Show Me Why Rap Isn't ....

[Boris Godunov]

I've decided this thread needs Brahms.

[Asher]

2? The dilemma is I'd have to consider your preferences. With only two songs, I'd need to go for something I think YOU would like which may not necessarily be what someone else would like nor would it necessarily be something representative or characteristic of rap music (ie- it might not be a classic in the eyes of all hip hop heads). For example, KRS One is heralded as one of the greatest of all time and I would put some of his songs to represent the entire genre to someone curious but I don't believe you yourself would be too interested in him.

With that in mind, I'll direct two songs to you then follow it up with a few all-time great tracks.


For you Asher. Now, I know you like the Black Keys but the Black Roc album with all the rappers on it would be a bit too obvious; same with me posting any rapper collaborations with rock acts you like so I'll avoid that.

Let's go with this one by the Roots:

I think going with The Roots is kind of cheating. There are real musicians in that group. The song starts out okay and the Chorus is okay, but the rapping itself I just can't stand. It's somebody monotonously droning on with a very repetitive (very slight) rhythm. I still don't get it. How do people like that? A robot puts more emotion into the song than he does.

How about let's go with one of my favorite songs. It's not really geared towards you musically but I think this song is good enough to stand on its own:

This took all I had to not immediately stop it after the 20 second mark. Just like the last video (and virtually every rap song I've ever heard), I just don't get the rapping. I get that it's supposed to be a bit like spoken word over "music", but the music in here is soooo soo sooo soooo ****ing simple that it sounds like it's 10 seconds on a loop, connected by an inexplicable thumpthumpthump beat.

It just sounds awful. Speaking so fast in the same structure and rhythm with virtually no tonal inflections. It's like a 3rd grader quickly trying to go through a memorized speech he wrote about bacteria. He can't wait to get it over with, so he unexcitedly ****s it out of his mouth over background noise...

[Al B. Sure!]

What's with this speaking fast thing?

Mos Def's verse on that song is 220 words and he raps for 75 seconds (from 0:15 to 1:30). That's just under 3 words per second or 180 words per minute.

Considering:

Audiobooks are recommended to be 150–160 words per minute, which is the range that people comfortably hear and vocalize words.[9] Research has demonstrated that adults can listen with full comprehension at 300 wpm

180 words per minute is conversation-pace and is not fast at all. There are very fast rappers (like Twista) but I never understood this whole rappers rap fast thing people claim. Do you have a mental deficiency where you can not comprehend the spoken word at 180 words per minute?

[Asher]

What's with this speaking fast thing?

Mos Def's verse on that song is 220 words and he raps for 75 seconds (from 0:15 to 1:30). That's just under 3 words per second or 180 words per minute.

Considering:



180 words per minute is conversation-pace and is not fast at all. There are very fast rappers (like Twista) but I never understood this whole rappers rap fast thing people claim. Do you have a mental deficiency where you can not comprehend the spoken word at 180 words per minute?

No, but you have a mental deficiency where you read things into what clearly are never said. I can understand him just fine, it just sounds like he's artificially racing to get those words out monotonously. You probably don't even notice or care because almost all rappers do that. It's another reason I can't stand the genre.

[Asher]

Rapping, to me, is like an aural equivalent of a run-on sentence...but in limerick form. Gagh.

[Heraclitus]

@AS: Don’t take da thang personally Alby. Asher can’t appreciate ya’lls taste because da nigga didn’t live da live an’ therefore can’t keep it real. How can a lilly white code monkey understand life in da ghetto an’ da soul o’ rap music?

@Asher: Who you finna try?!!

Translated with Ebonics online translator

[Heraclitus]

Come to think of it many poly posters should listen to the deep life wisdom of this video:

[dannubis]

Rap = Crap

Fact !

[Provost Harrison]

Albert only listens to rap because he lives in the ghetto and has to, otherwise someone is likely to "bust a cap in yo ass".

[MikeH]

I wouldn't suggest listening to Eazy E @ work unless you have headphones.

[Kitschum]

I doubt that anyone was about to be convinced to like rap music in this thread. I'd just like to go on record that a sense of humor can't be a bad thing especially if there's obvious talent behind it



And when everything else fails to get your mood up there's always the French, typically chaotic

[OneFootInTheGrave]

rap = crap trap

[Tuberski]

Two of my personal favorites.

ACK!

[Imran Siddiqui]

[Asher]

I'm sorry Imran, Imma let you finish, but Kanye West just doesn't care about white people.