Why do people that are Into rap and hip-hop even want a high-end audio system

"Whether it was minstrel shows, blues, jazz or R&B it was generically referred to as "race music" which was only taken seriously after it was appropriated and crossed-over by white performers."

Case in point, Paul WHITEman and his orchestra gave a mainstream white legitimacy to early jazz or the early Louis Armstrong features where he was dressed in jungle garb to showcase his artistry? Racism towards music and culture may not be as blatant as is was in those times but is certainly insidious throughout our society whether we care to acknowledge it or not. Not to point the finger at anyone participating on this thread, not the point. I don’t generally care for rap either but consider it an outgrowth of and part of the American musical experience. Excellent points and great post Onhwy61.

Everyone knows racism was rampant in 20th-century American culture and sadly, exists still today.  I saw and heard plenty growing up in the south of the 50's and 60's.  But it's possible to be hypersensitive about it.  Every single single comment about anything tied to a minority culture is not necessarily racist.  Every political opposition to our president is not necessarily race-related.  People can like or dislike something for itself.  Don't be so quick to accuse people you don't know of bias when the evidence is not there.  You might be doing something worse than the thing you're wrongly accusing the other guy of doing.

@tostadosunidos I wasn't "quick to accuse" nor did I necessarily accuse at all I just felt something should be said after Taters harping on rap/hip-hop over 3 different threads here. Though at this point I think it's pretty apparent that Taters is a classic internet troll and probably best ignored at this point.

Jond, by that term I meant accusing with no real basis, jumping to conclusions--sorry if I was imprecise with the words on that.  I don't know Taters and so I don't know if he's a racist or not--I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt.  We're on a hi-fi appreciation site talking about music and I don't read racism into anything I read from his remarks (and I've probably read all the posts on all the threads you mention.  Obviously he and Calvinj are passionate about their respective feelings about the music and I like that.  Let's keep the discussion to the music and not get off on tangents or run into areas where the referees have to come in and decide if "defamatory remarks" have been made.  This place is usually civil and that's a breath of fresh air (check out ESPN or Cleveland Plain Dealer sports discussions if you want to see how bad it can get).

@tostadosunidos you are so right.  I knew in the beginning that this conversation would go the way it has and I feel that all of this has taken away from the music. Therefore, I'm not going to continue in this path with this thread.  Great observation. Don't talk. Just listen.