Otohiko wrote:I think it's true what Kthulhu says about Rap being about a certain lifestyle and being pro-corporate at times.
Still, ever think that it's exactly what many rap fans want to hear? I think so. That's how it's supposed to work...
Just because it's what people want doesn't make it anymore credable. Anyone can do it, it doesn't take a lot of skill or any talent to be a rapper. Fans of the rap genre have to udnerstand this, they can't get all defense and whiny when others tell them it sucks. Most music fans find value knowing that skill and effort went into making what they love, and that it's unique.
The Ataris for example are one of my favorite bands. I know them personally. I know that each one of them Kris, John, Mike, and chris are allv ery skilled with their instruments. I know they put a lot of effort to make sure they compose something great that they'll be able to perform for their fans. i also know the lyrics Kris writes are special and unique to the band in some way. Nike didn't pay him to sing about anything. I can really say wow when I get something new of theirs, it's the fact I know what goes into their music that's just one more thing that makes it special.
I know this is only a small element of music, and sound tends to be more importent than how it came to be. If you can overlook this, and don't mind that your music is coming off of a corporate converyor belt, then it's fine for YOU. However to me, rap doesn't even sound that good. There are very few songs that I enjoy listening to, so If I'm going to listen to all the average rap songs that build the genre, I'm going to neeed something more to fuel my like for the music. When i go looking for that tho and I find that the artist has no credibility at all, it's a complete turn off. They don't write the music, they barley have a hand in the lyrics, after all the music is written and composed, you can have any high school kid "rap" it just as well.
Oh well, I'm done rambling. But what it comes down to is rap is only a some what decent sound, I rarly hear rap songs that wow me. So if it wants to motivate me further to ejoy the genre, it's going to have to impress me with somehting other than the way it sounds (which it has failed at). And the fact that there's no skill or talent or originality/uniquiness in the music leaves me a little more than feeling there's nothing there. There just isn't really anything to enjoy with rap.