Some of the better lyricists and musicians in rap and hiphop?

One of the problems, of course, with staying narrowly on topic, is that as @simao , @orpheus10 , @ghasley and others have helped to illustrate, it is not possible to fully understand the hard-core of the genre without context. And in the current ultra-PC environment, discussing black history, long-standing systemic racism, and life in inner city ghettos, is almost automatically considered to be "political".

So when those of us who have some familiarity with the context, and the value that it provides in helping to illuminate both the tone and lyrics of hard-core rap, come across ignorant comments, by which I mean those born of ignorance of the very context of which I speak, it is natural to want to attempt to explain.

No one is arguing that there is anything wrong with disliking rap, nor arguing the facts related to the topic. But exclaiming that "it isn’t music", or suggesting that it all sounds the same, or is all profane and misogynistic, is patent nonsense, and reveals far more about the person making such comments than the music itself.

In the early ’70s, I travelled with my father to Paris, and we went to the newly opened Centre Pompidou, which housed a modern art exhibition. One of, if not the principal artist whose work was being featured was Cy Twombly. I was outraged by it, not for political reasons, but because, as I later told my mother, who was an artist and teacher herself, it looked as if a child had scrunched up some graph paper, glued it to a canvas, then gripped a pencil in his/her fist, and scribbled indiscriminately. I could not understand how it might be considered "art", nor what might prevent anyone from "creating" something very similar.

She patiently tried to explain that, among other things, it is actually quite difficult for adult artists to "let go", and express themselves in a pure, child-like manner.

Well, I never warmed up to Twombly, but my mother’s ability to build some context did help me to appreciate the work of other artists more deeply, and especially that of Paul Klee, who remains among my favorites.

If you don't like the message, then shoot the messenger. Is that the way we do things around here?

orpheus108,496 posts05-02-2021 6:46pm
Builder, "Rap" comes from the "Ghetto". Do you know where that is? Do you know where the projects are?

Did you know that the majority of rappers came from the worst "hoods" in the USA where there is a high mortality rate from gun shots?

If you don’t like the "facts" surrounding "Rap", then quit discussing Rap and go to opera.

Yes. Yes. And yes. What I don’t like isn’t Rap, it’s your take on the "facts", which I think is patently false. Rap, and rappers have nothing to do with slavery, and for you to insert that into the mix is absurd.
The advent of the modern welfare system and the ensuing decline of the traditional family has more bearing on socio-economic conditions, and thus rap, along with many other things, than any of your PC blurbs about slavery.
As for the worst hoods in the USA, and the high mortality due to shootings, it needs to be addressed. Probably best to not hold your breath waiting for BLM to bring it up. Or Jesse, or Al. Or any of the corrupt politicians that have been in power in these cities for generations. All of the above, and many more besides, don’t care. They only care about more power and more wealth. The politicians will keep their heads down, and continue to preserve the status quo.  None care about a solution.

I am losing hope that it is possible to enlighten people about rap as a wolrdwide phenomenon. Somehow, a poster, or two, has to make herself/himself feel righteous and smart by constantly bringing in the politics of one, relatively small, geographical location. Eventually, proclaiming that everyone who disagrees is a horrible person (in different words, though).

For example, the first recommendation in this thread...

"Claude M’Barali was born in Dakar, Senegal, to parents from Chad. When he was six months old, his parents emigrated to France where they settled in the Parisian suburbs; initially in Saint-Denis, subsequently Maisons-Alfort and finally Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. When he was twelve, he went to live with an uncle in Cairo, Egypt for nine months where he discovered the Zulu Nation and became fascinated with the rapping styles of Afrika Bambaataa Upon his return to France, he passed the baccalauréat. It has been said that his constant support from his mother was one of the reasons that he was able to pass the baccalauréat and still make music."

And it was all before 1991. Since then, rap has spread around the world even more. Much much more.

Senegal, Chad, Egypt, France. Of course, the boy was mad at Neil Armstrong. What else could it be?

MC Solaar - Wikipedia