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Hip hop fans: why do you like these bad people?


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Old 14-06-2009, 21:49
Grand Dizzy
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I think hip hop is OK as music, but I’ve never understood why these rappers are so popular who portray themselves as bad people.

I know rap is pretty diverse, but many rappers do make themselves out to be arrogant, disrespectful, course, often even criminal or murderous. Basically, the characters they portray are real scum.

So I have a few questions for anyone who loves, or idolises, these kind of people:

1. Can you explain how a “bad person” can be your hero?

2. If you met someone like this in real life would you ilke that person?

3. Do you think these lyrics are a good influence on children? Would you be happy if your kids grew up with these kind of attitudes?

4. Do you dislike those singers/rappers who come across as good, noble and respectful?

I have a theory that maybe this kind of music appeals to our human instinct to want to be strong, powerful and protect our families. (This is a predominantly male instinct, meaning hip hop would be more popular with men.)

What do you think about my theory? Does anyone know if Hip hop is more popular with men? There do seem to be more male rappers than female ones though, which supports my theory.
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Old 14-06-2009, 22:03
JoM1982
 
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There is hip hop out there that is concerned with social commentary or simply putting down a good beat.

Have a listen to De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, KRS-One, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The Pharcyde and Buck 65. Then see what you think
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Old 14-06-2009, 22:14
Triple-P
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they rap about their life.

if you lived in a place they grew up in you would have the same thoughts as they would. they got the hell out of their, became rich and now are telling the world their story.

thats why rappers say their music isnt for everyone. you have to relate to it to understand. but hiphop is massive so it gets heard by people who just odnt understand what they are saying and why they are sayin such things.


but thats just one aspect of hiphop, you got people like kid cudi, kanye west, drake (new rapper who is about to be the next big thing) who rap about stuff that could appeal to the middle class.

there are a lot of mixtape songs that get released but not for the charts or to make money, they just make music about stuff thats happened to them.


50 cent raps about murder, guns, drugs because he was almost murdered and he grew up in a rough area were he was a drug dealer. he lived through it and uses his experience to make music.
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Old 14-06-2009, 23:12
upintheskylfc
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Rap music (some) is very poetic
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Old 15-06-2009, 00:09
JasonWatkins
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There is hip hop out there that is concerned with social commentary or simply putting down a good beat.

Have a listen to De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, KRS-One, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The Pharcyde and Buck 65. Then see what you think
I'll add a plus one to that for sure - and add The Roots to the list as well.
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Old 15-06-2009, 00:30
prasanth
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I think "old-school" rap is more worthy or being honored than the rap that is out today. There used to be a time when the lyrical content was poetic and talked about "real" issues. The lyrics weren't "f**k my bitch up, yeh, yeh, yeh*. Instead , the likes of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. would describne the raw, crime-ridden lifestyles they live/lived in. On a musical side, they way a sample would be looped and the way in which the lyrics were made to fit over the top of it was far more admirable than it is now.
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Old 15-06-2009, 01:08
upintheskylfc
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I think "old-school" rap is more worthy or being honored than the rap that is out today. There used to be a time when the lyrical content was poetic and talked about "real" issues. The lyrics weren't "f**k my bitch up, yeh, yeh, yeh*. Instead , the likes of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. would describne the raw, crime-ridden lifestyles they live/lived in. On a musical side, they way a sample would be looped and the way in which the lyrics were made to fit over the top of it was far more admirable than it is now.
Spot on
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Old 15-06-2009, 01:10
JasonWatkins
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On a musical side, they way a sample would be looped and the way in which the lyrics were made to fit over the top of it was far more admirable than it is now.
Definitely - they could certainly teach Flo-Rida a thing or three (hundred ...).
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Old 15-06-2009, 02:26
fezxenakis
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OP you've put your finger on something that's been getting under my skin for a while. At some point during the 90s hip-hop stopped being about social comment or rappers pretending be gangsters, in a showbiz kind of a way. Suddenly they really were those characters and really did have a bad attitude towards woman and violence. I still fail to see how this is entertaining. I look at 50 Cents lyrics and they just lack humanity, humility, generosity, and anything else that goes into a real work of art or entertainment. Plus they're not particularly clever. Ok beats but how did that guy and others like him ever become popular? I guess most people don't really look closely at the lyrics. I remember he was booed off stage at Reading a few years ago, perhaps there's a limit to how long you can preach violence and misogyny before the public really turn against you. Do we really want to hear that stuff? Plenty of artists have grown up in extreme poverty and still come out with amazing life affirming songs, Dolly Parton or James Brown, for example, given added depth because of their incredible experience. Isn't that what it's all about? I thought so.
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Old 15-06-2009, 06:29
JoM1982
 
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I'll add a plus one to that for sure - and add The Roots to the list as well.
The Roots...how could I forget...
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Old 15-06-2009, 14:33
gers09
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I think hip hop is OK as music, but I’ve never understood why these rappers are so popular who portray themselves as bad people.

I know rap is pretty diverse, but many rappers do make themselves out to be arrogant, disrespectful, course, often even criminal or murderous. Basically, the characters they portray are real scum.

So I have a few questions for anyone who loves, or idolises, these kind of people:

1. Can you explain how a “bad person” can be your hero?

2. If you met someone like this in real life would you ilke that person?

3. Do you think these lyrics are a good influence on children? Would you be happy if your kids grew up with these kind of attitudes?

4. Do you dislike those singers/rappers who come across as good, noble and respectful?

I have a theory that maybe this kind of music appeals to our human instinct to want to be strong, powerful and protect our families. (This is a predominantly male instinct, meaning hip hop would be more popular with men.)

What do you think about my theory? Does anyone know if Hip hop is more popular with men? There do seem to be more male rappers than female ones though, which supports my theory.
Alot of rappers have came from very poor bankgrounds, and literally have nothing until they have became 'big' in the entertainment industry.

People idolise big brother or x-factor contestants who have became famous very easily as they have had alot of exposure. For a rapper to come from a poor background with no opportunities, to work so hard and become famous is an inspiration. It doesnt condone anything they may have done in their private lives, but the determination has to be admired.

I am a huge hip hop fan, and like a variety of artists, but gangsta rap is deffinately my favourite.

However, if you dont want to listen to that then there are plenty other forms of hip hop as JoM1982 mentioned. Another 1 I'd add to his list is Lupe Fiasco.
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Old 15-06-2009, 14:45
JoM1982
 
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Alot of rappers have came from very poor bankgrounds, and literally have nothing until they have became 'big' in the entertainment industry.

People idolise big brother or x-factor contestants who have became famous very easily as they have had alot of exposure. For a rapper to come from a poor background with no opportunities, to work so hard and become famous is an inspiration. It doesnt condone anything they may have done in their private lives, but the determination has to be admired.

I am a huge hip hop fan, and like a variety of artists, but gangsta rap is deffinately my favourite.

However, if you dont want to listen to that then there are plenty other forms of hip hop as JoM1982 mentioned. Another 1 I'd add to his list is Lupe Fiasco.
Cheers buddy, but I'm actually a girl!
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:09
gers09
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Cheers buddy, but I'm actually a girl!
Haha, Ooooooooooooops

My apologies!
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:11
JoM1982
 
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No worries
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:22
d3nium
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The Roots...how could I forget...
Black Thought is the greatest MC alive IMHO

Personally i love hiphop, but concious hiphop, not 50 cent and the like.
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:26
Electroflower
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People idolise big brother or x-factor contestants who have became famous very easily as they have had alot of exposure. For a rapper to come from a poor background with no opportunities, to work so hard and become famous is an inspiration. It doesnt condone anything they may have done in their private lives, but the determination has to be admired.
Yes, their determination and resulting success is admirable but that isn't what puts people off hip hop culture. It's the arrogant, homogenous, braindead attitudes that being successful and having lots of girls, bling, drugs and possibly being a pimp in your free time is the ultimate goal. Of course I realise that there is a lot of clever, more interesting hip hop out there as well and lots of it is catchy and good musically too but there just seems to be this stupid, incredibly boring overriding attitude, particularly with mainstream hip hop that material success is all you need. That's why so many R&B and hip hop videos now are so boring and all look exactly the same. It seems that all they're interested in doing generally, is wearing bling and being with a load of girls in a some mansion or posh pad and the lyrics often reflect this too. Also they glamorise their supposedly "bad" backgrounds, they don't just describe them. What's so admirable about having being shot 9 times or whatever?
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:28
JoM1982
 
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Black Thought is the greatest MC alive IMHO

Personally i love hiphop, but concious hiphop, not 50 cent and the like.
Yeah, I love Birthday Girl...one of their best tracks.
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:41
d3nium
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Yea it's a tune!

My favourite track is Act Too (Love of my life)

I saw them at Manchester Academy last time, they absolutely tore the place up, i've never seen anything like it. Thought is a beast on the mic, there's nobody better live and that includes Jay-Z

I love how they use live instruments rather than a DJ & Decks!!
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Old 15-06-2009, 15:56
JoM1982
 
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Yea it's a tune!

My favourite track is Act Too (Love of my life)

I saw them at Manchester Academy last time, they absolutely tore the place up, i've never seen anything like it. Thought is a beast on the mic, there's nobody better live and that includes Jay-Z

I love how they use live instruments rather than a DJ & Decks!!
Yeah, I can imagine them being good live. I was fortunate enough to see Jurassic 5 live a few years before they split, and they were great, also seen Buck 65 who is a legend (and also extremely hot ) Saw Roots Manuva at the Reading Festival a few years back and thought he was strangely disappointing, which is a shame as I love all his albums...I'll stop waffling on now
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:06
burbs
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I run urban events in the UK and have put on quite a few events with people that the OP would probably class as "bad people"

This is a persona, its mostly fake to make them stand out from the crowd, give them an egde and sell records.
Examples are Rick Ross who made out that he sold drugs, was a gangster and generally a nasty piece of work before he found music. In fact he was actually a prison guard, had never been in trouble in his life and was actually a "nice guy". When the story came out his record sales were not really affected.
Akon was another one who said he had been in prison for car jacking when the prison involved where he said he had been locked up and spent his time had no record of him and infact the story must have been fabricated.

These people have to find an angle, you cant rap about guns and drugs when you have never been involved in that sort of lifestyle so thats what some of them portray to be when they are nothing like that.

Ive met a number of large acts and many smaller UK rappers and they are all really nice in person, they do their job and do it well. They are not bad people, they just provide a service.
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:11
Refusion
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There is hip hop out there that is concerned with social commentary or simply putting down a good beat.

Have a listen to De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, KRS-One, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The Pharcyde and Buck 65. Then see what you think
Yes, this. Buck 65 is one of my absolute favourite artists ever (and yes, he is really hot). I'd add Aesop Rock and Atmosphere to this list as well.
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:38
JoM1982
 
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...and Handsome Boy Modelling School. Love them
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:43
sub4ux4
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reason 1 - nutjobs have found a musical genre that is apporopriate to their lifestyle
reason 2 - airy fairy middle class kids want to look ard as council estate kids
reason 3 - its musically easily to produce and listen to (take away the vocals and most sound like kraftwerk or jean michel jarre samples played at half speed )
reason 4 - nobody wants to be the kid with no friends that listens to non comercial music
and finally reason 5 - the genuine producers of hip hop see the genre as a cheap way to make music without musical knowledge and make a buck pouring their heart out at ghetto life and demmanding respect and loads of biatches to do immoral things as they fart in their shell suit
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:46
mathertron
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There is hip hop out there that is concerned with social commentary or simply putting down a good beat.

Have a listen to De La Soul, Jurassic 5, Blackalicious, KRS-One, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, The Pharcyde and Buck 65. Then see what you think


My favourite hip-hop artists are probably Saul Williams and Dr Octagon/Kool keith(etc.etc.)

I dont think they particularly send out a bad message.

Mind you I love quite a lot of NWA/Dre and old skool(ish) 'gangsta' rap. Has never made me want to go and pop a cap in someones ass or anything though.
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Old 15-06-2009, 16:49
JoM1982
 
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My favourite hip-hop artists are probably Saul Williams and Dr Octagon/Kool keith(etc.etc.)

I dont think they particularly send out a bad message.

Mind you I love quite a lot of NWA/Dre and old skool(ish) 'gangsta' rap. Has never made me want to go and pop a cap in someones ass or anything though.
NWA are great. Express Yourself is a brilliant track.
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