Rap Thread

[BurtReynolds]

So I'm not allowed to talk about breakdancing in this thread? bullshit.

[Norah]

Now where will I post pictures of my graffiti?

[Kevin Davis]

Gotcha covered.

[verb_to_trust]

Sometimes a song like Mural by Lupe Fiasco or Growing Old by Outkast comes on my ipod and I think 'Damn I wish I knew how to find more songs like these'. In the end I feel helpless in doing so. Too many variables that need to fall into place for me to like rap music. I would say 90% of it fails to move me.

[Orpheus]

KD's cultural argument is sound, but if you want to think of the two terms as musical genres, they are the same thing. I've had this argument with tons of different people (who funnily enough, aren't fans of the music they're debating) and their justifications for the two being different or even their categorization as to which is which are always a total shitshow. Rap is hip-hop, hip-hop is rap.

[Orpheus]

And my be all, end all argument for this is what many people recognize as the first real song in the genre, which is called "Rapper's Delight" in which the first lyrics are basically "hip, hop, hip, hop."

I mean, come the fuck on.

[Orpheus]

Sometimes a song like Mural by Lupe Fiasco or Growing Old by Outkast comes on my ipod and I think 'Damn I wish I knew how to find more songs like these'. In the end I feel helpless in doing so. Too many variables that need to fall into place for me to like rap music. I would say 90% of it fails to move me.

Kendrick Lamar is probably the smartest, most poetic mainstream rapper right now. Check his shit out.

[Kevin Davis]

Kendrick's "How Much a Dollar Cost?" is probably the best song of the year. Incredible lyrical craftsmanship, catchy and emotional hook, and even if the religious language that Kendrick uses to frame his point doesn't resonate with you, the compassionate heart of the song -- as well as Kendrick's willingness to put his own character under the microscope, presumably lumping himself in with everyone else he believes is due the same cautions he doles out in the lyrics -- is still profoundly moving. It is a beautiful, complex yet immediately likable piece of work that I recommend everyone listen to as soon as humanly possible.

[Orpheus]

Kendrick's "How Much a Dollar Cost?" is probably the best song of the year. Incredible lyrical craftsmanship, catchy and emotional hook, and even if the religious language that Kendrick uses to frame his point doesn't resonate with you, the compassionate heart of the song -- as well as Kendrick's willingness to put his own character under the microscope, presumably lumping himself in with everyone else he believes is due the same cautions he doles out in the lyrics -- is still profoundly moving. It is a beautiful, complex yet immediately likable piece of work that I recommend everyone listen to as soon as humanly possible.

[verb_to_trust]

Sometimes a song like Mural by Lupe Fiasco or Growing Old by Outkast comes on my ipod and I think 'Damn I wish I knew how to find more songs like these'. In the end I feel helpless in doing so. Too many variables that need to fall into place for me to like rap music. I would say 90% of it fails to move me.

Kendrick Lamar is probably the smartest, most poetic mainstream rapper right now. Check his shit out.

Yeah I definitely enjoy Kendrick

[epilogue]

Kendrick's "How Much a Dollar Cost?" is probably the best song of the year. Incredible lyrical craftsmanship, catchy and emotional hook, and even if the religious language that Kendrick uses to frame his point doesn't resonate with you, the compassionate heart of the song -- as well as Kendrick's willingness to put his own character under the microscope, presumably lumping himself in with everyone else he believes is due the same cautions he doles out in the lyrics -- is still profoundly moving. It is a beautiful, complex yet immediately likable piece of work that I recommend everyone listen to as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks for the recommendation, KD.

I listened to it. I'm not sure the words "beautiful" or "immediately likable" apply for me. I didn't need to turn it off or anything. Certainly it isn't bad or offensive or whatever. It was just sonic wallpaper. But the kind that you don't notice right away, so it's actually pretty decent as far as wallpaper goes.

[Mike]

What should I listen to when my two favorite rap albums are MBDTF and To Pimp A Butterfly? Just assume I'm a total rap noobie except for Kanye and Kendrick. I like hip hop with lots of hooks I guess.

[Kevin Davis]

Kendrick's "How Much a Dollar Cost?" is probably the best song of the year. Incredible lyrical craftsmanship, catchy and emotional hook, and even if the religious language that Kendrick uses to frame his point doesn't resonate with you, the compassionate heart of the song -- as well as Kendrick's willingness to put his own character under the microscope, presumably lumping himself in with everyone else he believes is due the same cautions he doles out in the lyrics -- is still profoundly moving. It is a beautiful, complex yet immediately likable piece of work that I recommend everyone listen to as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks for the recommendation, KD.

I listened to it. I'm not sure the words "beautiful" or "immediately likable" apply for me. I didn't need to turn it off or anything. Certainly it isn't bad or offensive or whatever. It was just sonic wallpaper. But the kind that you don't notice right away, so it's actually pretty decent as far as wallpaper goes.

Sorry to hear that, dct -- I have probably listened to that song more than any other song this year, I just absolutely love the sentiment of it and find the craftsmanship in both the verses and in the chorus to be masterful.

[epilogue]

Kendrick's "How Much a Dollar Cost?" is probably the best song of the year. Incredible lyrical craftsmanship, catchy and emotional hook, and even if the religious language that Kendrick uses to frame his point doesn't resonate with you, the compassionate heart of the song -- as well as Kendrick's willingness to put his own character under the microscope, presumably lumping himself in with everyone else he believes is due the same cautions he doles out in the lyrics -- is still profoundly moving. It is a beautiful, complex yet immediately likable piece of work that I recommend everyone listen to as soon as humanly possible.

Thanks for the recommendation, KD.

I listened to it. I'm not sure the words "beautiful" or "immediately likable" apply for me. I didn't need to turn it off or anything. Certainly it isn't bad or offensive or whatever. It was just sonic wallpaper. But the kind that you don't notice right away, so it's actually pretty decent as far as wallpaper goes.

Sorry to hear that, dct -- I have probably listened to that song more than any other song this year, I just absolutely love the sentiment of it and find the craftsmanship in both the verses and in the chorus to be masterful.

I certainly didn't dislike it. But nothing grabbed me instantly. I'll give it a few more listens over the next few days. I'd like to give it a good headphones listen.

[LoathedVermin72]

kendrick lamar is a wallpaper

[E.H. Ruddock]

What should I listen to when my two favorite rap albums are Criminal Minded and Its Dark and Hell is Hot? Just assume I'm a total rap noobie for anything after 2000.

[epilogue]

kendrick lamar is a wallpaper

Just because you like Kanye doesn't mean you have to hate everyone else, Jordan.

[epilogue]

What should I listen to when my two favorite rap albums are Criminal Minded and Its Dark and Hell is Hot? Just assume I'm a total rap noobie for anything after 2000.

The Eminem Show

[Norah]

What should I listen to when my two favorite rap albums are Criminal Minded and Its Dark and Hell is Hot? Just assume I'm a total rap noobie for anything after 2000.

The Eminem Show

that's a great album

[E.H. Ruddock]

What should I listen to when my two favorite rap albums are Criminal Minded and Its Dark and Hell is Hot? Just assume I'm a total rap noobie for anything after 2000.

The Eminem Show

meh. I've kept up with his stuff, some I love and some I hate.