Yes by alotta white folks, as that was the first time they heard anyone rap, no according to alotta old-skool rappers.

I think it is, though. She was one of the forst mainstream artists picking up on it, gotta give her props for that. So to me, that's hiphop.

Even though she raps about car eating aliens...

It's absolutely brilliant, whatever you want to call it. One of the best 100 songs of the rock and roll era, if you ask me.

Moonbeam said:

If ever I were able to narrow down my 80s picks to a top 10, it's there.

RipHer2Shreds said:

It's such a perfect slice of music. It defines how broad of a palette Blondie had. They were so expertly able to take on different genres and add their own flavor to them, ending up with massive hits. I can't think of a more eclectic group of 4 US Number 1's than "Heart of Glass", "Call Me", "Rapture" and "The Tide Is High". Throw in "Sunday Girl" and "Atomic" (UK Number 1's), and the list is even more impressive!

Moonbeam said:

True. I love how they were able to soak it in. One of the best NYC bands.

I count it.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Maker's Mark...whiskey sour...

RipHer2Shreds said:

awww, yeah. it's not even 10 am and you got me thinkin bout drinkin.

thanks.

ButterscotchPimp said:

Okay, I don't even drink and that's a good ass drink!

That song clearly has hip-hop cred, since KRS-One sorta "sampled" it:

i would consider 'rapture' to be more of a mainstream no-wave hit rather than straightforward hip-hop. no-wave was a fusion of the art world, punk, funk, and hip-hop. "rapture" certainly embraces all of those things.

In my opinion, it was one of the first recordings that incorporated that style into a another style of music. To little Army, why wouldn't you consider it hip hop? Is it cause it was coming to a white artist? Or is it cause it does not sound like the so-called dumb-downed version of hip-hop that is played today. Blondie, was a punk band to begin with...not a rock band, not a reggae band. The fact that they were not labeled allowed them to do the music that they did.

whether or not you think it's a hip-hop song, i think it's every bit as essential to hip-hop as kraftwerk or "fame" or any of the other dance music that inspired a lot of early hip-hop.

Anxiety said:

I don't mind it. It helped put hip-hop on America's cultural radar screen. Plus, Blondie was a cut above your average pop band. They incorporated new wave and hip-hop into their own distinctive sound.

Anxiety said:

I'm on board with that.

Well she wasnt relly rapping in the whole song. Is mainly a funky r&b tune with a rap. Maybe if it was on a acapella. Adventures Of Grandmaster Flash And The Furious 5 was the closest it got to hip hop.
[Edited 6/27/08 8:05am]

paisleypark4 said:

of course she was rapping at the end of the song! it may not be considered rapping by the standards of what's on the charts in 2008, but there are those who don't consider what's currently popular as "rapping", either.

Blondie in general

Well not really hip-hop but like Mary Wells' "Gigolo" and Teena Marie's "Square Biz", it gives kudos to the burgeoning rap scene.

Anxiety said:

I mean but the main basis of the song isnt the rapping almost..if she was entirely rapping in the whole thing but she isnt. Its a R&B song with a rap...kinda like some of Missy Elliot's songs. Even back then I wouldnt think anyone would pull this one out at a underground blue light rap party unless they were mixing it with something else or playing with the instrumental...and yes there are tons of people I dont consider rap today (soulja boy to be the main one)
[Edited 6/27/08 8:24am]

Is it the amount of time spent singing vs rapping? Cuz I timed it - 1:33 singing, 1:33 rapping. She's her own featured special guest rapper.

RipHer2Shreds said:

u talkin the single verision or the full version. i think she raps a little bot more all together i always thought...however still its a R&B song imo.
[Edited 6/27/08 8:41am]

paisleypark4 said:

It's a funk song.
[Edited 6/27/08 8:43am]

Timmy84 said:

yeah,....

paisleypark4 said:

i just think it's a GOOD song.

by far my favorite blondie tune.

Anxiety said:

I could not have said that better myself.

Anxiety said:

Hell she probably was one of the first female mc's