Is rap dying?
Felita Lawlah
so overshadowed by the mainstream that creativity is being greatly overshadowed
by marketability. Nothing extremely earth shattering has really come out as of
late. The truly innovative groups are hustling nickels and dimes!!! Yeah we
can all scream Biggie got flow or Mack got flow, but I hate to tell
ya......They ain't nothing but MTV rappers. Everything they do is about the
money, not the music. I know some of y'all know what I'm talking about. How
the HELL could Biggie insult himself by doing that duet with Da Brat!
All the music that is being dropped sounds the same. This streches from coast
to coast. On one part of the country, you have peeps playing that G-funk shit
out. On another part, there are the hyper screaming rappers talking, but not
saying a damn thing. The rap scene in all its glory is heading to an
inevitable fate. Oh well.....it was fun while it lasted.
P.S.--To all y'all who like to scream what about the FUgees or the Roots....
For everyone of those groups, there are 10-20 that are reproductions of what's
already out. So what's really going on!
--
Steve Jackson
Don't get so disenfranchised yet. rap is definitely here to stay as long as there is a hip-hop culture. True, alot of stuff is beginning to blend
uncontrollably and most of it is because people are becoming less and less
creative (re: every muthaphukka who used an Isley Bros. sample this year-- not
just between the sheets but any ohters as well). I remember not too long ago when groups like PE and X-Clan (who was definitely slept on) were revolutionizing the industry. NWA was making noise because they were a non-
mainstream group making it in the mainstream. I remember here in Philly, when
Schooly D put his album out and 3xDope also, they (the media) were allhype aboutthem cursing on a record. But, their shit still sold 'cause it was phat and it
was still underground-- sorta. I guess what I'm trying to say, just don't give
up on our expression. John Coltrane, Bird Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and many other early jazz and blues artists kept doing their thing after it was watered
down by the mainstream sho said it sounded "too street" ot "too dirty." We justall have to represent the real, and as long as we keep doing that, hip-hop and
rap will live.
"da One & Only"
DJ Jazzman
Hootie Hoo!!!
Sandwich
> Is it me or does it seem that rap is becoming a victim of itself? It has been
> so overshadowed by the mainstream that creativity is being greatly overshadowed
> by marketability. Nothing extremely earth shattering has really come out as of
> late. The truly innovative groups are hustling nickels and dimes!!! Yeah we
> can all scream Biggie got flow or Mack got flow, but I hate to tell
> ya......They ain't nothing but MTV rappers. Everything they do is about the
> money, not the music. I know some of y'all know what I'm talking about. How
> the HELL could Biggie insult himself by doing that duet with Da Brat!
>
> All the music that is being dropped sounds the same. This streches from coast
> to coast. On one part of the country, you have peeps playing that G-funk shit
> out. On another part, there are the hyper screaming rappers talking, but not
> saying a damn thing. The rap scene in all its glory is heading to an
> inevitable fate. Oh well.....it was fun while it lasted.
>
> P.S.--To all y'all who like to scream what about the FUgees or the Roots....
> For everyone of those groups, there are 10-20 that are reproductions of what's
> already out. So what's really going on!
>
>
> --
>
>
>
>
>
>
Point taken
I think that in any music genre the same situtation is occuring. When
rap started everything was cool, but nobody made any money. When people
make money they are partly at the power of the record company. Well when
the money starts to roll, the falling off begins.
______________________________________________________________________________
Reuben Kirksey | When does the party start?
"Sandwich" | Last act at the Illini Union
"Eat Me Baby" | Best of Open Mike Night - Ten minutes of Ska
____________________|________...@ux5.cso.uiuc.edu_________________________
jon madison
>Is it me or does it seem that rap is becoming a victim of itself? It has been
mostly all the good sounds is underground.
j.
'success is not measured by a record deal...for real...'
-sfc. 'don't nap'
--
jon madison, se--.
work: j...@indianapolis.sgi.com
elsewhere: j...@iquest.net
web: http://reality.sgi.com/employees/jm (i'm. P.I. sorry.)
Lenworth Henry
fl67...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu (Felita Lawlah) wrote:
>Is it me or does it seem that rap is becoming a victim of itself? It has
been
overshadowed
Shit man, anything the man sees he can make money off of will become bloated.
Now I hate to be repetitive, but look at jazz. Whens the last time you heard
a jazz tune on your local black radio station. Truth is clubs in Dc are more
for Mr and Ms (you know who) from the burbs than for anyone.
>by marketability. Nothing extremely earth shattering has really come out as
of late.
Now don't start that shit. That is whack. HOW Many EARTH SHATTERING groups
can there be. You have the Roots, the planets,and whatever groups you find
phat, but most assuredly you could count your favourite groups. Now would
you like it if rap became like so called alternative music. MTV is
alternative music's whore. MTV lives, breathes, and shits alternative. Yet,
groups like Pearljam have utterly spurned the demon. If there were too many
phat beats how the fuck could I dig em and afford school at the same time.
Cd's aint cheap ya know.
The truly innovative groups are hustling nickels and dimes!!! Yeah we
>can all scream Biggie got flow or Mack got flow, but I hate to tell
>ya......They ain't nothing but MTV rappers. Everything they do is about the
>money, not the music. I know some of y'all know what I'm talking about.
As I said some time ago. That sell out accusation is not a good thing.
How
>the HELL could Biggie insult himself by doing that duet with Da Brat!
>
You and I know Da Brat is just some whack private school teen. Who cares if
Ms and Mr America beleive that Da Brat is down.
>All the music that is being dropped sounds the same. This streches from
coast
>to coast. On one part of the country, you have peeps playing that G-funk
shit
>out. On another part, there are the hyper screaming rappers talking, but
not
>saying a damn thing. The rap scene in all its glory is heading to an
>inevitable fate. Oh well.....it was fun while it lasted.
Brutha you just been listening to too much whack shit. Tell ya what, ease
off listening to hip hop sometimes. Pick up some 60's Trane or 70's Miles
Davis. Try some 70's Freddy Hubbard or some other relaxing vibe. If ya get
into too much of the noise, you'll start losing faith. Black music is and
will always be. Just because there are some fools who think everything can
be exploited (fuck the Scientific Method and its abstraction of conscience
from capacity) does not mean that it will die. They thought they could bury
Roach and his black awareness, cover up Don Cherry and his vision. Disguise
Miles and his shorter/williams/hancock/carter quartet. However, today I can
walk into a store and dig those rhythmns (at significant discount) for
myself. Regardless of what the mainstream media thinks of them. Fuck MTV
and all those whack institutions designed for our listening pleasure. Give
yourself some more challenge brutha. Don't let the mainstream limit your
horizons.
Lenworth Henry
>YOU ARE DEAD RIGHT!! Once you get caught up in the money aspect of a thing,
>the creativity goes to hell. Money and creativity are mutually exclusive.
I'm
>not saying that the top commercial rappers are wack, they're achieving their
>financial goals. Mainstream rap is basically R&B, it has to be simple with
>plenty of chorous or it won't get played. The chances of anybody blowing up
>without airplay are slim.
>
>Don't worry though the art form will revivie itself but its gonna need headz
>who put up dough to keep it true and not just talk Ying-Yang!
>
>Peace
>-Dean
Now I wouldn't say that now. Just cuz you make a living off something does
not mean you lack creativity. Brutha your email address is of a major
Japanese corporation. Does this mean you lack creativity? No it simple
means you do something to pay the bills.
Dean Harris
the creativity goes to hell. Money and creativity are mutually exclusive. I'm
not saying that the top commercial rappers are wack, they're achieving their
financial goals. Mainstream rap is basically R&B, it has to be simple with
plenty of chorous or it won't get played. The chances of anybody blowing up
without airplay are slim.
Don't worry though the art form will revivie itself but its gonna need headz
who put up dough to keep it true and not just talk Ying-Yang!
Peace
-Dean
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Harris Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc.
Email: de...@toshiba.com Advanced Television Technology Center
Voice: (609)951-8500 ext. 24 202 Carnegie Center, Suite 102
Fax: (609)951-9172 Princeton, NJ 08540
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip Lamarr Cunningham
is coming off on the gangsta type/keepin' it real/gettin' lifted type stuff,
while like Felita said, the real talent is not being heard (for instance, Dred
Scott, Organized Konfusion). I think that the record industry has just about
pimped out "gangsta" rap to the fullest so that now, everyone likens hip hopp
to this totally ill form of the art. That's right, y'all. . .hip hop is an
art. It has gotten away from the artistic side and became commercial. Now,
one of these days, this current trend of bullshit that's out now is gonna fall
off (yes, gangsta rap is goin' out like Vanilla Ice's last joint!) and when it
does, we'll see how many true appreciaters (fans are for rock!) still remain.
I know I'll be there.
SUPPORT TRUE HIP HOP Y'ALL!
RIGHTEOUS WORDS FROM THE MAN PHILLY PHILL, BUT IF YOU'RE SENDING ME A CHECK,
SEND IT TO. . .
--
************************************************************************
* PHILL CUNNINGHAM "YO, I'M FAR FROM THE AVERAGE, *
* THE CHOCOLATE BOY WONDER CIVILIZE A SAVAGE. . ." *
* ENJOY THE BUFFET FILMWORKS, INC. - BRAND NUBIAN *
SEEB
>
> In article <D7Axr...@boss.cs.ohiou.edu>,
> fl67...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu (Felita Lawlah) wrote:
> >Is it me or does it seem that rap is becoming a victim of itself? It has
> been
> >so overshadowed by the mainstream that creativity is being greatly
> overshadowed
>
> Shit man, anything the man sees he can make money off of will become bloated.
> Now I hate to be repetitive, but look at jazz. Whens the last time you heard
> a jazz tune on your local black radio station. Truth is clubs in Dc are more
> for Mr and Ms (you know who) from the burbs than for anyone.
> >by marketability. Nothing extremely earth shattering has really come out as
> of late.
>
> Now don't start that shit. That is whack. HOW Many EARTH SHATTERING groups
> can there be. You have the Roots, the planets,and whatever groups you find
> phat, but most assuredly you could count your favourite groups. Now would
> you like it if rap became like so called alternative music. MTV is
> alternative music's whore. MTV lives, breathes, and shits alternative. Yet,
> groups like Pearljam have utterly spurned the demon. If there were too many
>
I have no beef with any of your points, this is just to clarify a little
somethin'. Don't blame Da Brat's lack of skills (and she is wack) on
private school. She actually went to shool on the south side of Chicago.
I know this because I went there 8 years ago. You can be from the real world
and still ma wack commercial artist. It's all about priorities.
100% CHI-TOWN REPRESENT,
SEEB
SEEB
>
> fl67...@oak.cats.ohiou.edu (Felita Lawlah) wrote:
> >Is it me or does it seem that rap is becoming a victim of itself? It has been
> mostly all the good sounds is underground.
>
>
> j.
>
> 'success is not measured by a record deal...for real...'
> -sfc. 'don't nap'
>
> --
> jon madison, se--.
> work: j...@indianapolis.sgi.com
> elsewhere: j...@iquest.net
> web: http://reality.sgi.com/employees/jm (i'm. P.I. sorry.)
>
ground.Here in slow ass middle-amerikkka we don't do it for the
money. We cipher for the love of an artform that we hope to contribute
to, to help keep it from dying. I know I'm always postin' about some
Chicago type shit, but I gotta represent for the peeps that go unrecognized
cause they don't live east or west. True hip-hop can never die as long
as there are blunt sessions end cipher circles.
100% CHI-TOWN REPRESENT,
SEEB
Karl Mosgofian
is crap. The only question is, how much does the remaining 10% turn you on?
I'd rather listen to the top 10% of rap than of rock, country&western, etc.
Rap may be changing but so far it remains IMHO the place where the most
inovation and creativity is happening in music. Commercial success may make
it harder to see that, but it's still there.
-karl
--
Karl Mosgofian ka...@csi.com
"Europe has its great cathedrals, but in America it is our own great natural
landscape which uplifts our spirits and souls as individuals and as a
whole nation." - Alexander Gaguine