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Post by Hellfire on Apr 23, 2004 9:41:05 GMT -5
most people say it's stupid and idiotic and woman/gay derrogative, but i must admit to owning a couple albums by Jay-Z and co. mostly i like female rappers more, like Missy, Queen Latifah and Eve, but i like a lot of stuff by the likes of DMX, D12, Eminem, Coolio, ODB and so on. any takers?
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Post by ♥Mary♥ on Apr 23, 2004 11:11:41 GMT -5
most people say it's stupid and idiotic and woman/gay derrogative, but i must admit to owning a couple albums by Jay-Z and co. mostly i like female rappers more, like Missy, Queen Latifah and Eve, but i like a lot of stuff by the likes of DMX, D12, Eminem, Coolio, ODB and so on. any takers? I like the MUSIC of a lot of rap/hiphop but 89.9% of the lyrics from it just turn me off. Sometimes the words do offend me, but overall they don't offend me as much as they just plain don't interest me. I'm the kind of person who listens to and tries to interpret each and every word in a song. If the words are such that they ruin what my brain and my body are trying to experience with the feel of the music, then it's all over! Granted, I don't take the time to listen to enough of it to give it a fair chance.... But I do know that that "type" of music often gets translated, visually, to album covers and videos that to ME portray negative images that I'd rather NOT have thrown in my face like that. It's a shame because sometimes there are songs I hear that I really like musically (some Missy and Eminem, for example) and because I was a dancer and I can appreciate the hip-hop groove-thang, I'll make it a point to try to watch some of the videos and check out the moves.... It's so frustrating when I can't get past all the in-your-face barely-clothed female body parts jiggling all over the place! Or the way they attempt to make it 'cool' to either be or have been a gang-member and into crime or drugs or whatever. That really bothers me... so more often than not, I simply don't listen to most of it. There are some really good/fun songs that I enjoy, though. Outkast is one band that I really like because they don't seem to RELY as much on the profanity, sex and violence to make their music what it is... plus their music is just so interesting and catchy. I know this is really a stereotypical view, but the whole problem is that it's been so badly perpetuated that I'm not yet convinced I could get past it if I tried! It's one thing to tell a story with a song that makes you think or goes along with the beat in a way that your head and body 'move' to the song.... But I get the impression this kind of music often seeks to reach an audience that is more interested in seeing easy and direct sex, how violence can solve problems, and how looking out for number 1 will take you far in life. Again, that's just MY impression from the images I've seen attached to the music. Those kinds of 'ideals' just don't appeal to me. Going back to the lyrics thing for a minute... I find it interesting that many rap and hip-hop artists put out regular versions and "clean" versions of their cds. I know that some indie and rock artists do this, too... so this is a comment that pertains to all genres across the musical board... The way I feel about it is this: Half of me wants to say 'yay' for them offering a version that people like me (who prefer not to be surrounded by the profanity) might prefer to listen to and thereby allows a way to do that. But, the other half of me says "why is this necessary?" I mean, I feel like if I'm going to buy the 'clean' version of a cd then I'm really getting something DIFFERENT than the artist intended with the original.... so I have to ask myself... is the original/full message intended by the artist something I really want? See what I mean? I have no problem with the exploration of topics related to sex or aggression or death being raised in a song...In fact, I think those kinds of things can be interesting.... but the WAY it's done is what matters to me. One of the reasons I like Tori's music so much is because she can put that kind of aggression/anger into a song (Precious Things, for example) and even throw in some slightly 'dirty' language and have it work. It's all about the way it works for Me, though, because I think enjoying music is like enjoying any kind of art.... it's completely subjective and personal. So, um, that's my opinion.  |
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Post by elizabeth on Apr 23, 2004 16:56:16 GMT -5
I like it. I don't like the mainstream stuff, though. It's really boring. I don't really like OutKast. I did like Arrested Development ("Take me to another place, take me to another land, make me forget all the rest, help me understand your plan") and De La Soul.
I remember the birth of rap. In my town, it was a huge thing. Run DMC was huge. But, as it got larger, I think the quality of what you hear most of the time, like pop music, is not so good. And some of it is nasty, like Nelly. You have to listen to find something unique. I think The Fugees were good, and Lauryn Hill is really good. I love Erykah Badu, but that is more soul or whatever. And lots of white girls love her,haha.
But, living in cities, it is definitely the rhythm and beat of it that is attractive. It's really good for dancing.
I heard the best lyrics the other day, so true of this day and age. "People acting like they ain't got no mamas". True that.ha i don't really talk like that!
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Post by elizabeth on Apr 23, 2004 17:18:43 GMT -5
My husband does like Old Dirty Bastard, though. And Wu-Tang definitely has that groove thing going on, but they also have that don't mess with me thing. Wu-Tang Clan is pretty original. Eminem is interesting. He's pretty good, but I guess just not enough that I would listen to him all the time. What did you think of Tori's cover? Tori wanted to cover a rap song for SLG, i think Public Enemy song, who by the way, are strong.
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Post by ♥Mary♥ on Apr 23, 2004 18:48:52 GMT -5
True that.ha i don't really talk like that! LOL, elizabeth! I agree with what you say about the feel and the beat of the music... I really like the 'urban' energy of it. And part of me understands that the heart and soul of the music comes from the kinds of cities the artists live in and situations in life that they faced. Just like with any 'rootsy' kind of music... it's automatically 'in' the music. But part of me can't understand why some of the best-beat music has to have such awful distasteful lyrics, you know? It's like I wanna keep it on to hear the beat, but I can't stand what they're saying! I feel like my body gets shortchanged from enjoying a good thing because my brain and my psyche are screaming at me that I'm hearing a bad thing! Ok, I'll stop going on... |
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Post by elizabeth on Apr 23, 2004 19:22:10 GMT -5
I don't know. It's like I've talked to my husband about Snoop Doggy Dog. He is very smooth and I like the music, but he can't stop talking about bitchesand hos. Excuse my language. It's really interesting to me. My husband says it's just talk, it's light, I don't know. But, it turns me off. The same way as if you're in someone's house and the way they talk is to swear-it's offputting. But, there are artists who don't-but you need to spend a lot of time listening.
When we lived in the city, or when I am with my family, I was more surrounded by hiphop and rap, and the truth of it is, the music is pretty relaxing, and when you are surrounded by it, you are not as sensitive to the words. The rhythm can be just reassuring.
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Post by Koalapupu on Apr 24, 2004 0:44:28 GMT -5
I only listen to certain kinds. I think I go with the previous: I don't like the gangsta-style either (especially because they rap about poor ghetto life in outfits I could never afford to wear...). And Jay-Z... I was interested in hearing his Black album because it had caused such an uproar but the songs in it are really lame, and it sounds like he's just selling it with the Beatles-value. I hope I'm not offending anyone with this... I do like old school rap somewhat, like Sir Mix-A-Lot (hehe) and Ice-T who actually seemed to have more of a message in their stuff, but I don't listen to them all really. I also like Beastie Boys for the beats and silly lyrics value (now, their stuff I own). You should try out Finnish rap... like "Fintelligens" *sigh*. They started out by rapping how miserable their lives were, "back against the wall" at school and fighting for life and what do you find out: that they went to this really elitist art high school in Helsinki. I'm sure it was a real struggle for surviving out there  |
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Post by Hellfire on Apr 24, 2004 7:36:41 GMT -5
that's what all rap is like these days. it's hard to find an artist who really grew up poor and was a good person. it's like all these rappers saying "i grew up poor so i did drugs and i had guns" and that kinda crap. you don't see a single one of them rapping about how they had to work double, triple shifts to help at home and bring mamma some extra money. i think i would like rap more if it wasn't about killing people.
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Post by ♥Mary♥ on Apr 24, 2004 12:19:04 GMT -5
I I don't like the gangsta-style either (especially because they rap about poor ghetto life in outfits I could never afford to wear...). LMAO! Well said, Jenni. And I do like some of the old school stuff, too... Sean and I both like a lot of the Beastie Boys stuff. I think elizabeth has a good point... you gotta really try out what's beyond the mainstream rap/h-h. Just like I'm not so impressed with mainstream rock/pop I would bet I'd be more interested in what's a little bit more creative, less radio-friendly, less 'safe'... but I'm still picky about the lyrics and themes expressed in the music. I got into N.E.R.D.'s song "She Wants To Move", despite the few little vulgar bits in it (lol) because the beat just grabs me and shakes me.... but I hate that I can't sing along with the whole song... because well, I just can't say those things! And then I saw the video and was like "noooo, don't do that don't go there....", but of course they did.  Anyway, Paulo, you asked somewhere on some thread about the Jay-Z/Missy/Twista song ... you were surprised I knew it. (That song must be one of the ALL TIME worst as far as lyrics go) The reason is that my little brother and my cousins (all aged 15-19 now) were really into Jay-Z when that album came out a couple years back. (Also into Missy and Fabolus and Nelly and a few other MTV/mainstream favorites) We were living at my parents' house then waiting for this house that we were buying to be ready. Anyway, he'd play some of the music and walk around kinda humming/singing bits from it... he and his best friend would do this and they'd purposely tick me off! LOL He knows how to push my buttons. But seriously, how many damn times does Missy have to ask the question in the song?!.. and then follow it up with what the girl is doing and such... uggh.... it's gross! But I will completely admit that when he's playing it in his room and the bass is thumping through the walls, I'm dancing along.  Sometimes I wish I could adjust my stereo so I could omit the lyrics of a song and just play the music! |
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Post by Koalapupu on Apr 24, 2004 12:34:25 GMT -5
I got into N.E.R.D.'s song "She Wants To Move", despite the few little vulgar bits in it (lol) because the beat just grabs me and shakes me.... but I hate that I can't sing along with the whole song... because well, I just can't say those things! And then I saw the video and was like "noooo, don't do that don't go there....", but of course they did. Ooh I really like N.E.R.D. Bless though, that I don't have MTV so I can just listen to them without any visuals, hehe. I like it how they seem to use real instruments to create beats and rhythms instead of the computer bass and drum. Wonder if it was that exact song you're talking about... you know how they have that cool guitar strumming in it to handle the rhythm? And they don't seem to take themselves too seriously either, I like that. I have to admit that I really liked their "Lapdance" song though I felt a bit strange singing along "Ooh baby you want me? Well you can get this lapdance here for free" So damn catchy. I don't like some vulgar bits a la Lil Kim just because it's not there for the song's sake, but rather as a competition tool to show who can say the raunchiest things. Or that's how I feel. I find it sexier to hear naughty subject matter veiled in good metaphors Missy Elliot does seem to have freaky good beats though... |
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Post by ♥Mary♥ on Apr 24, 2004 12:40:50 GMT -5
Ooh I really like N.E.R.D. Bless though, that I don't have MTV so I can just listen to them without any visuals, hehe. I like it how they seem to use real instruments to create beats and rhythms instead of the computer bass and drum. Wonder if it was that exact song you're talking about... you know how they have that cool guitar strumming in it to handle the rhythm? And they don't seem to take themselves too seriously either, I like that. I have to admit that I really liked their "Lapdance" song though I felt a bit strange singing along "Ooh baby you want me? Well you can get this lapdance here for free" So damn catchy. I don't like some vulgar bits a la Lil Kim just because it's not there for the song's sake, but rather as a competition tool to show who can say the raunchiest things. Or that's how I feel. I find it sexier to hear naughty subject matter veiled in good metaphors Missy Elliot does seem to have freaky good beats though... Yep Yep and Yep... To all that! lol Yeah, NERD's pretty catchy and you're right they have a more 'whole music' sound to their music with all the instruments. I LOVE that song. You can see it on Launch... but erm, maybe you don't want to. It's really not ALL bad, just the one line about the spaceship that I thought was terribly predictable and just ick. But the beat, oh the beat! Missy... as overplayed as her 'Work It' was here a while back, I'm STILL addicted to that song when I hear it. Something about it... |
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Post by Hellfire on Apr 25, 2004 8:04:31 GMT -5
hey Mary, i had to google (actually i yahooed, but saying you googled something seems to be an expression, so why not go along with it) the lyrics to 'Is That Yo Bitch?' (cuz let's face it, unless your Jay-Z you won't understand them right away), and you're right, they're pretty awful. but still i can't help but listening to it just for the beat. i never understood the lyrics anyway so they don't matter to me. and my stereo does have a function to supress voice on songs, bwahaha.  |
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Post by Hellfire on Apr 25, 2004 8:05:02 GMT -5
and now i'm getting Rap/HipHop/Snoop Dogg ads. |
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Post by ♥Mary♥ on Apr 25, 2004 14:13:00 GMT -5
and now i'm getting Rap/HipHop/Snoop Dogg ads. What The Fizzle-fazzle, yo?! I don't ever get ANY ADS! EVER EVER EVER! They never change! I'm not good enough? |
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Post by Hellfire on Apr 25, 2004 14:38:38 GMT -5
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