[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.