Are the rappers correct. - Page 26

OrthodoxAtheist · 04-27-08, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by independent_thinker2002

This is why rap is retarded. Somehow geography is supposed to have something to do with it. Rock and Roll doesn't care where you are from. It only matters if you rock or not.

Don't confuse rap and hip-hop, and don't confuse uneducated fans with educated fans.

These artist's they're talking about are mainstream artists with little new to say both socially, and politically (Kanye West, and Common notwithstanding). The relevance of them being mainstream is their record labels tend to encourage image, negative stereotypes, and "bling bling culture", whereas smaller labels cater to a more discerning demographic. "Take a listen to KRS-1, The Perceptionists, The Roots, Mos Def, The Coup, or Dead Prez sometime, and you might be surprised how "un-retarded" they actually sound. Many of the artist's I just listed are well-read and educated political activists using hip-hop as a creative platform. That's more than you can say about many emo and post-core acts invading the earspace of anyone unfortunate enough to turn on MTV today.

That all said, I must admit I rarely listen to hip hop anymore as my high-school and college days are long behind me and I've broadened my spectrum to include a more eclectic and diverse range of music. Much of what I used to listen to sounds abrasive and a bit radical to me now. but there is conscious hip-hop out there. It's not all the imbecilic chest puffing, and money waving you see on T.V. The good stuff is just below the mainstream radar.

independent_thinker2002 · 04-27-08, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrthodoxAtheist

Don't confuse rap and hip-hop, and don't confuse uneducated fans with educated fans.

These artist's they're talking about are mainstream artists with little new to say both socially, and politically (Kanye West, and Common notwithstanding). The relevance of them being mainstream is their record labels tend to encourage image, negative stereotypes, and "bling bling culture", whereas smaller labels cater to a more discerning demographic. "Take a listen to KRS-1, The Perceptionists, The Roots, Mos Def, The Coup, or Dead Prez sometime, and you might be surprised how "un-retarded" they actually sound. Many of the artist's I just listed are well-read and educated political activists using hip-hop as a creative platform. That's more than you can say about many emo and post-core acts invading the earspace of anyone unfortunate enough to turn on MTV today.

That all said, I must admit I rarely listen to hip hop anymore as my high-school and college days are long behind me and I've broadened my spectrum to include a more eclectic and diverse range of music. Much of what I used to listen to sounds abrasive and a bit radical to me now. but there is conscious hip-hop out there. It's not all the imbecilic chest puffing, and money waving you see on T.V. The good stuff is just below the mainstream radar.

I don't mean that all rap or hip hop artists are retarded. I mean that the aspect that geography somehow makes a difference is. Arrested Development was very intelligent. The culture of arguing about who is better because of lines on a map is retarded. This does happen with some artists and many fans. As you admit, the mainstream is what is retarded.

You couldn't pay me to listen to emo or post-core. MTV could go off the air and I wouldn't notice. MTV hasn't been about music for 20 years.

Intransigent Atheist · 04-29-08, 05:01 PM

I think you're taking it too far. I've been married for 10 years now and I can tell you that my wife respects me when I stand up for myself. If I start getting to lazy and passive, that's when she starts to get snippy.