The Truth About Hip Hop, MUST READ

[b0Ng h!tz 4 mE]

today was a fookin good day :jointsmile:

b0Ng h!tz 4 mE Reviewed by b0Ng h!tz 4 mE on 03-24-2008. The Truth About Hip Hop, MUST READ Alright guys I watched this about an hour ago and can not get it out of my mine, this really opens your eyes, but it also has to do with what you believe/don't believe. This guy has shown me how de sensitized i really am to things going on all around me and has helped me open my eyes. WOW! Alright well heres the links I STRONGLY recomend watching the full video, but if you want some of straight go to it points go to the youtube links. bone thugz n harmony YouTube - The Truth Behind Hip Hop Rating: 5

[dragonrider]

Mostly I do not connect with rap and hip-hop because of the musical style. Rhythm is important, but I like melody and harmony as well, and it's pretty much lacking in a lot of rap.

Lyrics are really where rap shines, but even that is a mixed bag. Some of it is really good, thought-provoking poetry, but some of it is just crap about bitches, hos, money, cars, gangs, violence and being hard. To me, that reflects a lot of values I cannot relate to. Every genre has it's junk, even the ones I like, but getting to the good stuff in rap requires sifting through the crap, AND getting past a musical style I don't really like much, so it hasn't been something I've spent much time on.

One of the things I liked about watching the Dave Chappelle Show were the musical acts he'd bring on. It was usually a good rap or hip hop artist with a relevant song with something to say --- it was something I wouldn't usually be exposed to.

[Breukelen advocaat]

The trouble with this is that most of the real musicians are not appreciated in this country. The majority of young people do not know the first thing about the only true American art form - which is jazz. Some of our finest and most innovative American Jazz artists frequently aren't even covered by health insurance, while these rappers and hip-hop jerks are wearing a million dollars worth of gold chains around their fat necks and wrists. They can't play musical instruments, for the most part - unless you call scratching a phonograph record musicianship. The styles of baggy pants and loosely-tied sneakers are based on jail attire. Now, I don't blame a "devil", that's ridiculous (sorry, I meant "rediculous"). It's just bad taste, lack of proper upbringing and corporate greed.

[Breukelen advocaat]

Fortunately, there are musicians who value their heritage, and are continuing to bring innovative, creative types of music to the world. Those are the people that should be the heroes of the young - not the "ganstas".

[dragonrider]

The trouble with this is that most of the real musicians are not appreciated in this country. The majority of young people do not know the first thing about the only true American art form - which is jazz. Some of our finest and most innovative American Jazz artists frequently aren't even covered by health insurance, while these rappers and hip-hop jerks are wearing a million dollars worth of gold chains around their fat necks and wrists. They can't play musical instruments, for the most part - unless you call scratching a phonograph record musicianship. The styles of baggy pants and loosely-tied sneakers are based on jail attire. Now, I don't blame a "devil", that's ridiculous (sorry, I meant "rediculous"). It's just bad taste, lack of proper upbringing and corporate greed.

I've heard other people make this claim that jazz is the only true American music, and I've never really believed it. It is definitely of American origin, but "the only?" --- I don't see how that is true. Since this thread is about rap and hip hop, aren't those uniquely American as well? It seems to me like they are of American origin. And what about country, dixieland, rock and roll, and blues? They may be somehow derivative, but all music probably is somewhat derivative, and they have a uniquiely American stamp.

Oh, and let's not forget the absolute HIGHEST form of American music --- the barbershop quartet. You have not really experienced what America is about until you've heard a four-part harmony about slappin' hos.

[Mr. Clandestine]

I'm with dragonrider on this one. I used to listen to some rap, mainly because I was interested in hearing what certain artists had to say about their lives. Tupac, BTnH, old Three 6 Mafia, and a few others. Tupac, in my opinion, was the most influential of all of them. Anyway, the lyrics of MANY rap artists can be misconstrued and made to seem "evil", but much of it is simply recanting past stories of their lives... and MANY rap artists grew up somewhere other than affluent upper-class neighborhoods. That's reflected in their music. If you really want to hear an evil band, bear in mind it's not rap, but check out a band named Deicide. They're the epitome of Satanic music.

[Breukelen advocaat]

I've heard other people make this claim that jazz is the only true American music, and I've never really believed it. It is definitely of American origin, but "the only?" --- I don't see how that is true. Since this thread is about rap and hip hop, aren't those uniquely American as well? It seems to me like they are of American origin. And what about country, dixieland, rock and roll, and blues? They may be somehow derivative, but all music probably is somewhat derivative, and they have a uniquiely American stamp.

Oh, and let's not forget the absolute HIGHEST form of American music --- the barbershop quartet. You have not really experienced what America is about until you've heard a four-part harmony about slappin' hos.

"Dixieland" IS a form of early jazz. In fact, Louis Armstrong, considered to be the inventor of Jazz, played it.

The folk music of early blues, ragtime, country, etc., is definitely part of our cultural heritage, and fine music - but not considered an art form on the same level as jazz, which developed from these types of music. Rock and roll developed from folk music also, but most is not an art form -although certain progressive, "fusion" types definitely are due to heavy jazz influence.

Jazz musicians usually appreciate many forms of music. Some may even like rap and hip hop. This does not make it an art form, nor does it excuse the ignorance in this society of our valuable musical cultural heritage - which is not just jazz, but the roots of it as well.

I have more respect for an old-time clawhammer banjo picker, Zydeco accordionist, blues harmonica player or any number of other authentic folk musicians, than every "rap" or "hip-hop" artist in the industry put together.

[jagarr]

If you really want to hear an evil band, bear in mind it's not rap, but check out a band named Deicide. They're the epitome of Satanic music.

check them out because theyre NICE as rice too.

me and my boy jeez are tight and all but... sry god, im listening to bad music. pretty sure my spot in hell is gona stay warm for me anyways at this point =p

[dragonrider]

"Dixieland" IS a form of early jazz. In fact, Louis Armstrong, considered to be the inventor of Jazz, played it.

The folk music of early blues, ragtime, country, etc., is definitely part of our cultural heritage, and fine music - but not considered an art form on the same level as jazz, which developed from these types of music. Rock and roll developed from folk music also, but most is not an art form -although certain progressive, "fusion" types definitely are due to heavy jazz influence.

Jazz musicians usually appreciate many forms of music. Some may even like rap and hip hop. This does not make it an art form, nor does it excuse the ignorance in this society of our valuable musical cultural heritage - which is not just jazz, but the roots of it as well.

I have more respect for an old-time clawhammer banjo picker, Zydeco accordionist, blues harmonica player or any number of other authentic folk musicians, than every "rap" or "hip-hop" artist in the industry put together.

Hmmmmm... I, personally, would not use such an exclusive definition of "art form." I wonder if that is what other people meant too when they said jazz is the only unique American art form --- other unique American music is not "art."

For me, rap is not very interesting as a musical form, but that is really just my taste, I think. The lyrics are the intersting part for me, if anything. Some of the wordplay and rhyming is genius poetry, which is definitely an art form. I don't really know anything about the cultural links but it reminds me of Beat poetry.

I like some jazz, but I'm not all that crazy about the really improvisational stuff. Some of it is just to "all over the place"
for me. But that's just taste again --- I know some people love it.

I took a class with a Shakespear professor once who was a very respected scholar in his field. He was someone who you expected to have a very refined and exclusive perspective about what is art and what has value as opposed to what is crap. We got on the topic of sitcoms and other trash TV, and he said that if millions of people like something, then there is some kind of value in it. I was sort of surprised by that coming from him, and I try to remember it when I don't like something that a lot of other people do like.

[Mr. Clandestine]

check them out because theyre NICE as rice too.

me and my boy jeez are tight and all but... sry god, im listening to bad music. pretty sure my spot in hell is gona stay warm for me anyways at this point =p

Haha, don't feel bad... I'm a fairly devout Christian, and I'm also a big fan of Deicide, and have been for quite some time. And you're right, I've seen several interviews with Glen Benton, and he didn't strike me as evil incarnate... just a regular dude with alternate beliefs than my own. I can respect that... I'm not as impressionable as I guess some other people can be. I think as long as we don't go out and kill a Christian after listening to their song "Kill The Christian", we should be alright in the eyes of the Almighty. Those that are highly impressionable probably shouldn't listen to this kind of music. Classical/Baroque music is probably more their style.

...because, if you think about it, there'd be some weird shit going on in the world if these people happened to listen to the likes of Cannibal Corpse and Carcass, etc.