Is Rap Music Really Music?

[Sejs Cube]

Yes, rap is music.

I'm sorry to tell you that your preferences do not define what constitutes a particular art form.

Rap is music. Tuvan throat singing is music. Structured hand-farting can be music. Banging around random objects from a junkyard can be music.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

It has a beat and uses music be it original or, in the background. The messages (be they relevant or not) are lyrical. Therefore, it is music. Just a genre I dislike.

 

[RYjet911]

Rap is not music. Rap is the style of singing, i.e. focusing more on beat and flow of words rather than pitch.

Hip hop is the general style of music which a lot of raps are done to, although you get them to all sorts of things, from grime, industrial, drum and bass and dubstep to stuff like classical music.

So in a way you are correct, but know that rap is not a genre of music, it's a type of 'singing'. Plus I don't understand why you are trying to make out that rap is bad because it "isn't music". You just dislike it. I like it. Many others dislike it. Many others like it.

Get over it.

 

[superbatranger]

I say if people enjoy listening to rap, then it's probably music. I know the logic in that sentence is somewhat flawed, but I'm sticking to my guns.

 

[Alucard832]

This isn't to shit on rap and everyone that listens to it, but to show that it simply does not fit the definition of music. There is no melody, no singing, no instruments, etc. The only instrument-like sounds form a beat, and that just doesn't cut it. Talking is not singing as any elementary school music teacher will point out. And yea, the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches does not help rap's case. You can be entertained by it all you want, but don't try to pass it off a music.

I would personally listen to Justin Beiber before any rap song, so I can't wait until all the kids and general public get over this whole genre.

 

[MegaManOfNumbers]

The Pokemon Rap.

I has win.

 

[Kagim]

Rap is using an audio based medium to express some form of idea or thought or emotion.

Therefore it is music.

You don't like it? That's awesome, opinions kick ass.

That doesn't mean it is no longer music.

It just means you don't like it.

 

[Chaos Bringer]

Music is like candy, you throw the rappers away.

 

[IAmTheVoid]

I used to hate rap. I judged the entire genre by what I saw on the radio- gangsta rap nonsense, one-phrase songs, no actual rapping.

I am still atoning for my sins. I got introduced to Aesop Rock by my forum and I've never looked back. Seriously, immerse yourself in the music through the underground and past greats (Public Enemy I'd say is a good starting point, but ol' Aesop Rock got me started. Look up 'Daylight' and tell me it isn't a beautiful song.)

Don't be so quick to judge. Like some genres, what's actually good isn't showcased very well. Dig deeper. That's all I've got to say.

 

[IAmTheVoid]

This isn't to shit on rap and everyone that listens to it, but to show that it simply does not fit the definition of music. There is no melody, no singing, no instruments, etc. The only instrument-like sounds form a beat, and that just doesn't cut it. Talking is not singing as any elementary school music teacher will point out. And yea, the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches does not help rap's case. You can be entertained by it all you want, but don't try to pass it off a music.

I would personally listen to Justin Beiber before any rap song, so I can't wait until all the kids and general public get over this whole genre.

The subject of a lot of rock and roll was drugs and women (crime to a lesser extent). Take Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid". Take Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Velvet Underground, "Venus In Furs". Hell, "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. All bands and songs that I like, FYI.

I'm not going to tell you that you SHOULD like something, but you should at least acknowledge it has artistic merit in the form of music. Rap can be as thought provoking and deep as any other musical medium. Just like gaming has games devoid of any artistic merit, you have games which are powerful and resonating. Don't tar the genre with one gigantic brush.

 

[Alucard832]

This isn't to shit on rap and everyone that listens to it, but to show that it simply does not fit the definition of music. There is no melody, no singing, no instruments, etc. The only instrument-like sounds form a beat, and that just doesn't cut it. Talking is not singing as any elementary school music teacher will point out. And yea, the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches does not help rap's case. You can be entertained by it all you want, but don't try to pass it off a music.

I would personally listen to Justin Beiber before any rap song, so I can't wait until all the kids and general public get over this whole genre.

The subject of a lot of rock and roll was drugs and women (crime to a lesser extent). Take Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid". Take Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Velvet Underground, "Venus In Furs". Hell, "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. All bands and songs that I like, FYI.

I'm not going to tell you that you SHOULD like something, but you should at least acknowledge it has artistic merit in the form of music. Rap can be as thought provoking and deep as any other musical medium. Just like gaming has games devoid of any artistic merit, you have games which are powerful and resonating. Don't tar the genre with one gigantic brush.

I never said other genre's were without such topics, but the ratio in rap is way off. Even if a small minority of rap is deep or thought provoking, that doesn't just magically make it music.

 

[stone0042]

Music is, at it's core, a way to deliver a message. It is essentially poetry, with accompanying sounds. While I will concede that the a large portion of rap is superficial and lacks deep meaning, the same can be said of many genres. Rap is quite certainly music.

 

[Choppaduel]

I call this music. Do you call this Rap?

 

[EchetusXe]

I say no. I define music...

Wait, we can start making up our own definitions for things?

I define the government as a political system that ensures my will is carried out without question, all the universe bows before my supreme intellect la la lalala lala la la la lala lalala lala la la lala

 

[IAmTheVoid]

This isn't to shit on rap and everyone that listens to it, but to show that it simply does not fit the definition of music. There is no melody, no singing, no instruments, etc. The only instrument-like sounds form a beat, and that just doesn't cut it. Talking is not singing as any elementary school music teacher will point out. And yea, the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches does not help rap's case. You can be entertained by it all you want, but don't try to pass it off a music.

I would personally listen to Justin Beiber before any rap song, so I can't wait until all the kids and general public get over this whole genre.

The subject of a lot of rock and roll was drugs and women (crime to a lesser extent). Take Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid". Take Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Velvet Underground, "Venus In Furs". Hell, "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. All bands and songs that I like, FYI.

I'm not going to tell you that you SHOULD like something, but you should at least acknowledge it has artistic merit in the form of music. Rap can be as thought provoking and deep as any other musical medium. Just like gaming has games devoid of any artistic merit, you have games which are powerful and resonating. Don't tar the genre with one gigantic brush.

I never said other genre's were without such topics, but the ratio in rap is way off. Even if a small minority of rap is deep or thought provoking, that doesn't just magically make it music.

Why should there have to be a ratio- not that I believe what you are saying is right- which determines artistic qualities? Groups like NWA rapped about what was relevant to them in their neighbourhoods and the lives which they lived. I believe you're judging an entire genre of 50 Cent and other mediocre-to-crap rappers who do fulfill your stereotype of rap music. They are not the be-all and end-all of rap. I'd almost certainly say that that 90% of rap is about 'guns, bitches and bling'. It's not that black and white.

 

[IAmTheVoid]

This isn't to shit on rap and everyone that listens to it, but to show that it simply does not fit the definition of music. There is no melody, no singing, no instruments, etc. The only instrument-like sounds form a beat, and that just doesn't cut it. Talking is not singing as any elementary school music teacher will point out. And yea, the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches does not help rap's case. You can be entertained by it all you want, but don't try to pass it off a music.

I would personally listen to Justin Beiber before any rap song, so I can't wait until all the kids and general public get over this whole genre.

The subject of a lot of rock and roll was drugs and women (crime to a lesser extent). Take Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid". Take Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood". Velvet Underground, "Venus In Furs". Hell, "Breaking the Law" by Judas Priest. All bands and songs that I like, FYI.

I'm not going to tell you that you SHOULD like something, but you should at least acknowledge it has artistic merit in the form of music. Rap can be as thought provoking and deep as any other musical medium. Just like gaming has games devoid of any artistic merit, you have games which are powerful and resonating. Don't tar the genre with one gigantic brush.

I never said other genre's were without such topics, but the ratio in rap is way off. Even if a small minority of rap is deep or thought provoking, that doesn't just magically make it music.

Why should there have to be a ratio- not that I believe what you are saying is right- which determines artistic qualities? Groups like NWA rapped about what was relevant to them in their neighbourhoods and the lives which they lived. I believe you're judging an entire genre of 50 Cent and other mediocre-to-crap rappers who do fulfill your stereotype of rap music. They are not the be-all and end-all of rap. I'd almost certainly say that that 90% of rap is about 'guns, bitches and bling'. It's not that black and white.

 

[Harbinger_]

To quote Yahtzee:

Short answer: No

Long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

the subject matter being 90% about crime, drugs, and bitches

I'm just going to leave these here:

Spoiler: As a bonus, this video should appeal to a few of you...

Spoiler: And this one was shot all in one take.

 

[RYjet911]

Message aside though, if the lead voice (be it vocal or instrumental) isn't melodic, then it's not music, it's words being spoken with musical backing. There's a difference. Like I said, I'm not condemning rap as not being worth listening to, I'm just saying it's not music, it's something else.

Then don't consider the rap itself as the 'lead voice', and instead as complimentary purcussion, and instead focus on the melody normally done within the background music itself.

 

[loc978]

...it has rhythmic and melodic structure, so yes, it's music. Disliking something doesn't give someone the right to change its technical classification. Even completely random discordant music is still technically music.