider most of the rubbish I hear today none music, music where lines are stolen from other popular artists or bands, or where the vocals and intrumentals are recycled, or in pop where the same verse is repeated over and over and over like as if it is some kind of new trend. Even the quality of some rock has gone down.

I believe there is crap rap, where females are inaccuratly represented and money is the topic of conversation, but there is also rap where the artist has taken an incredible amount of time considering what they want to put into thier lyrics, which could be hours or even days spent at a library. Kanye West for an example was like that, Nas was also like that, if anything, those two artist spent more time considering the actual meaning of literature than many artists today in ANY genre of music. There was more time spent thinking of the meaning of what they were rapping about then a lot of rock, country, pop and half the nonsense people consider to be music.

The very premise that you could say thier rap isn't music but the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry and several others either singing the same verse or singing about love and love problems (which is the most popular music theme since music was invented) is almost insulting.

The Roots for example have stepped beyond the boundaries and combined rap and hip hop elemnts with rock, thus appealing to both genres, but you will find they are much less popular or well known because they actually spend time making thier music.

Black Eyed Peas used to make very well thought out music, I absolutly loved it, now they make club nonsense that people today consider to be 'music'.

So when you talk about music, just what standards are you setting and in what way has Rap not fit into those standards other then a melody, which means nothing because people are attacted to different forms of melodies, if thats the case then most metal isn't music either because the melodies rarely attract me, if anything, they irritate my ears, but yet, I appreciate it as music and respect those who love it.

 

[Calico93]

Gangster bullshit douchebag "music" is not art.

who are you to define what is art have you ever been to the inner city and witnessed some of the things talked about in gangster rap...not likely who are you to pass judgment on the value of their work. Your culturally insensitive and a fool gain some world experience and then pass a value judgment...

I write songs, I play guitar, I create my own art using instruments, paintbrushes, pencils etc, I am an aspiring young artist. (also I shouldve put IMO)
I can see that some rap songs talk about how bad life is in the ghetto or whatever, but they dont come off as appeals to help these areas or to discuss it, and young people (mainly chavs) aspire the be one of these gangsters living in a ghetto because it makes them look "baddass".
Dont get me wrong I think rap can be a great genre to work in, but the music as a whole that comes from gangster rap artists is quite bland, I can understand that some rapstars can mainly focus lyrics and what they want to say/express, which can lead to the actual melody and song structure to be weak. But that doesnt excuse the fact that the song as a whole can be repetitive, over produced, bland and uninspiring.
Some of the lyrics/poems that rapstars create can be an art form, a reflection on the world/different parts of the world and to tell people how bad it is, or a story of their lives.
Constantly talking about bling, whores, bitches, rides, guns, and making it sound "baddass" IMO isnt art.

 

[pulse2]

Ugh... the one topic that really gets me upset at the vast majority of the population of the Escapist. I have to refrain from reading everyone's responses in order to not become seethingly angry.

You are actually half-correct:
Rap is a lyrical style commonly found in hip-hop music, it is not a musical genre in itself.
Hip-Hop is a post-colonial subculture which formed in the ghettos of the U.S. through the creation of Graffiti, Breakdancing, and Hip-Hop music, with Rap and Spoken word as a very important part of Hip-Hop music.

So no, rap isn't a musical genre. Hip-hop is.

People who have to ask themselves the thread question are fucking morons. Seriously, I don't go around saying all metal sounds the same because I respect other peoples music tastes.

<youtube=Vt6KS8bCPIc>

Holy shit, she sings and raps. Most people's knowledge of rap music on this site doesn't even go past mainstream artists like Kanye West, so please shut the fuck up and stop getting your opinions off Google.

You made me so happy by promoting Dessa just now. I just saw her live the other night. One of the most moving and powerful live performances I've ever witness. She was easily one of the nicest musical artists I ever got to talk to, and she actually signed my copy of her album with a "Thank You" because she was grateful that I actually bought it.

Well actually, it is. It may not have been deemed so in the beginning of Hip Hop culture, but since then, it has seperated itself and become a genre of it's own. If you still don't believe it is, then that to me is delusional. I agree with the points made about Hip Hop background, but you have to take into account that times have changed and rap has diffrenciated itself into a genre of its own. Technically it is poetry, and any form of poetry can be classed as music.

Take Drum and Bass for example, since the early forms of drum and bass, several new genres have formed from it, liquid, house, dance, garage, dub steb, what you're saying would be like saying that none of these genres exist either, only drum and bass exist. If that's the case, I have to ask you, on what ground? Which rules state that music has to have a key feature in it for it to be classed as a particular genre.

Rap is rap, it isn't hip hop and it isn't R&B, I can tell the difference between a rap song and a Hip Hop song, Rap, no matter how you look at it is it's own genre now, whether you like it or not.

 

[Something Amyss]

I say no. I define music very simply as something having a musical melody. Sung, played, strummed, doesn't matter, as long as it's present. Speaking quickly does not a melody make. Thus rap isn't music.

Which is not to say there's no rap out there worth listening to; on the contrary, some is both worthwhile and socially relevant. However, when the vast majority of it is about how cool it is to be a criminal, or to have hot bitches and big TVs, I think society as a whole can do without that.

Speaking fast isn't a melody, but what about rappers like Bone Thugz n Harmony, who have a strong vocal melody, while rapping?

What about rappers who have strong instrumental melodies? even a lot of those guys you're talking about how cool it is to be a criminal do that. What about rap acts who play their own instruments?

 

[emeraldrafael]

I have to yes.

Music is someting that is different from culture to culture. You could say that tribal drum beatings and chanting arent music, but if its yours, then it is.

Granted, I personally dont care for New rap. I liked the older (80s/90s rap. You know, back when being a rapper usually meant you had a target on your head) more then this R&B/Rap abortion thing that Kanye West, Eminem, or any of the other popular artists today, but even thats still music. Its just something different. Dont be so insensitive.

 

[wolf92]

This topic is so old it's ridiculous...people whom do not listen to rap and are not familiar with the hip hop and rmb movement should just leave it alone because it has connections to black culture and identity...

Rapping, also referred to as MCing or emceeing, is a vocal style in which the artist speaks lyrically, in rhyme and verse, generally to an instrumental or synthesized beat. Beats, almost always in 4/4 time signature, can be created by sampling and/or sequencing portions of other songs by a producer.[2] They also incorporate synthesizers, drum machines, and live bands. Rappers may write, memorize, or improvise their lyrics and perform their works a cappella or to a beat.

The roots of hip hop are found in African-American music and ultimately African music. The griots of West Africa are a group of traveling singers and poets who are part of an oral tradition dating back hundreds of years. Their vocal style is similar to that of rappers.[7] The African-American traditions of signifyin', the dozens, and jazz poetry are all descended from the griots. In addition, musical 'comedy' acts such as Rudy Ray Moore and Blowfly are considered by some to be the forefathers of rap.


take like three seconds to read some thing before you voice your opinion it makes you sound informed...

This. All of it

 

[katsumoto03]

Rap has the potential to be, and some artists can manage it.

Most of it isn't though, particularly the 'gangsta rap' genera.

 

[emusa]

no.

 

[Madskull]

I say yes. It's a special kind of music, music where so much is said in a small space of time which is directed by the length of the beat and the overall skill of the rapper.
Many rap songs tell stories of life, teaches the listener some valuable lessons that they can't learn in school.
Some rappers just amaze me by their talent in writing and rapping but nowadays, shit is at the top while real talents lie under all that shit, so I understand how most of people think that the entire rap industry is bad.
All I have to say now is: at least give it a chance.

 

[crunchieman]

Yes it is.
EDIT: Embedding failure, go listen to q-tip.

 

[Digikid]

Rap is not music at all. It is just random noise and bad language.

Heck more than half the time you cannot even understand WTF they are even saying.

 

[pulse2]

Gangster bullshit douchebag "music" is not art.

who are you to define what is art have you ever been to the inner city and witnessed some of the things talked about in gangster rap...not likely who are you to pass judgment on the value of their work. Your culturally insensitive and a fool gain some world experience and then pass a value judgment...

I write songs, I play guitar, I create my own art using instruments, paintbrushes, pencils etc, I am an aspiring young artist. (also I shouldve put IMO)
I can see that some rap songs talk about how bad life is in the ghetto or whatever, but they dont come off as appeals to help these areas or to discuss it, and young people (mainly chavs) aspire the be one of these gangsters living in a ghetto because it makes them look "baddass".
Dont get me wrong I think rap can be a great genre to work in, but the music as a whole that comes from gangster rap artists is quite bland, I can understand that some rapstars can mainly focus lyrics and what they want to say/express, which can lead to the actual melody and song structure to be weak. But that doesnt excuse the fact that the song as a whole can be repetitive, over produced, bland and uninspiring.
Some of the lyrics/poems that rapstars create can be an art form, a reflection on the world/different parts of the world and to tell people how bad it is, or a story of their lives.
Constantly talking about bling, whores, bitches, rides, guns, and making it sound "baddass" IMO isnt art.

Yes, but you are doing what the vast majority of people do, stick the whole genre into one category because of whats considered 'popular'.

If I was to take that very same opinion, I would never listen to most music:

*Pop is just about fashion and how extravagant you look, they sing the same verse over and over again and there is very little content in the songs themselves.
*Metal is just angry people screaming over a microphone, I can't make out what they are saying because it's just a series of grunts.
*Rock is just about people who like to headbang, they have no braincells left to care about what is said in the song and it doesnt matter because the guitar as been smashed to pieces on the stage and nobody is listening to the words anyway.
*Classical is just about posh totties listening to a woman singing loudly or a man singing like a woman singing loudly and they think they are too posh for the rest of us.

All stereotypes, the problem is, 50 Cent is always going to be more popular today then Nas is, nobody wants to go clubbing and hear well thougth out verses about political veiws, they want to hear the same verse over and over, Rihanna and Katy Perry is going to be thier nonsense of choice. Katy is stunning by all means, but as a lover of all kinds of music, not just for the melodies (whatever that means) but because music inspires me, to me, her music is just for a boogy, I wouldn't listen to it while I'm writing, because none of it would make any sense, nor would it stir my creative juices. My brother like you is a different kind of musical artist, he works with computerised music and alongside singers of all types of music, together, we have learnt to not listen to the mainstream nonsense that people classify as genres of music and instead listen to those behind the scenes, like Styles of Beyond, Noisia, Andy Hunter, Mobb Deep, heck, I even have music that people would call me strange listening to, but guess what, it means I have a greater appreciation for the time, work and dedication put into a proper song in any genre.

 

[AvitaDeva]

Gangster bullshit douchebag "music" is not art.

who are you to define what is art have you ever been to the inner city and witnessed some of the things talked about in gangster rap...not likely who are you to pass judgment on the value of their work. Your culturally insensitive and a fool gain some world experience and then pass a value judgment...

I write songs, I play guitar, I create my own art using instruments, paintbrushes, pencils etc, I am an aspiring young artist. (also I shouldve put IMO)
I can see that some rap songs talk about how bad life is in the ghetto or whatever, but they dont come off as appeals to help these areas or to discuss it, and young people (mainly chavs) aspire the be one of these gangsters living in a ghetto because it makes them look "baddass".
Dont get me wrong I think rap can be a great genre to work in, but the music as a whole that comes from gangster rap artists is quite bland, I can understand that some rapstars can mainly focus lyrics and what they want to say/express, which can lead to the actual melody and song structure to be weak. But that doesnt excuse the fact that the song as a whole can be repetitive, over produced, bland and uninspiring.
Some of the lyrics/poems that rapstars create can be an art form, a reflection on the world/different parts of the world and to tell people how bad it is, or a story of their lives.
Constantly talking about bling, whores, bitches, rides, guns, and making it sound "baddass" IMO isnt art.

I don't remember asking you what artistic ventures you might have made but hell lets talk about it. I play Keyboard for my church I sculpt ceramic statues and i am a cartoonist at my one of my colleges small news papers. This does not make me any more qualified than any one else to judge the medium. You think there are no song which which call for help listen to Nas if you know who that is catch so 2-Pac or Easy-E and you'll find that they call for the Ghetto to be helped. But this should not the focus of every song for that would be repetitive and come across as needy no man with any hint of pride wants to seem needy. and i could say very similar things about artist in other genres that there songs seem uninspired (Disturbed) cookie cutter (My Chemical Romance)or just generally always telling the same Story (Evanescence) You can not charge the whole medium with these crimes for that is not fair you must judge individual artists b their works. And rap music is not what drives kids in under privileged neighborhoods to violence its the socialization they are given. Poor educational structuring leads to two choices become a star or become a thug. Because these choices are so ingrained in these areas rappers tend to discus them more often than not because it is what they were made to talk about. Gangster Rap is an expression of their lives and you simply devalue it their experiences because it does not interest you. This what pisses me of about people whom are not privy to the struggle of the ghetto...get robbed once or twice and then well see how much you can empathize with the struggle.

 

[Busdriver580]

Modern songs are essentially just poetry with notes and rhythms, rap simply subtracts a lot of the note parts. There's no reason why rap should be automatically considered below say rock or classical. But as it stands the "poetry" in what we have today is all either cliched or a dumb club song. Rap was music, music is a dying animal.

 

[Flac00]

I say no. I define music very simply as something having a musical melody. Sung, played, strummed, doesn't matter, as long as it's present. Speaking quickly does not a melody make. Thus rap isn't music.

Which is not to say there's no rap out there worth listening to; on the contrary, some is both worthwhile and socially relevant. However, when the vast majority of it is about how cool it is to be a criminal, or to have hot bitches and big TVs, I think society as a whole can do without that.

Rap is music. I don't like it, but it is still music. Just the same as African dancing music is music, or some guy randomly talking with a beat and techno tracks in the background. It is music, just not good music.

 

[Rouse]

I hope you realise this is very racist.

 

[Bernzz]

I used to be ignorant too! Don't worry, we get better as we grow up.

Speaking quickly does not a melody make? An experienced rapper can easily make a melody, with just their voice.

And if the rapper is too inexperienced? That's why the beat is there. To make the melody for them to rap along to.

 

[pulse2]

Lol, how many of you listen to Bangra? Or Enka? Or African drumming? Would you consider these to be none music because they don't have the 'melodies' you like?

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Unless someone is playing or acting as an intrument(ie Beatboxing) then it is not music. If it just some rapping or singing then it is not music nor are they a musician. For example a band like Westlife is nothing but a bunch of people singing. Although they do hire people to do music sometimes they are mainly just a group of people singing and are thus technically not musicians. So yes rap is music as long as there is an intrument playing it is techincally music.

Although if you want to go along the lines of music vs noise then that depends on whether the music is well written, follows various rules to writing music, taste, etc.

 

[pulse2]

I hope you realise this is very racist.

No, not at all, Rap is for everyone, not just black people, it may have started off as black music, but it has since been adopted by a vast number of people, to the point where a large portion of the rappers today are chinese, indian, japanese and especially white people. Its not blacks that are being insulted by it being called not music, its just people who love rap.

That would be like saying that those who don't like rock and roll are racist because rock and roll evolved from blues, blues was created by black slaves back in the day.

Same goes for Jazz and gospel.