My Thoughts on Today's Rap Music
I realize that what I am writing about is a little bit different than what is usually posted on this website, but I feel like a little variety is nice. This is something that I feel needs to be said and needs to be addressed as a problem. As I listen to the radio, I hear more of these songs that have lost all of the metaphors that make music great. These songs are now just coming straight out with their vulgar topics and I find that most of these songs are in the rap genre.
Ok, yes, it is true that there are songs in every genre of music with these trite songs that lack any talent in the area of writing, but the vast majority seems to be in rap. I can't even stand to listen to another so called "artist" talk about how he is going to be having sex. I don't want to listen to that and I sure as hell don't want to listen to it in explicit detail with every other word being something degrading to a certain race, gender, ect.
With this horrific style of writing (that could be killing rap in terms of audience base) about four types of songs have emerged. There are the songs about sex and getting girls, the songs about being the greatest that ever lived, the songs about drugs and money, and the songs about getting back at someone. The only sense of variation I can find in these songs is when two or more of these types are combined. Can no rapper seriously break from the pack and write something that is different? I would hope that someone could because what is being recorded and played is tired and over used.
But the lack of originality does not stop here. Is anyone else concerned that there are at least one hundred rappers with a name starting with "lil"? If you don't believe me, you can go check out iTunes and under the rap section you will find an unsettling amount of rappers whose names start with "lil". If variety is the spice of life, rap is about as bland as a cup of water. But maybe I am missing something. Do you have a different view on rap? Any comments would be gladly appreciated.
JR Thal Jan 3, 2010 at 2:40 PM
Reader Comments (9)
exactly what I was thinking.
I agree with a lot of what you said. Being a rap fan all my life and in the past two years I've actually noticed it changing. I've always remembered the language being bad (Im only 13), but with every song now its a concern . Like I was listening on the radio and I heard a song with the artist Gucci Mane and every word was blanked out except the and that. Some artist like Jay-z don't cuss and use as much inappropriate language as the younger rap artist.
Uhh...?not all rap music us filled with vulgar. True, these types of songs that you mention are filled with bad language and intense themes, but the best and most talented artists get shoved to the side and miss out on radio play. I suggest that if you want to hear true hip-hop/rap you seek it out on some other medium. Todays "(mainstream) rap" is based one what you wear and eat ect. It is truly sad that the talented are not seen or heard by the majority.
I agree that the best artists get pushed aside and it is exceedingly sad that they don't get enough radio time. But the fact of the matter is that mainstream rap is what the vast majority of us hear and even though there will always be excellent music in rap and every genre, mainstream rap is what people hear most and what they judge the genre on
Underground rap ftw!
You are just steriotyping the rap songs on the radio, to all of the rap genre. Explore more RAP then what you hear on the radio, and you will understand that these songs just don't talk about "SEX". Most rap songs gives a message.
Check out Kid Cudi. There's a different style of rap for you.
Real lyrics. Real beat. How hip-hop was before it went commercial and died.
I agree with you on how vulgar the terms and words are but, I like the music. I think it is the beat that I like. But those songs are 100% random and pointless.
lil waynes dope