Rap: Is it Music?

[dcpsoguy]

Here's a question that enters my brain quite a few times a day: Why is rap considered music?

Rap is simply foul-mouthed poetry with some random sound effects. There is no melody, no noticable chord progressions, or nothing that would even be considered music.

Thoughts?

 

[Spac3d]

There is no melody, no noticable chord progressions, or nothing that would even be considered music.

That also seems like a strict defintion, I bet music from different countries wouldn't meet that criteria, does that make it into "garbage" also?

Rap is music. It may not appeal to you, but it is music.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
Rap is simply foul-mouthed poetry with some random sound effects. There is no melody, no noticable chord progressions, or nothing that would even be considered music.

You problem is that you generalize the music. All you here is the mainstream kiddie crap and consider it rap.

 

[Ausm]

RAP=CRAP


Ausm

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
Here's a question that enters my brain quite a few times a day: Why is rap considered music? Rap is simply foul-mouthed poetry with some random sound effects. There is no melody, no noticable chord progressions, or nothing that would even be considered music. Thoughts?

Geeze, you really have no life, don't you?!?

 

[dcpsoguy]

I am talking about 99% of rap: THE VAST MAJORITY.

Tell me of a rap song that has a noticable melody, maybe some strings, guitar: I dunno.

 

[slikmunks]

music is a form of self expression involving rhythms, a melodic line (tho it may not seem melodic to everyone) and sometimes lyrics... rap is music, people just tend not to like it... i personally, kinda do...

 

[Wallydraigle]

barely

 

[Spamela]

i'd say it is music, although not music that i like.

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
I am talking about 99% of rap: THE VAST MAJORITY.

Tell me of a rap song that has a noticable melody, maybe some strings, guitar: I dunno.

Are you a retard? A guitar? There is PLENTY of music that doesn't use stuff like guitars. Making beats is just as difficult as using your thumb on some strings.

You obviously know nothing about rap.

 

[Aves]

Yes it is.

 

[brtspears2]

Hard to say sometimes, but on that one show on BET, Freestyle Friday, if you say a curse, its not a rap anymore.

 

[ThePresence]

Depends how you define music. It obviously isn't music in the traditional sense, but is that what defines music? I enjoy some rap, I appreciate the talent there, do you? If it's just a genre of music that you were never able to get into, that doesn't make it NOT music. There are some people who can't listen to metal and just decide that it's not music, just some random noise. I disagree. So I'd say that, yes, it is music, you just gotta learn to appreciate it.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Rap Music can be traced back to the times of the West African Griots, who were professional singers and storytellers.

Positive rap lyrics:

[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, or maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice

I met a woman who's becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Gotta astrung when I heard when
Cocaine, sniffing up drugs, all in her nose
Coulda died, so young, no looks, ugly and old
No fun cause when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death

Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so

Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinkin life's all about smokin weed and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and right
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music

[Nas]
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They learned about the gold, the teachings and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?

If the truth is told, the youth can grow
They learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, ho's
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up high, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

[Chorus]

 

[LordRaiden]

Rap music is someone making noises, banging on stuff, and making a general nuicence of themselves. It is not music and serves no real purpose except to generate business for the headache medicine companies. Same with rock music.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
Here's a question that enters my brain quite a few times a day: Why is rap considered music?

Rap is simply foul-mouthed poetry with some random sound effects. There is no melody, no noticable chord progressions, or nothing that would even be considered music.

Thoughts?

First of all, your negative preface makes this poll largely irrelevant since all the "Rap sucks!" people are sure to crawl out of the woodwork.

More to the point, what is your definition of music? Does it have to come from a human hand making something vibrate or do electronically-produced sounds count too? Also, think about jazz for a minute; there's highly palatable stuff like Kenny G and then there's extremely dissonant "out-there" stuff by guys like Mingus. Is the Mingus stuff not music because it strays too far from what is technically harmonious? It's all very subjective.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
Here's a question that enters my brain quite a few times a day: Why is rap considered music?

Coincidentally, it's also a question that enters ATOT several times a day.

- M4H

 

[nord1899]

I may not like most of it, especially the gangsta style, but it is music.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Rap is an art form. If anything, it almost always has a good beat... granted, there's sucky rap out there, just like there's sucky alternative/rock/country/etc. But there's also good rap, which I've grown to like and appreciate.

 

[Anubis]

no

 

[dcpsoguy]

Definition:

The science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.

Rap doesn't have this quality.

 

[step-dawg]

There are plenty of rap songs that use guitars and melodic instruments. Most rap songs do have a melody or some sort in the music. I don't know how you can claim to have heard "99% of Rap music" when you know nothing about it. Even if you are only considering just main stream rap like 50 cent, Eminem, Snoop, or Puffy, all their songs have a very discernable melody in the basslines/music background (although I will admit that it is definately more repetitive than some other types of music). And by your definition of music, drumlines and percussion groups wouldn't be considered music either.

and seriosly, why does this thought "enter your brain quite a few times a day"?

**Just saw your post above mine.:
How does rap not fit that definition? It organizes tones and sounds (beats, words, drums, bass, etc) in succession that has continuity.

 

[Dufman]

Rap = music, just not good music

 

[compudog]

I wouldn't call it music. I believe it is an art-form though.

 

[Provider]

I really don't like rap but to say that it's not real music that's just wrong.
when you really think about it most rap groups have a real bass, and real
Drums, and pianos(keyboards) sure they use samples but to be honest try
to write a "jam" and rap to it see how it sounds, it's not as easy as you might
think. Once more i'm not a rap fan but i think that guys like 2PAC and yes even
M&M have talent..

just my .02 cents

-D-