The evolution of rap music since the Sugarhill Gang released Rapper's Delight has been amazing.I mean listen to The Fat Boys,who were really big at one time.Then listen to Notorious BIG.Dosent even sound like there in the same genre.Although it has come along way,its still not getting the respect it deserves.In my opinion the gangster era really hurt its progress in some ways.Violence,mistreatment of women etc...Even the Grammy's dont really acknowledge the best of whats out there because of this.I mean when Will Smith wins a grammy for best rap solo performance,that says alot.Out of all the solid stuff out there "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" gets the nod?So where does it go from here?Is it going to evolve like punk rock,with just hints of what was or?

crazyhorse said:

Could've fooled me. You can't escape it on the radio and hip hop just received its first Album Of The Year Grammy.

I agree with you, though. Rap used to be about social issues. It used to be great, it used to have meaning. This "gansta" shit and all the asinine posturing gets on my nerves like nothing else. And now we've seen the invasion of "pop rappers". Yechh
[This message was edited Tue May 4 9:36:25 2004 by VoicesCarry]

Pure and Simply, rap has been exploited and commercialised. Thats when true art dies

You still get good stuff, but a tidal wave of shite

I agree with both of you.The gangsta era has run its course.When NWA released Straight Outta Compton I was into it pretty heavy though.

sermwanderer said:

cosign

Being a rap baby from the start, it's really sad to see what happened to
the music. "pop rappers" is a very good description.

I hope it dies,unless somebody does something original.

BlaqueKnight said:

Right on...

crazyhorse said:

And that's the reason that hip hop's growth was stunted more than a decade ago. Rap has never grown beyond its adolescent themes and mindset, and it was on that course during the late '80s/early '90s - it was on that path. It's evolved alright, but it hasn't grown for a generation now.

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[This message was edited Tue May 4 23:03:44 2004 by Supernova]

crazyhorse said:

Yes, this always irritated me too!

Supernova said:

Well there is still some good rap music out there...I think too many times we look to the tv and radio for "good" music and yet that's not the place to find it.

I've loving hip hop right now...BUT its because I'm looking for the good stuff....or as Whodini would say...."the good part".

Rhondab said:

Also, has rock evolved to a "higher form"? HELL NO. Rock is to sex what rap is to violence. In the genreal sense, in pop form, they both suck. When you look for concious, meaningful rap, you find it. When you take what's given to you by Clear Channel, that's all you have. Most of the rap these days is party rap; most of the rock - whinerock. That's the nature of pop music - to stay mindless and petty as possible.

BlaqueKnight said:

I listen to rock probably more than anything else.When it comes to rap,I find myself listening to the older stuff.BIG,Public Enemy,Onyx,Busta,Eric B n Rakim etc...Even picked up a few Gil Scott Heron albums,some bad shit.

To me,personally,rap got crap around mid 90's! When pop went mellow with grunge and laid back rap (Dre,Snoop...) rap was going knowhere! At first the mellow sounding rap was good, but then it got dragged down by flashy,souless productions with laid back rythmic patterns that sent u to sleep! The rawness was gone! The Fugees (though not strictly rap) were shit in my book! At least Will Smith made rap fresh sounding again! Good to dance too and "wild wild west" is still dope!


Rap I like includes the social stuff that is laid back, but also in ur face party tracks! Rap is boring when it's mellow 4 me personally! Partying to a track that is mellow sounding? Well I don't to dance to background music, I want it fresh and funky!