Hip-Hop

Posted by Herb7734 8 years, 4 months ago to Culture
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I am what is today called a "classically trained musician." I suppose that means , I went to school to learn music.I studied composition and musicology, and played a number of brass instruments. I have played with orchestras and swing bandas, but I haven't been a professional performer for many years.Our new car came with Sirius so I played around with it one day, listening to various channels until I accidently landed on a hip-hop station.My ears were assaulted with a driving beat and some person chanting: (Please pardon the following)
"I just wanna fuck bad bitches,
Chicken head, chicken fed, with a dick in your mouth."
As I listened to this charming tirade, I could hardly believe my ears. I later found out that this was some person called Dr. Dre. I decidedto listen to more of this stuff. Surely it couldn't all be this bad. I was wrong, it was. And worse.

Apparently, to rappers, women are not fully human. They are all bitches and whores and are to be raped, abused, and beaten. Hip-hop is for young men who do things without consequences, and society says it is OK. It even gets various music awards though it is filled with violence, crime, sex-as-brutality, and more. And then, society wonders why its young men are so violent.

I suppose I am naïve in that I wasn't aware of the depths of depravity that this so-called music represents. I heard rap many years ago by Ice-T and others of that era, but had no idea how low this junk has gotten. If art is the flower on the tree of philosophy, this must be a stinkweed.


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  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Okay, me dino shall now amend my ignorance.
    Me dino still finds it fascinating that Eminen can actually perform one hip-hop number without a single f-word or anything else off-color.
    Speaking of color--new thought:
    I can see by skin color why it would behoove him not to use the n-word.
    Not saying he has not done it.
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  • Posted by tohar1 8 years, 4 months ago
    Agree wholeheartedly with your observation of the stinkweed. To me, the vast, vast majority of rap is just overproduced rhythmic chanting. There really is very little musical talent involved in my opinion. I'm a bit "old school" when it comes to music, in that I'd like to hear one or more instruments being played, oftentimes inspiring or creating a longing to perhaps pick up a guitar oneself. I just don't get that from most rap music, and its "Two turntables & a microphone"...a record player is NOT an instrument. I'm not saying it cannot be entertaining if you're into that, but it definitely isn't for me.
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  • Posted by 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Since art is a reflection of the society that gives it birth, hip-hop pretty much explains a lot of today's society.
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  • Posted by unitedlc 8 years, 4 months ago
    When I was in high school (1986-1991) I actually included some of this kind of music to my repertoire. I listened to anything from rock to classic rock to country to pop to hip hop (then called rap). Some of it was lyrically horrific, from the likes of NWA, 2 Live Crew, etc. When I was young, my friends and I saw it as a joke. We laughed when we played it. The lyrics seemed shocking but innocent. Musically, we listened only because of the bass lines that would rattle the world from the subwoofers many of us had in our cars. We truly believed it was all a joke back then, that the musicians made it as a joke. I don't know if that was the case, but I do know that over the decades, hip hop became "serious". They take themselves seriously now. It is no longer a joke. I guess the only good thing about new rap is that you can no longer understand a single word they say. #consonantsmatter
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  • Posted by khalling 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    he can use f words lol. his work is mostly angry. this last song he actually rps with Dr Dre. they are passing on the torch to younger, angrier people I guess lol
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  • Posted by $ prof611 8 years, 4 months ago
    It's not "rap", it's "crap". And it is ruining my social life. My favorite beach bar has been taken over by a new owner who will not allow his bartenders to play anything but the Sirius station for reggae. This occassionally has some old Marley-style music which I love, but most of the time it features "dance hall", the "new" reggae, which is a version of rap. I avoid going to this bar as much as possible, but since it's on the beach, I am forced to hear its music, since it's loud enough to carry to my favorite beach spot.

    I cannot bear to listen to ANY of this hiphop rap junk, even if the lyrics are not objectionable. The problem is that it's EVERYWHERE YOU GO - even the grocery store!
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  • Posted by tohar1 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You have to check out Joe Bonamassa. The BEST blues/rock guitarist on the scene currently. He is the REAL DEAL when it comes to paying homage to the classics while at the same time performing new music that sounds just awesome! If you get a chance to see him live, please do. He & his band put on an incredible show! He advertises that he's "Always On The Road" which I believe...I think he must tour 8-9 months of the year! The rest of his time is spent recording. He plays in several great bands, as well as his solo efforts. Check out Black Country Communion (More Rock) and Rock Candy Funk Party (Funky) if you're looking to expand musical tastes.
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    What, no f-words? No n-words? No b-words?
    I looked the dude up and noticed he's white or at least looks white.
    Bet there's been no WH invites for this Mr. Clean.
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  • Posted by $ blarman 8 years, 4 months ago
    I just call this stuff C-RAP. It has no value. It's degrading at best, violent and assaulting and purely without musical form. What I find truly sad is that these artists make millions every year. Who buys this pile of troll excrement?
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  • Posted by $ allosaur 8 years, 4 months ago
    Where has me dino heard people talk like rappers sing?
    Oh, yeah, the state prison where I used to work.
    The MF-word is heard within almost every spoken sentence orally farted by some of those losers. .
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 8 years, 4 months ago
    I especially like when those dummies try to sing and they have to autotune them all up in the studio and it still is noise. Haha! Horrible...
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  • Posted by $ Abaco 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Wes Montgomery - I just listened in awe. Never tried to cop his style.

    Robben Ford - likely my all-time favorite. I grew up spinning that Yellowjackets vinyl as a kid over and over and when a guitar buddy hosted a clinic by Robben I got to meet him. Haha...it was like meeting God. Fantastic talent.

    Joe Bonamassa - Probably the most refreshing blues talent to hit it big since Stevie Ray Vaughn. Amazing chops and he keeps evolving, getting better.

    My favorite rock star is a bay area guy named Dave Meniketti. Very soulful player. While he made his living with his rock band it was his blues material that really shines. Fantastic voice. Whenever I see him or his wife I always ask for more blues - haha. He had me join him on stage for a tune on his 50th birthday. That was surreal...

    I played all over NorCal doing rock. But, one of my most memorable performances was when I threw together a very talented blues quartet with some buddies to raid a big, local jam. They got us up first to kick off the night and we did a Robben Ford song, a Tommy Castro song (love his stuff!), and a Meniketti blues tune. Never forget that set. Also, during one gig my rock band had in the east bay we noticed a young guy getting carried out drunk. Turns out he was going off to Afghanistan the next day to fight. So I dedicated our set to him and we blew the roof off the place with our tightest set ever. The venue was crammed with several bay area rock stars present. Very fun gig. All that stuff came to an end when my son got sick. My one prized guitar hangs on the wall of my home office right over my favorite amp. I pluck it for just a few minutes each year and that's it. I needed to try to heal my son so that was that...
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  • Posted by khalling 8 years, 4 months ago
    I have always appreciated Eminem. I will post a link to one of his songs. here are partial lyrics: "You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
    You own it, you better never let it go (go)
    You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
    This opportunity comes once in a lifetime (yo)
    You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
    You own it, you better never let it go (go)
    You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
    This opportunity comes once in a lifetime (yo)
    (You better)

    The soul's escaping, through this hole that is gaping
    This world is mine for the taking
    Make me king, as we move toward a new world order
    A normal life is boring, but superstardom's close to postmortem
    It only grows harder, homie grows hotter
    He blows. It's all over. These hoes is all on him
    Coast to coast shows, he's known as the globetrotter
    Lonely roads, God only knows
    He's grown farther from home, he's no father
    He goes home and barely knows his own daughter
    But hold your nose 'cause here goes the cold water
    His hoes don't want him no more, he's cold product
    They moved on to the next schmoe who flows
    He nose dove and sold nada
    So the soap opera is told and unfolds
    I suppose it's old partner, but the beat goes on"
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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    See my comments below. As disgusting as rap lyrics can be, they are only an explicit expression of something we have accepted unquestioned. Historically, some exceptions are known - a medieval town had a woman mayor; that sort of thing. But, generally, the misogyny in rap music is just the crudest expression of opening a door for a lady.
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  • Posted by $ MikeMarotta 8 years, 4 months ago
    Most of the billions of dollars (truly - Forbes here http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/18/cx_j... -)spent on this come from white people, including middle-aged white women. If it were just for the worst people among urban Afro-Americans, it would be invisible to the rest of us.

    Today, it is a global phenomenon. You can hear rap in Albanian. And it is not all violent or misogynist. It is just a musical innovation. Do not conflate the music and the lyrics. Was Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" an anthem for the Illuminati? Would Wagner have been a Nazi? The worst rap music is just that: the worst.

    And it is only the bare naked reality of cultural artifacts that we accepted unquestioned. Rock 'n' Roll lyrics such as "I Will Follow Him" were only the mild suburban expression, benign sexism.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Back in the day about any of those lyrics would result in your mouth being washed out with soap.
    For him $25 million in earnings and a trip to the White House. White privilege, hah.
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  • Posted by 8 years, 4 months ago in reply to this comment.
    the words are senseless. There is no real music. It's merely an excuse to swear, to shock. It is garbage.
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