Vehicle
Aging Metalhead
I agree with Soot about the vicious cycle. If you're stuck in a place/lifestyle, then that's the only thing you know about.
If you have the artistic bone, then your feelings about that place/lifestyle are the only things you have to express.
In rap's case, it's violence, drugs, oppression, racism, etc.*
All valid topics. My problem with it is the fact that, for majority of the genre, those things are not condemned, but glorified.
I respect genres, even if I don't care for certain ones.
Opera, for instance. You've gotta be deaf not to recognize the incredible power and finesse of those voices.
However, I'd rather listen to complete silence than that stuff. It's a preference.
Same with rap. I've seen a couple of those rap-off things on tv, where they get a mike and freestyle.
It's freaking amazing how these guys come up with stuff off the cuff (I think I just named someone's next album).
To spontaneously rhyme, if front of a crowd? That's impressive. That's a talent not a lot of people have.
But, I still stand by my opinion that it's more poetry than music.
.
* You will note, I did not include violence against women. I don't give a rat's @ss what the genre is, there is no excuse for abusing women. (abusing anyone, for that matter.)
There might be a need to carry a gun and be on the lookout for trouble. But there is not, in any circumstance, a justifiable reason to treat a woman liked an object lesser than human. GGGRRRRRRRRR.....
If you have the artistic bone, then your feelings about that place/lifestyle are the only things you have to express.
In rap's case, it's violence, drugs, oppression, racism, etc.*
All valid topics. My problem with it is the fact that, for majority of the genre, those things are not condemned, but glorified.
I respect genres, even if I don't care for certain ones.
Opera, for instance. You've gotta be deaf not to recognize the incredible power and finesse of those voices.
However, I'd rather listen to complete silence than that stuff. It's a preference.
Same with rap. I've seen a couple of those rap-off things on tv, where they get a mike and freestyle.
It's freaking amazing how these guys come up with stuff off the cuff (I think I just named someone's next album).
To spontaneously rhyme, if front of a crowd? That's impressive. That's a talent not a lot of people have.
But, I still stand by my opinion that it's more poetry than music.
.
* You will note, I did not include violence against women. I don't give a rat's @ss what the genre is, there is no excuse for abusing women. (abusing anyone, for that matter.)
There might be a need to carry a gun and be on the lookout for trouble. But there is not, in any circumstance, a justifiable reason to treat a woman liked an object lesser than human. GGGRRRRRRRRR.....