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What is the appeal of rap music? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
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What is the appeal of rap music?
Rap music in one form or another has been with us for a long time now, but for the most part I still cannot understand why it's so popular with many people.
Unless it's built into a song with a distinctive melody of its own, e.g. Blondie's Rapture or Linkin Park's rap metal tracks from Hybrid Theory or Meteora, or even Eminem's Stan, I just don't enjoy hearing a rap. It tends (in my mind at least) to be identified with black street music and often comes across as quite aggressive, with frequently unintelligible lyrics but - and I cannot stress this enough - no discernible tune or hook that would make it stick in the mind, in the way that music heard on the TV or radio so often does, sometimes even if you didn't want it to! |
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#2 |
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Join Date: May 2012
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Some people like different music to you, that's about the sum of it all. I love rap and to say rap songs lack tunes is a bit strange.
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#3 |
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Location: Belfast
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Quote:
Rap music in one form or another has been with us for a long time now, but for the most part I still cannot understand why it's so popular with many people.
Unless it's built into a song with a distinctive melody of its own, e.g. Blondie's Rapture or Linkin Park's rap metal tracks from Hybrid Theory or Meteora, or even Eminem's Stan, I just don't enjoy hearing a rap. Quote:
It tends (in my mind at least) to be identified with black street music and often comes across as quite aggressive, with frequently unintelligible lyrics but - and I cannot stress this enough - no discernible tune or hook that would make it stick in the mind, in the way that music heard on the TV or radio so often does, sometimes even if you didn't want it to!
It took me a while to get into Hip Hop but its subversion and humour work well at times. |
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#4 |
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So what you are saying is there is a genre you don't like. How unusual.
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#5 |
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i have some sympathy with the op's pov...... i find it hard to understand its appeal if youre not from some inner city in america. as an ordinary white brit it has absolutely no appeal to me at all and i struggle to understand why it should appeal to others like me.
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#6 |
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Quote:
So what you are saying is there is a genre you don't like. How unusual.
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#7 |
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I think the OP is saying a bit more than that. Although I don't like country music I can imagine why some people do, but I find it hard to understand the appeal of rap.
On which principle, saying that hip-hop only appeals to people from inner-city USA is like saying curry only appeals to people from Bangladesh. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Oct 2014
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Quote:
i have some sympathy with the op's pov...... i find it hard to understand its appeal if youre not from some inner city in america. as an ordinary white brit it has absolutely no appeal to me at all and i struggle to understand why it should appeal to others like me.
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I think the OP is saying a bit more than that. Although I don't like country music I can imagine why some people do, but I find it hard to understand the appeal of rap.
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But then other people find the appeal of other genres hard to understand. I would never try to persuade someone to like jazz because it would be like trying to persuade someone who didn't like spicy food to eat curry. Rap is like one kind of spicy food, jazz is another, soul/r'n'b is another and they all have different flavours but if you like one you might like another.
On which principle, saying that hip-hop only appeals to people from inner-city USA is like saying curry only appeals to people from Bangladesh. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Emmerdale
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Quote:
Rap music in one form or another has been with us for a long time now, but for the most part I still cannot understand why it's so popular with many people.
Unless it's built into a song with a distinctive melody of its own, e.g. Blondie's Rapture or Linkin Park's rap metal tracks from Hybrid Theory or Meteora, or even Eminem's Stan, I just don't enjoy hearing a rap. It tends (in my mind at least) to be identified with black street music and often comes across as quite aggressive, with frequently unintelligible lyrics but - and I cannot stress this enough - no discernible tune or hook that would make it stick in the mind, in the way that music heard on the TV or radio so often does, sometimes even if you didn't want it to! |
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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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Quote:
It tends (in my mind at least) to be identified with black street music and often comes across as quite aggressive, with frequently unintelligible lyrics |
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#11 |
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Rap opened up the music industry to people who had something to say but didn't necessarily have to have a good singing voice.
Even though I'm not a fan of the genre, I'm all for giving people a platform to express themselves in the often manufactured pop culture of today. |
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#12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
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Quote:
i have some sympathy with the op's pov...
I don't hate rap by default but I do struggle to understand why seemingly every other pop song HAS to have a rap featured in it and why rap and r 'n' b are pretty much inescapable when it comes to radio and the mainstream media. It used to be that rap was its own thing and that worked for me. The merge of rap and pop is something I detest though and do not understand. |
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#13 |
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Quote:
So white people shouldn't/cannot identify with rap music because its black street music?
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#14 |
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So white people shouldn't/cannot identify with rap music because its black street music? Also things like metal, Linkin Park (as you mentioned) can be seen as quite agressive. Rap more than any other genre focuses alot on social commentry at the moment and has more to say for itself than other genres.
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#15 |
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Quote:
So white people shouldn't/cannot identify with rap music because its black street music? .
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The OP said nothing even close to this and you well know it.
as i see it, various styles of music arise out of differing social environments and rap arouse out of inner city american black street music. i do not understand myself how music from that environment has much if any resonance with middle class white british kids. imho theres nothing worse, more patronising or borderline racist as said middle class white kids trying to talk street. unlike rock, which (lets face it is blues based black music) has a broader appeal, rap to me is far more specific to a target audience, and thats great, i just dont get the appeal beyond its natural fanbase. fortunately, hideous acts like honey g are making such a mockery of rap that itll lose its appeal. |
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#16 |
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they didnt but i did! as did another poster.
as i see it, various styles of music arise out of differing social environments and rap arouse out of inner city american black street music. i do not understand myself how music from that environment has much if any resonance with middle class white british kids. imho theres nothing worse, more patronising or borderline racist as said middle class white kids trying to talk street. The same is true of rap, which is why British audiences like pop songs that have carefully crafted raps that exactly fit the right number of bars rather than freeform jams that go on for hours. It's how genres cross over. As to hip-hop's cultural relevance (used correctly for once I think) what's the problem? White British people read books by African American authors and understand the cultural setting and literally where they're coming from. Surely the same is true of rap - we don't want to live in Compton but it helps us to understand what it's like to live there. |
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#17 |
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Music is not that different in its appeal to other art forms or other lifestyle products. Like I said, curry appeals to white British people, it's not usually "authentic" Indian curry but a version that takes the authentic flavours and adapts them to white British tastes.
The same is true of rap, which is why British audiences like pop songs that have carefully crafted raps that exactly fit the right number of bars rather than freeform jams that go on for hours. It's how genres cross over. Quote:
As to hip-hop's cultural relevance (used correctly for once I think) what's the problem? White British people read books by African American authors and understand the cultural setting and literally where they're coming from. Surely the same is true of rap - we don't want to live in Compton but it helps us to understand what it's like to live there.
erm, why should i want nor care to know what its like living in compton? i dont give a damn about their life anymore then they give a damn about mine. im happy for those people that they chose and relate to their kind of music and that it reflects their lives....its almost like modern folk music.. but i dont see it being of any relevance to white british kids. or is that how they rebel nowdays? looking upto an alien culture ? i dont get it, i dont get the worship of that culture but then again my dislike for it could well be tainting my opinion of it.
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#18 |
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I don't like rap, never have done, but I think it's even worse when performed by a white artist. Rap just doesn't come naturally to someone who isn't born with that natural 'rhythm and rhyme'. I think they just look and sound silly.
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#19 |
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So what you are saying is there is a genre you don't like. How unusual.
I don't like Justin Bieber but i'm not going to start trying to work out why .. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Oct 2005
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Indeed. Trying to "figure out" something that is entirely subjective is a complete waste of time.
I don't like Justin Bieber but i'm not going to start trying to work out why .. |
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#21 |
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erm, why should i want nor care to know what its like living in compton? i dont give a damn about their life anymore then they give a damn about mine.
By the way, for anyone who doesn't think rap has anything relevant to say about Britain: https://youtu.be/Xqd86is7y54 |
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#22 |
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Fair enough, but a lot of British people do take an interest in the lives of people outside their immediate experience. American culture in particular has a strong influence on ours, as you said yourself when you referenced the blues being an influence on rock. Someone growing up in Britain today would surely be more likely to listen to contemporary American music (e.g. rap) than American music from over 60 years ago (e.g. the blues).
By the way, for anyone who doesn't think rap has anything relevant to say about Britain: https://youtu.be/Xqd86is7y54 probably just my anti rap bias though, as like it or not, rap clearly does appear to have some resonance with white british kids, i just dont understand why.... hey ho! |
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#23 |
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By the way, for anyone who doesn't think rap has anything relevant to say about Britain: https://youtu.be/Xqd86is7y54
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#24 |
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id have thought though the blues was more readily transferable to a uk fan base. we have taken many american sounds and anglicised them, rhythm and blues, punk, being prime examples. so im still unable to understand why rap would appeal to white british kids over rock/blues.
probably just my anti rap bias though, as like it or not, rap clearly does appear to have some resonance with white british kids, i just dont understand why.... hey ho! |
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#25 |
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The main appeal for me is it is the most lyrical genre, some of the best writers in music history. contrary to popular belief rapping is not an easy thing to do well. people like Nas are so gifted they make it seem effortless. why would all these pop artists feature rappers on there songs instead of doing it themselves if its so easy.
its mainly based around the beat and rhythm but to say that it contains no melodies is rubbish. and you cant tell me that people like pharrell, rick rubin, dr dre, timbaland, q-tip, premier are not musically talented. the main instrument of rock is a guitar and for Hip Hop it is a turntable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK_ELV96lEA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDSGWLrn6B0 (why is this white girl and asian guy doing this? how could it possibly appeal to them..they are not from compton, why are they looking up to this 'alien culture') ![]() i guess everyone can do this as well... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmiym3lFogE Hip Hop is also great dance music it has invented countless new dance crazes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTpn30Pms8I |
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