When rap came out 30 years ago I thought it was just a fad


Now it seems like it dominates the music industry, movies and fashion. My only question is why?

taters
I used the quote of Chazelle's not to support my opinion, but to illustrate an example of a thoughtful take on rap.

Before I challenged you, you said:

"It NEVER was any good and 30 years from now ...no 5 years from now, do you think that you will be listening to any of the, for a lack of any better words ; songs that are being played now ???? I think not...I am amazed that crap is still around"

Now, you say:

"I have listened to 2Pac and Jay-z and they are good and actually had a message......a message that unfortunately I could not be part of nor will I ever understand or know and much less, ever experience..... the life of inner city blacks. Instead of being combative - that viewpoint should have been expressed as I would have least understood more of what you were trying to say - and not use someone else's '' paper'' to support your opinion.......So, then I guess I never will understand that music or it's message, however, I will continue to listen to possibly gain a little more insight. But I will never condone the violence it promotes, the objectivity of women or lack morals that seems to promote - along with a very distorted value system."

That's some serious dissonance, though I'm glad that you have changed and softened your stance.

Look, I'm a 58yo white guy, so I can't directly relate to the inner-city black experience, either. But I can empathize, in the same way that I can empathize with Palestinians, etc. So, simply understanding that the best examples of the genre contain important insights into the struggles of a large underclass should be sufficient to have some respect for the music, even if you don't care for the sound.

Your final line in the quote above, though, is another example of you painting with far too broad a brush, as there are many examples of rap that contain messages that are the opposite of what you describe.

To answer your other question, yes, I have listened to the artists that you mentioned. My tastes are eclectic, and my preferences are jazz, soul, funk, and world music. I actually listen to relatively little rap.


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Now taters. We are good with each other. I'm just speaking my mind and you are speaking yours.  I think from your limited viewpoint all you see is your tv and media stuff of rap.  I'm not a fan much of the current state of tge rap genre. It just makes my long for the days when the lyricists ran the genre. Not the sing a long "E mail fake Thugs" lol. Did I say thugs oh me oh my. Great idea for a thread it has been very interesting 
Garebear,

You are so right about performers like B.B. King and James Brown having class. Like you said you just don't see any class with these rappers or hip-hop performers. I guess that is another thing that really turns me off to that genre. 

Mr. Whipsaw - thank you for your response but I did not think for one minute that that I was being ; '' challenged '' by you. Nor did I soften my opinion or point of view as a result of your comments about what I think of rap music. That form of  ''music'' will unfortunately will stay around, but will not have the same sustainability as the artists that I have mentioned. The point ; The Beatles catalog can now be '' streamed ''  and was welcomed with great success.....50 years later ! I will not be around, but I highly doubt that  ; Public Enemy, NWA will have THAT same kind of public reception or success in 50 years. I do see any dissonance in that comment. If you did take the time to read my original post or listen to the artists that I have mentioned, that has been my point all along. I hope to god that you or others do not place the ; 2pacs and Jay-z of the world in the same category as the ; James Browns, The BB Kings, Miles Davis or the Bob Dylans of the world etc.......as that would be an even bigger issue. "That music'' is an art form as I said and get it - but I will still stand by the point that it in no way does it compare to the true artists and musicians whose music has stood the very test of time and whose music will always be there for us to listen to and enjoy.