[imaxxedout69]

Alright, rewind to the 80s. Rap music. Fun. Funky. Hip. Light. I've been playing vice city a lot lately and 80s rap music isn't that bad. Just some mad lyrical skills mixed with some neat tunes. I can dig that.

Exactly when did rap music turn into bling blingin ho's and bitches and nigga what and nigga this and nigga that and cappin cops... seriously, what the hell happened? Now it's all 'hardass' and stuff.

Anyone????

- Ca$h

[CheesePuff]

Oh yeah **** the police back in the 80s was so fun and light.

[Swiss Bob]

I blame it _all_ on Kurt Cobain.

[dampeoples]

I like 'old school' rap myself. I can't remember when it turned sour though.

[tintub]

somewhere in between Public Enemy and Dr Dre/Tha Dogg Pound

[dampeoples]

Originally posted by tintub:
somewhere in between Public Enemy and Dr Dre/Tha Dogg Pound

mighta started with NWA now that you mentioned that...

[olePigeon]

I can't STAND current rap. It sounds exactly like a broken record skipping every 5 seconds.

[nforcer]

And in other news: Study: Violent Lyrics Linked to Aggressive Thoughts

[AB^2=BCxAC]

To quote DJ Shadow's opus Endtroducing,

Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96:

"It's the monaaay!"

[snerdini]

Originally posted by AB^2=BCxAC:
To quote DJ Shadow's opus Endtroducing,

Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96:

"It's the monaaay!"

Great reference! Endtroducing is one of my favorite albums of all time

[Superchicken]

Uhh... cause now rap is made for the masses, hence it has to be low quality and able to be grasped easily. There are tons of people who have low standards.

[Kilbey]

Nah, rap was even lower quality when it started. I remember going to the New York City Fresh Fest. back in '86 or '87. Saw the Fat Boys and Kurtis Blow. You wanna talk about some cheap sampling. All there was on stage was a DJ and some guys rapping or beat boxin'. I dropped out of rap when I started working in a record store and saw the general audience and purchasers (stealers) of rap. I swear, about 75% of rap was stolen back then. 99% of the shoplifters we busted were rap stealers. It did NOT want to be a part of that crowd. Kinda shallow I know, but I learned a lot about music then and went into a alt. rock phasethen and never left.

Originally posted by Superchic[k]en:
Uhh... cause now rap is made for the masses, hence it has to be low quality and able to be grasped easily. There are tons of people who have low standards.

[ReggieX]

It expanded to cover more topics. There's only so many time someone can "rock the mic hard" before the audience gets bored and leaves.

However, the new Jurassic 5 album kicks all sorts of ass.

[deekay1]

there has always been all sorts of rap music. but the focus of attention shifted towards "gangsta" rap in the late eighties with nwa, when people realized there was a lot of money to be made (especially in the white 'burbs ) with that type of "attitude".

but if you look into it, you can find "excellent" rap artists from 1978 up until today. it's just that a lot of the "good ones", imho, have never been really popular.

[IceEnclosure]

Originally posted by ReggieX:
However, the new Jurassic 5 album kicks all sorts of ass.

yep.. and there's lots more ass kickin' goin' on too..

Rap Music gone wrong?

nah.... mainstream rap, maybe..

but what is mainstream rap? pop music, I'd say..

'I call these cats Reynolds, cause they plastic rap' - Talib Kweli

there's so much talent in hip-hop/rap (some label these separately)

Blow your minds, some lyricists will..

Talib Kweli, Mos Def (I always start with these two), Jurassic 5, People Under the Stairs, Common, The Roots (Blackthought), Tupac (when he's feeling poetic), De La Soul, Dilated Peoples, Del the Funky Homosapien (Heiroglyphics), Latyryx (sp?) and all sorts of others...

I like 50 Cent, and his newest album is pretty good, but he's like.. riding some sort of marketing machine... problem is.. he'd go down against quite a few of the hip hop 'lyricists' listed above..

Eminem, don't care if you like 'em, is talented as all hell... problem is he makes songs for the masses on occasion, engineered to be #1 chart toppers.. so he's viewed as a pop type dude sometimes,

similar stories for all sorts of guys.. Nas, DMX, Jay-Z, Outkast, Method Man, etc..

old school, well, yea... that genre is quickly becoming a two decade span.. there's lots of music in that span... hard to generalize...

it's going nowhere... evolving perhaps.. but staying

check out a real lyricist folks.. it'll do your mind some good

..oh yea.. dj shadow kicks much ass

drew

..meh, i should put this cigarette out..

[deekay1]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
Del the Funky Homosapien (Heiroglyphics)

[wolfen]

Rap is music?


wolfen

[dampeoples]

Originally posted by wolfen:
Rap is music?


wolfen

I suppose your listening tastes are automatically better than ours, given that witty statement.

[Logic]

Perhaps because of Vanilla Ice and Snow? Or at least around that time..........

[CharlesS]

Doing this:



provides about the same sensation as listening to rap.

[wataru]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
..meh, i should put this cigarette out..

No, you should learn how to properly use an ellipsis.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by wataru:
No, you should learn how to properly use an ellipsis.

Mega boooya!

[kikkoman]

Originally posted by AB^2=BCxAC:
To quote DJ Shadow's opus Endtroducing,

Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96:

"It's the monaaay!"

BLING BLING

[silverghost]

I cant say when or where, but I can say that Ghetto Rap sucks! What with all the killing in the lyrics, I mean come on bling-bling artist is all that platnium and gold around your neck(or teeth for that matter) really look good?!

just my .02


aloha

[daimoni]

.

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by tintub:

somewhere in between Public Enemy and Dr Dre/Tha Dogg Pound

Originally posted by AB^2=BCxAC:

To quote DJ Shadow's opus Endtroducing,

Why Hip Hop Sucks in '96:

"It's the monaaay!"

Combining these insights I'd say holds some clues.

The transition from a voice of empowerment, activism, rage to a voice of total endorsement of hedonistic materialism.

The big money isn't just guilty of birthing "the formula" so that all hits sound alike and adhere to the same 5 rules of pop success, it's guilty of subverting the culture itself.

They went from "fight the power" to "check my bling bling". Justice and cultural identity went out the window in favor of endorsing any lifestyle that ensured wealth. Sell crack. Kill. Steal. Cheat. Don't change the system, give in to it and take care of your own no matter what it takes.

"What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world, but lose his immortal soul?"

I don't really mean it in the religious sense, but in the sense of self-actualization.

The poets were replaced by gangsters. The end justifies the means and the only end that matters is wealth.

Rap lost it's soul.

[dampeoples]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
Rap lost it's soul.

Almost, we still have acts such as j5 and Sonic Sum

[alphasubzero949]

If you tune in to the underground (on a typical college station) hip hop is flourishing with talented cats. Give these guys a listen:

Rakim
Talib Kweli
Common
Mos Def
The Roots
Royce Da 5'9"
Saukrates
Choclair
7L & Esoteric
Eyedea
Non Phixion
Pharoahe Monch
Defari/Xzibit/Phil Da Agony/
Dilated Peoples/Barber Shop Emcees/
Tha Liks
People Under the Stairs
Hieroglyphics/Souls of Mischief/Del the Funkee Homosapien
Cali Agents (Rasco and Planet Asia)
Jurassic 5
Ugly Duckling
Styles of Beyond
Emanon

Then come back and tell me what the hell happened.

[SupahCoolX]

The question is phrased incorrectly. "Mainstream" rap, like EVERY other form of pop music today is shallow, repetitive, and says, for the most part nothing.
However, like EVERY other form of music today, there's an "underground" where lesser known artists are pumping out gems.
Those mentioned by others (Jurassic 5, Kweli, Roots, Blackalicious, De La Soul, etc) are great examples of how it's still "all good."
It "started" when Run DMC got "Rock Box" on MTV (don't get me wrong, I LOVE them and that song). Hear me out: That's when the money started rolling in and rap entered the realm of pop music. That opened the door for others to hop in and take advantage with lesser quality material.

[IceEnclosure]

Originally posted by alphasubzero949:
If you tune in to the underground (on a typical college station) hip hop is flourishing with talented cats. Give these guys a listen:

Rakim
Talib Kweli
Common
Mos Def
The Roots
Royce Da 5'9"
Saukrates
Choclair
7L & Esoteric
Eyedea
Non Phixion
Pharoahe Monch
Defari/Xzibit/Phil Da Agony/
Dilated Peoples/Barber Shop Emcees/
Tha Liks
People Under the Stairs
Hieroglyphics/Souls of Mischief/Del the Funkee Homosapien
Cali Agents (Rasco and Planet Asia)
Jurassic 5
Ugly Duckling
Styles of Beyond
Emanon

Then come back and tell me what the hell happened.

first, wataru.... respected and whatnot... eat a diick... my ellipses are here to stay....

second, mindfad... why ya got his back?? I'm no english major, k?

they separate my thoughts.. ya dig???

thirdly, alphasubzero... you hit the nail on tha head...


if people don't wanna hear the real deal, so be it.. but I do..

I'm a fan of sooo many different genres.. jazz, blues, hip hop, rap, jungle, house, disco, breakbeat, ambient, DOWNTEMPO, etc...

if ya don't wanna expand your horizons, then.. well... don't..

but, if you want to hear someone blow your mind, listen to these guys

go listen to what's on the radio, and complain, bitch, whine..

I'm chillin', with my iPod full of People Under the Stairs and Blackstar, standin' in line at the bank, depositing my check..

I got called out for my use of an elliipse (sp?)

jeezus...


drew

[Xtopolop]

Originally posted by ReggieX:
However, the new Jurassic 5 album kicks all sorts of ass.

Power In Numbers was one of my first iTunes MS purchases!!

They're also playing a free concert at the Greek Theater for UC Berkeley students this Sat... WOO!!!

can't wait

[OB1]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
Talib Kweli, Mos Def (I always start with these two), Jurassic 5, People Under the Stairs, Common, The Roots (Blackthought), Tupac (when he's feeling poetic), De La Soul, Dilated Peoples, Del the Funky Homosapien (Heiroglyphics), Latyryx (sp?) and all sorts of others...

..oh yea.. dj shadow kicks much ass

drew

Word

[MindFad]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
second, mindfad... why ya got his back?? I'm no english major, k?

they separate my thoughts.. ya dig???

Calm down before I come up to Ft. Lauderdale and kick your ass. I don't "got anyone's back." I just thought it was funny, because I pictured someone sitting there tapping on the period key while they were thinking of what else to type. Ya dig?

[IceEnclosure]

Originally posted by MindFad:
Calm down before I come up to Ft. Lauderdale and kick your ass. I don't "got anyone's back." I just thought it was funny, because I pictured someone sitting there tapping on the period key while they were thinking of what else to type. Ya dig?

....in the states, no one comes 'up' to Ft. Lauderdale (unless you're in Miami)..

..weird..

[wataru]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
first, wataru.... respected and whatnot... eat a diick... my ellipses are here to stay....
I got called out for my use of an elliipse (sp?)

Yes, I called you out for that. I thought you might care to know how inarticulate poor punctuation makes you look. If you don't care that's fine, but personally, when I see someone with sloppy typing, bad grammar, and messed up punctuation, I subconsciously form a low opinion of him or her.

Back to rap: I like MC Paul Barman. He's funny.

[MindFad]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
....in the states, no one comes 'up' to Ft. Lauderdale (unless you're in Miami)..

..weird..

Which is exactly where I am. Foo' -- now take a gramma' class!

[MikeM33]

I was never "big" on Rap myself, but the early stuff like RUN-DMC wasn't bad or the Beasty Boys also. I actually *DO* see some potential in Eminem (been hearing a bit of his stuff latelky on the radio more and more) despite what everyone feels about his music.

I'm actually more into stuff like Faith No More which was sorta Rap/Metal "Fusion". I've always been bigger on Metal/Alternative/Rock/Classic Rock.

MikeM

[IceEnclosure]

Originally posted by wataru:
Yes, I called you out for that. I thought you might care to know how inarticulate poor punctuation makes you look. If you don't care that's fine, but personally, when I see someone with sloppy typing, bad grammar, and messed up punctuation, I subconsciously form a low opinion of him or her.

hey man, that's cool

[RGB]

I enjoy a lot of the pop rap just because it can be very fun to listen to, especially Eminem and Ludacris. I'm a huge fan of Eminem's music, actually. The CDs he puts out are good from beginning to end, and would stand on their own even without the songs he puts out on the radio.

I love listening to J5 though. So smooth, mellow, with such amazing flow. And last night I randomly bought the new Roots CD, and am enjoying it for the same reasons thusfar.

[IceEnclosure]

Originally posted by RGB:
And last night I randomly bought the new Roots CD, and am enjoying it for the same reasons thusfar.

check out 'Thought at Work' and 'Water'.. really good tracks on that CD

[RGB]

Originally posted by IceEnclosure:
check out 'Thought at Work' and 'Water'.. really good tracks on that CD

Will do