Tell me how you REALLY feel ....

[ZeroGravity]

about RAP music. This topic probably have been discussed before, but without a search this site feature, it would be difficult finding it.

For old schooler like myself...I struggle with RAP music. I know it's here to stay, like Quincy said on his album Back on the Block, but there is very little I like about it. I've accepted it as part of the music genre and there have been a handful of songs that I was able to actually enjoy momentarily, but overall there is not much I can say about it one way or the other.

Coming to this site and listening to classics, listening to songs that uplifts a spirit and make you smile as you reflect backwards or absorb yourself into the lyrics, just drives the wedge between RAP and myself that much further apart.

Maybe if I hear others perspective that share a similar passion for of old school like myself, I could see it from a different viewpoint.

So how do you really feel about RAP?

[Edie Antoinette]

I can't stand rap...if the genre disappeared from the planet--I wouldn't know or care. Have you ever been searching for a channel on the radio to listen to some music (an almost extinct function for me)..and come across rap--only to zip away at the speed of light? I have. It is a useless genre to ME. It sends out the wrong messege and the performers are usually role models for young ones unfortunately. Those baggie pants--ugh. And now women are wearing the pants with their behinds showing..double ugh. I saw a woman yesterday with her pants belt tight with the top part of her butt showing. she was MY age! That's another discussion Z. Appalling.

Is rap really music? No! Here to stay? Perhaps, but I sure don't listen to it.

[ZeroGravity]

MzzzDiva I really appreciate your contribution to this discussion...I knew that you worked with young artists in some capacity and I was hoping you would give us your opinion from a perspective that few of us have or can even imagine.

Whether you listen to Rap or not it has invaded our lives in ways that no other music genre has. If you don't like opera or heavy metal you can probably live the rest of your life without hearing either or seeing the influence of that culture unless you seek it out (or be put on hold on the phone LOL). The culture that Rap music creates, the music, the influence of it on our young (and not so young) people and society as a whole is inescapable...and that influence is not healthy anyway you look at it.

Tight pants and hot pants (ahh rah...nevermind lol) in our generation did cause a stir, but those things and others in those times did not create a subculture of the kind we're witnessing today. I've heard the argument that we had risque songs and dance when we were growing up too...true, but you had to seek those songs out, if you didn't like that type of music, you might not know anything about it or you could stay away from it and wouldn't be exposed.

True also is it's not our music and it belongs to the young...and they LOVE it. Again I appreciate your perspective and I know there are some very good things that have manifest itself because of Rap, but like you said each generation seems to have a dislike for the ways of the next and I guess this one is mine.

[Edie Antoinette]

Keezo Kane is the man. There are a few other pieces of work that I like too within the genre--but rap as a whole--
you can have it. It's rare to find a person of our age group that supports it--but there are exceptions to everything.

Although I hate rap--I don't hate the rappers. I assess it based on content and 99% of it is laced with derogatory language and gives the young the idea that the lifestyle is where it's at....NOT! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it..LOL!!!!

[ZeroGravity]

oh I love your hairstyle :) (hmmm MzzzDiva sagging? with that spiked hair.....HOT! lol)

I do like the creativity of some of the artists...some of the beats are very good.

I've been hearing a lot about the shooting is Chicago, but Atlanta is probably just as bad when it comes to guns and violence...we all have to face those community issues you mentioned, it's country wide and getting worse (in my opinion). By any means necessary MzzzDiva, my any means necessary.

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Even though i am a life long old school fan, for a period of time between 1984 through 1998 i was into rap music and still have all my cassettes....LOL. I like them all back in them days and still put in my cassettes from time to time...Don't really care for todays rap artist although i think T.I and Jay-Z is pretty cool, but i will always say my alter ego in the rap game would have been Snoop Dogg....LOL

[Boo]

LOOKING GOOD SOLE ....See I Can BE Nice LOL !...

[Boo]

I do not care for Rap music. I have a seventeen year old grandson who love to listen to rap. I am forever closing or having him to close his door.If it wasn't for all the cusing, slang talk and the bling, bling it might be ok. but without that I guess it wouldn't be rap.

[KnightD12]

I like some of the stuff by Snoop, Will Smith, Tupoc and even 50 Cents to name a few. The difference is those Rappers rap over real music. Plus they have voices that have some degree of talent .I guess there are sub categories to Rap music. 90% of rappers have no voices at all...for example P Diddy, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls for example. To me, music is about singing and playing instruments. Not seeing how fast you can talk incoherently over some digitized fake music.I know people once complained about Elvis and Rock N Roll. But that was cake and ice cream compared to Gansta Rap! The worst kind of Rap of all. I truly believe that kind of Rap has led young black males to believe its ok to disrespect women, or to strap on a Nine and bust a cap in anyone that might happen to step on his shoes. That its much better to wear your pants down around your knees with your draws hanging out while standing on the corner selling dope. After all, they can`y buy all that BLING or the $200 pair of basketball shoes with the kind of jobs they can get after dropping out of school. Now Rap is is not to blame for all the problems of Black youth. But it sure plays its part..... in my opinion.
Now other than what i just stated, I really have no opinion on Rap music ..one way or another. LOL
I told ya not to get me started. :)

[Edie Antoinette]

That was a fun read Gene! You know you crack my side!

[Queen B]

I like some rap music. Back when I was growing up we had LL Cool J, Run DMC, Kool Moe D, Queen Latifia, Mc Lyte, Big Daddy Cane, The Sugarhill Gang, Salt & Peppa, etc. The rappers today are nothing like the ones back when I was growing up. They put a lot of emphasis on sex, money, bling, rims, and other material things. I have two teenage boys that like rap. I monitor what they listen to. I pull up lyrics on the internet and read over them with my boys. We have a discussion about what is being said to degrade females. I can't stand a rap song with the B word in it. Some things they are not allowed to listen to at all...point blank. We as parents have to monitor what our kids listen to. A lot of it is just pure garbage. I understand that this is a whole new generation but some of these rap songs are ridiculous. Oh lawd I can't stand the N word. It burns me up. But our young rappers seem to embrace the word. I remember when the song "Lean Wit it Rock Wit It" came out.
I pulled up the lyrics and OMG!!!! My sons liked this particular song so I listened to it and then I printed out the lyrics and we talked about them.
[Verse 1]
I bounce in the club so the ho's call me Rocky,
Posted in the cut, and I'm lookin for a blockhead,
Yup in my white tee! I break a btch back,
And I keep a big bank, oh I think dey like dat!
Before I leave the house, i'm slizzard on a goose,
And i'm higher then a plane, so a nigga really loose,
And I can lean wit it, and I can rock wit it,
And if u gotta friend, she gotta suck a cock wit it!

[Verse 2]
Ay gon n rock wit it, gon n lean wit it,
Rock so damn hard, u break your spleen wit it,
Pull up ya jeans wit it, smoke some green wit it,
N da spot aint crunk? btch if we ain't in it?
If u dont wanna do it, then i'll make ya dance,
Perfect example watch me make your face beat up my hands,
When you see me hit the spot, betta watch dat boy,
Chalay, from the road and Dem Franchize Boyz!

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
Ain't too clean to wanna pop lock from left to right and make a lean,
Bobbin to da beat, check my feet, he ain't got these!
I rock them, bend my knees everytime the beat drop lean wit it, rock wit it, freeze before yo fingers pop
Purple lean, purple, green, grams in my socks
What the fck you mean u ain't seen Buddie on tha block?!
They call me Doctor Doc, I prescribe what a nigga need
Make 'em lean and rock, old school people pat ya feet

[Verse 4]
Young Pimpin in tha club, see dem hoes tryna act up
Cause the see my chain and a nigga throwin dem stacks up
I keep a full clip and my pistol in my pants, I'm in da middle of da flo, they screamin "nigga do yo dance"
Now you can roll yo arms, and just put 'em in rotation
From side to side and snap yo fingaz like dem Temptaions
Boy I'm all outta state doin the dance, they never seen that
I ain't Fat Joe, but snap ya fingaz then ya lean back

[Hook]

[Verse 5]
Rock left den snap ya fingers, rock right den snap ya fingers,
Ayyy wats hannenin? lean wit me, rock wit me,
Gotta pill pop wit me, gon take a shot wit me,
Call me Teddy, I got grams don't hate, nigga shop wit me,
DME, SO SO DEF yeah we known btch!
Franchize aint got no money? shiiit hold on hold on btch! Ayy
Rock left rock right you can get that sh-t!
Lean Back Like Fat Joe and Snap yo wrist back

[Verse 6]
Gangstas dont dance they lean wit it rock wit it
Clock wit me pop quickly ganstas gon rock wit me 1,2 pop then bring it
Cross the chest get nasty flash it go'on flex wit it do it how you want slow it up do
The matrix play wit it straight hit it get all they face wit it
This dance is 4 da killas da dillas da cut throats
You already kno the chillin the grow

[ZeroGravity]

Hey Queen...it's definitely not like it used to be...no comparison at all. Just when you think you've heard the worse of it, another song comes out. If you follow that culture you can see how it is poisoning our young (and some grown folks lol)

Thanks for the response...appreciate you.