RAP - ******s Attempting Poetry?

[VirtualG]

Whats your view on RAP? (dont just think about the basic and crappy american gangsta rap, think more like Australian Hip Hop or Brit-Rap) Do you like it or hate it? Me, personally, I think it depends on teh artist...

[cocaine]

rap is a form of music in its own, you cant really say that its "attempted poetry"

and i do like the odd bit, not overly keen on it though.

[FlyingJesus]

Slander of the highest form tbh, some rappers are far better than any "typical" poet. I know a lot of them act like they're a bit gone in the head but that doesn't take anything away from their talent - Nas is one of the smoothest lyricists when he's got a microphone and a beat, but somehow when you stop the music he doesn't seem to have a clue what he's talking about or where he's going. Does the way he lives his life affect how well he rhymes and gets a message across? Not at all.

Also I don't get why you're saying not to think of gangster rap but go for British stuff.. most British rappers I've heard are absolutely terrible and either just imitate gangster rappers or put on that annoying London accent to copy Dizzee Rascal and talk about how hard they are - it's the same but without guns and without as much talent tbh. Two rappers well known for being involved in gang violence, Biggie Smalls and Tupac, are among the greatest lyricists the industry's seen.

[LuketheDuke]

I think Rap can be used as a very powerful way to convey messages.

I know that doesnt happen too often nowadays but in the past the likes of Zach De La Rocha from RATM and groups like Public Enemy are prime examples of generating potent political messages through the medium of their music.

Saying that 50 Cent sucks big time.

[Arch]

Slander of the highest form tbh, some rappers are far better than any "typical" poet. I know a lot of them act like they're a bit gone in the head but that doesn't take anything away from their talent - Nas is one of the smoothest lyricists when he's got a microphone and a beat, but somehow when you stop the music he doesn't seem to have a clue what he's talking about or where he's going. Does the way he lives his life affect how well he rhymes and gets a message across? Not at all.

Also I don't get why you're saying not to think of gangster rap but go for British stuff.. most British rappers I've heard are absolutely terrible and either just imitate gangster rappers or put on that annoying London accent to copy Dizzee Rascal and talk about how hard they are - it's the same but without guns and without as much talent tbh. Two rappers well known for being involved in gang violence, Biggie Smalls and Tupac, are among the greatest lyricists the industry's seen.

I didn't know anyone on this forum liked Nas lmao.
Anyways yeah most british rap is terrible (havn't heard much but what i have heard is pretty awful). Although in a way its hard to compare a poet to a rapper you can still make many connections. Although now-a-days there aren't as good rappers/hip-hop artists there are still some decent ones. As for Tupac and Biggie yeah they've changed the industry forever, but for 2pac he had great lyrics in his songs and good messages and w/e but for freestyling he wasnt that great(although freestyling, and writing a song on paper is totally different). But yerr i dunno now all u hear is ****** music from Lil wayne and don't get me wrong his older stuff was good but now music is so ****.

We need more biggie, nas, vinnie paz(JMT/AOTP), and immortal technique.

[le harry]

Hilltop Hoods & Bliss n Eso are great. Poetry or not.

[Soy]

Old school rap was all about the lyrics, current rap seems to be all about the melody and sound

[Arch]

Old school rap was all about the lyrics, current rap seems to be all about the melody and sound

that actually sounds about right,
although id pick old school over the stuff now
i dunno if its just me but cars, girls, and money isnt all i wanna hear
repeated over and over with a different beat. It might sell
but its ****.

[Blinger1]

i dunno if its just me but cars, girls, and money isnt all i wanna hear
You forgot drugs and guns.

[FlyingJesus]

Might I ask what you do want to hear? "Old school" rap is more likely to be gangster rap than current stuff as these days a lot of people just rap about how rich they are, and there's still plenty of lyrical genius out and about. Chamillionaire has a new album out this year and he's great with his words, Raekwon supposedly as well although I'm not holding my breath for that one as it's been due for years. Club hiphop like Soulja Boy and Flo Rida obviously isn't gonna be too deep and lyrical as it's ringtone music and just about the hook, but rap has a long way to go still before it can be declared dead

On the note of lyrics, what do rock singers usually have their songs about? Metal tends to be just about destruction and hate even though they live fairly normal lives really, so they're fakes, and most rock music is just the same love song reinvented

[PaulMacC]

Might I ask what you do want to hear? "Old school" rap is more likely to be gangster rap than current stuff as these days a lot of people just rap about how rich they are, and there's still plenty of lyrical genius out and about. Chamillionaire has a new album out this year and he's great with his words, Raekwon supposedly as well although I'm not holding my breath for that one as it's been due for years. Club hiphop like Soulja Boy and Flo Rida obviously isn't gonna be too deep and lyrical as it's ringtone music and just about the hook, but rap has a long way to go still before it can be declared dead

On the note of lyrics, what do rock singers usually have their songs about? Metal tends to be just about destruction and hate even though they live fairly normal lives really, so they're fakes, and most rock music is just the same love song reinvented
That's sterotyping the whole genre of rock and metal into one. You cant say that now Tom because you know there is bands there that do have meaningful lyrics.
I do listen to a small bit of rap but and the only artists I have on my PC are tupac and biggie lol

[Arch]

Might I ask what you do want to hear? "Old school" rap is more likely to be gangster rap than current stuff as these days a lot of people just rap about how rich they are, and there's still plenty of lyrical genius out and about. Chamillionaire has a new album out this year and he's great with his words, Raekwon supposedly as well although I'm not holding my breath for that one as it's been due for years. Club hiphop like Soulja Boy and Flo Rida obviously isn't gonna be too deep and lyrical as it's ringtone music and just about the hook, but rap has a long way to go still before it can be declared dead

On the note of lyrics, what do rock singers usually have their songs about? Metal tends to be just about destruction and hate even though they live fairly normal lives really, so they're fakes, and most rock music is just the same love song reinvented

Well first off i hate soulja boy, and lil wayne yeah they might be hot artists (they can sell) but lil wayne has no right to say hes the best as he always does. Just to name some stuff i like better then this new stuff , Emeniem , Immortal Technique , Jedi mind tricks , cypress hill, army of the pharaohs, wu tang clan (all the guys in it) and thats just a few i could add many many more.

Tbh, i dont mind hearing soulja boy and lil wayne, its just annoying when people think that they are the best and no one can be better, when the new guys making music were inspiried by the older ones.

yeah there is still decent stuff im not a huge fan of chamillionaire, i like raekwon but yeah. Especially when people say lil wayne is the best lyricist when in half his songs he just says money money money over and over.

ps. i wrote this up pretty fast so i prob spelt alot wrong


You forgot drugs and guns.

my badddd


edit: i use to listen to alot of rock/metal type music but i dunno i stopped so i cant rly comment on the new stuff thats out in that style of music

[Soy]

Some of the most renowned rappers (like Big Pun, Tupac) were also excellent lyricists.

There's few rappers nowadays who can spit and/ or write good poetry

[Arch]

Yepp, i remeber listening to 1 of Lil Waynes songs, he rythmes money with money with money atleast like 5 times lmao

[NEEVE]

I cant stand rap.

[FlyingJesus]

I have never understood anyone who said Lil Wayne is a good lyricist, let alone the best. It really is beyond me... he does "in rhyming" (more than one rhyme in a line) but so do I, and he hardly puts any decent metaphor into his work, it just makes no sense how people can claim he's the best around. Scarface is one of the best around lyrically at the moment but I can't stand his voice so it's wasted on me :P

[Arch]

You rap ?

Also yeah he might be a good seller but its just annoying when he says hes the best, and everyone thinks he is. When if you put him up agaisnt other guys he would get torn.

[Browney]

You rap ?

Also yeah he might be a good seller but its just annoying when he says hes the best, and everyone thinks he is. When if you put him up agaisnt other guys he would get torn.

he writes poems and stuff as well if I remember rightly.

but yeah, this little debate sounds alot like the stuff said by Jay-Z in his latest track, which I love btw. not neccessarily for it's meaning, as I'm not involved enough in rap to form an opinion.

[ifuseekamy]

A poem is literature, lyrics are music.

[Rarelime]

I agree with what has been said in this thread - if you want 'poetic rap' listen to the older stuff, in particular Tupac, Common and Nas. Although I'm not the biggest fan of Tupac there is no doubt he was a phenomenal lyricist, way ahead of his time imo.

Just a snippet from my favourite Tupac song, showcasing his lyrical ability.

So Many Tears:

Back in elementary, I thrived on misery
Left me alone I grew up amongst a dyin breed
Inside my mind couldn't find a place to rest
until I got that Thug Life tatted on my chest
Tell me can you feel me? I'm not livin in the past, you wanna last
Be tha first to blast, remember Kato
No longer with us he's deceased
Call on the sirens, seen him murdered in the streets
Now rest in peace
Is there heaven for a G? Remember me
So many homies in the cemetery, shed so many tears

[FlyingJesus]

You rap ?

Nah I wouldn't embarrass myself trying to actually rap, I just write a lot of rap lyrics :P


but yeah, this little debate sounds alot like the stuff said by Jay-Z in his latest track, which I love btw. not neccessarily for it's meaning, as I'm not involved enough in rap to form an opinion.

DOA? I hate that track lol but the message of it is true, autotone is killing hiphop


Although I'm not the biggest fan of Tupac there is no doubt he was a phenomenal lyricist, way ahead of his time imo.

I agree definitely, I'm not a Tupac fan but there's no denying his talent. That's one big problem with any rap debate (or any musical debate really) - people mistake not liking a certain type of music for it being talentless

[le harry]

I have never understood anyone who said Lil Wayne is a good lyricist, let alone the best. It really is beyond me... he does "in rhyming" (more than one rhyme in a line) but so do I, and he hardly puts any decent metaphor into his work, it just makes no sense how people can claim he's the best around. Scarface is one of the best around lyrically at the moment but I can't stand his voice so it's wasted on me :P
TOUGHER THAN NIGERIAN HAIR.

[FlyingJesus]

Point in case

[Jippz]

Rap in America was good in the old days of hip hop and soul when it meant something. Look into Gil Scott Heron, he's my personal favourite rap and soul artist. In regards to modern day, Scroobius Pip's spoken word poetry qualifies as rap i'd say. And pretty mindblowing rap at that.

[Middlesbrough]

It's a somewhat mixed topic for me, their are numerous different rappers but I would like to point out Eminem as somebody who raps about life, not about the he *Removed* up his *Removed* and banged his *****, while taking LSD or some pisstake like that, Eminems the only real rapper that I find interest in, I'm more of an indie/rock person but Eminem does appeal to me.



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