[andrewljohnson]

Similarly, instead of thousands of books, many postulate you could have just 3-4, but they are just talking about the plot. You may find a lot of similarities in the words of rap songs, but if you took the time to listen to a lot of rap music, then you would know there are a whole range of beats, harmonies, instrumental work, sampling, and other techniques that make rap as interesting as any other music.

This is silly though. I have heard thousands of rap songs, and you clearly have not. I can quote rap lyrics, and you cannot. I can drum out the beat to a rap song, and understand its uniqueness, but you cannot.

So, why should I argue with you? Go educate yourself, and then we can talk. I wouldn't talk to a non-programmer about the merits of protypical inheritance, and I see no reason to talk to you further about rap music.

This comment is even a waste of time, but you and Scorp's mindless drivel gets under my skin.

[scotty79]

Wow, touchy.

Don't Tell Me What I Can't Do! ;-) (sorry 6-th season just started and I'm somewhat influenced)

I listen to rap music. I've heard hundreds of songs so I'm at least order of magnitude less experienced rap listener than you. I often like the music and interesting music tricks. I think rap music is averagely innovative and pleasant to hear. I can even quote some fragments of lyrics (surely not as many as you) but that's not because I like them. It's just because when you throw shit at wall some of it will stick.

As for educating myself no one can know everything so I prefer direct my physically limited learning capacity at different subjects.

If you have free capacity I'd like to interest you in a thing that I consider clever lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmfo-eL9VKc

[andrewljohnson]

Well, it's good to know you didn't pass judgment without listening. Now you just need to hear the music :)

Those lyrics are indeed clever, but I was bored right away honestly, even after fast-forwarding through the intro.

Go watch this and tell me it's not an awesome song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aj1sznTdLM

[scotty79]

I don't want to enrage you or continue this discussion. We have just different tastes. I'm writing this because you phrased your suggestion in a way that you seem to be expecting an answer.

The song you suggested is a nice song. In a summer radio kind of way. Like an average pop song. Reminds me of "Save Tonight" (which btw I consider much more awesome). Lyrics are good especially if you are slightly detached from real world an in "sad reflection on life of some people you've never met" mode at the moment of listening.

Sorry if you took my comment as offensive, that's my last one.

[cubix]

I'm pretty open minded when it comes to music. I can take something from almost every other genre of music, but I'm bored to death by rap. I could overlook the violence and crassness if I could see (or hear) some redeeming virtues, yet they have always eluded me. Is there a particular song or album you would recommend to experience the genre at its best? What makes it interesting to you?

[andrewljohnson]

This very popular song by Wyclef Jean is musically awesome, has great lyrics, and while it talks about "thug life" and prostitution, I don't think it's particularly offensive to women, nor does it glorify violence. I even like the use of auto-tune here.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/wyclefjean/sweetestgirldollar...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aj1sznTdLM

[cubix]

Isn't this more contemporary R&B? Although it makes use of a hiphop rhythm, and there is some rap interjected here and there, it's not really what you would call a rap song, is it? Also, I was hoping for something considered really great in the genre, something your children will listen when it's no longer fashionable. This song, while not terribly offensive, seems rather vanilla and it's hard to imagine people listening to it in a couple of years, let alone decades from now. I doubt Autotune will age well.

[andrewljohnson]

And now we have gotten to the root of the problem with blanket commentary like "Rap sucks." Rap is a very diverse field of music, and only an ignoramus could write it all off as one package.

[cubix]

What blanket commentary? Who are you quoting? I'm thoroughly bemused by your response. I was looking for something definitive for the genre. I could be wrong, but what you put forward seemed slightly outside of the genre, or at least not representative. I was looking for the rap equivalent of Sgt. Pepper or the Dark Side of the Moon, if such a thing exists.

[starkfist]

Sgt Pepper would be "It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back" by Public Enemy, and Dark Side of The Moon would either be "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)" by the Wu-Tang Clan or "Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde" by Pharcyde.

[ZeroGravitas]

I've always been a big fan of "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash et al

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4o8TeqKhgY

Amusingly, someone has randomly inserted a lady in lingerie before the video starts, but just ignore that, and enjoy the poetic and insightful social commentary.