There is good rap. I'm hardly a "gangsta" (6'6" tall, skinny white guy), but if you can't appreciate Outkast or the Roots, then you're not trying. Even if you don't like their music you have to admire them (Outkast for creativity, the roots for actually playing their own instruments).
There will always be substance in rappers. Some people just can't say what they feel like because of their labels and fans. You have to appeal to a wide range of peeps if you want to sell records. If you make a song about saving the world or common problems about the world today...most people don't wanna hear all that. Outkast can do it because, they can pull it off and have the right image. Now if DMX or 50 Cent started to talk about stuff like that, then they will lose 80% of their fans. It's just not worth it. If you really want to hear whats real out there, you can always find underground rappers. Z-Ro, Dead Prez, the whole Def Jux label, etc. I used to rap about that kind of stuff, but nobody would pay any attention. So now I have to write lines that would make people jump out of their seats. That doesn't mean I'll always rap about cars and women, but if you use your words right, a lot of people will be fans of your music just by your "punchlines".
You're comparing rap to a specific form of rock. You have to compare rap to rock, and then specific forms, like gangster to hair metal.
Ok, I generalized a little, just as I'm sure there were a few good rock bands toiling away in the hair metal days I'm sure there are some good rappers out there but 99.9% of the crap on the radio and TV is materialistic garbage with catchy beats geared only towards making a quick buck and nothing I can or would want to relate to.
Haha. I don't consider myself exactly selling out. Back then I just had one style. Now I'm more diverse in what I write about. I can rap about hoes, cars, guns...and I can also rap about problems in Iraq. I think it's important to be versatile in today's rap game.
99% of all popular music is crap. It's not limited to rap. Who do you blame that on? Clear Channel? Pre-teen girls?
I'll agree, but you gotta agree that this is one of the worst times ever for rap music..... Maybe I'm just not into it anymore.
No doubt this is a bad time for rap, but also it is one of it's best for commercial appeal. For the last year or two it seems like there's been at least 5 of the Billboard Top 10 Singles being rap or hip-hop influenced. Coincidence?
As was hair metal for commercial appeal in it's day. The hair metal artists were totally about the same things as these rappers are today. Girls, materialism..... and this depth was reflected in most of their songs.
Thats why it's so hard now for the average rapper to get a deal. Labels want people with the street cred and appeal. Lyrics won't get it done alone. You also MUST have connections. Without connections + money, 99% of the time you won't even have a career. I barely have either of those...but I'm still trying.
I am forced to listen to 104.9 at my work sometimes. Does anyone know the name of a song that sounds like bongos playing and a guy doing a "cat-call" wistle from time to time? I think there is some spanish rapping in it too. I'm dying to know what that song is. It drives me crazy.
