When, if ever, will rap end?

[Monkeyleg]

I remember when rap music became popular, hearing it booming from cars in the parking lot of the convenience store around the corner. I consoled myself with the notion that it was another trend that would pass.

Over 25 years later, it's still here. Unlike Motown, psychedelic rock, heavy metal and other sounds, which have been subsets of larger genres, rap seems to have developed into its own genre. Also unlike other musical trends, rap songs are almost fungible, distinguished only by their lyrics, which aren't all that distinctive to begin with.

Given its mediocrity as a form of music, I can't understand its longevity.

It seems as though I ask myself the same question every year: when will rap go away?

[AZRedhawk44]

It is institutionalized, just like the damned Beatles are.  And Phish.  And Tejano.

[Doggy Daddy]

Given its mediocrity as a form of music, I can't understand its longevity.

Could say the same thing about McDonalds, couldn't you.

Just off the top of my head:

It's familiar,
Doesn't require effort to "enjoy"
"Everybody goes there"
It's everywhere
Part of the culture
etc...

DD

[Vodka7]

unlike other musical trends, rap songs are almost fungible, distinguished only by their lyrics, which aren't all that distinctive to begin with.

That's only to your ear.  I'd venture most rap listeners couldn't tell Johnny Cash from Porter Wagoner.

[freakazoid]

lol. Not all rap is gangsta rap. There is a lot of good stuff out there.

[S. Williamson]

when will rap go away?

Racist.





/sorry, had to 

When will country go away?

[lee n. field]

Not all rap is gangsta rap.

Shai Linne

[MicroBalrog]

rap songs are almost fungible

Compare:

Stuck Mojo

Destiny's Child

2pac

[Doggy Daddy]

I'd venture most rap listeners couldn't tell Johnny Cash from Porter Wagoner.

Which is why they have to settle for something less "demanding".    

DD

[Standing Wolf]

It seems as though I ask myself the same question every year: when will rap go away?

When something still less intelligent and more obnoxious shows up.

[crt360]

I think it's actually subsided quite a bit.  I still see the occasional rattletrap buzzin' out some gangsta rap.  Once the norm, it's become the exception, at least whiteboy wannabes found a new direction.  Give thanks to Guitar Hero, yo.  Rock lives!    Unfortunately, so do Jonas Bros and High School Musical XVIII and stuff.  Maybe it's just a Texas (and other border state) thing, but I'm now hearing as much Tejano as I used to hear rap & hip/hop.  I don't think rap will ever end, but like a lot of the terrible, electronic drum pop type crap of the 80s that is now painful to listen to, much of the rap music will be judged harshly even by its own fans when looked back upon in 10-20 years.

[PTK]

I'm pleased that rap gave way to jungle-beat, drum-beat, and reggae around here. Hearing artists like Sean Kingston has really made me quite happy - here's one of his songs (NO SWEARS!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq77pTi03qQ

Dumb video (and possibly NSFW, no nudity, but dang those are skimpy outfits), but... that's my kind of "rap".

[RevDisk]

Which is why they have to settle for something less "demanding".    

Not sure why, but out of all music on the planet, hearing rap instinctively makes me want to employ an EMP weapon.  I can't stand it.  Like, nails on the chalkboard of my soul can't stand it. 

[Boomhauer]

Not sure why, but out of all music on the planet, hearing rap instinctively makes me want to employ an EMP weapon.  I can't stand it.  Like, nails on the chalkboard of my soul can't stand it. 

I have exactly the same reaction. Exactly.

When you can hear, nay, feel the rolling boom box from 3/4 a mile away easily...

at least whiteboy wannabes found a new direction

Honestly, those tools were far more annoying than the blacks who liked to blast rap. It felt like everytime I turned around to see who the hell was playing that annoying crap, it was paler-than-me white boy in the 'hood. Usually in a shitty little primer painted Honda (still no shortage of those), cruising around the Walmart parking lot (seriously, how the f*** does cruising around Wal-freaking-mart make you cool?!)

And now I have to deal with the douchebags with popped collars and attitudes...but thank god the Hipsters haven't made too many inroads down here (yet).

[freakazoid]

What is wrong with white people listening to wrap?

[makattak]

What is wrong with white people listening to wrap?

Oops, you got a misspelling there, let me fix it:

What is wrong with white people listening to crap?

I believe the problem is not people listening to crap, it's imposing their crap on others that is objected to.

[RoadKingLarry]

I believe the problem is not people listening to crap, it's imposing their crap on others that is objected to.

That is the bigger issue. I really don't care what someone listens to so long as I don't have to hear it at such a level that I can't hear my evil right wing hate radio commentators.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

That is the bigger issue. I really don't care what someone listens to so long as I don't have to hear it at such a level that I can't hear my evil right wing hate radio commentators.

Same here.

[Perd Hapley]

I believe the problem is not people listening to crap, it's imposing their crap on others that is objected to.

No, a lot of people clearly object to the music itself.

Also unlike other musical trends, rap songs are almost fungible, distinguished only by their lyrics, which aren't all that distinctive to begin with.

I could say the same thing about the "country" music on the radio these days.  Or the R&B.  Or a lot of the music on the "classical" station, which is just twentieth-century, symphonic, easy-listening drivel.

Given its mediocrity as a form of music, I can't understand its longevity.

I feel the same way about R&B and jazz.  I don't know if it makes any sense to say that a form of music is "mediocre," but I'm strongly tempted.  I think in your case, you just don't understand or appreciate rap.  Which is fine, you don't have to like it.  I think a lot of it is crappy myself.  I appreciate GOOD rap, because it is has interesting lyrics, with a lot of word-play.  It's also good when combined with heavy-metal guitar, jazz, violin, or in the case of Outkast, even a country-fried, blues harmonica breakdown. 

But maybe I'm missing out on a lot of the same qualities in jazz or R&B.

[jackdanson]

When something still less intelligent and more obnoxious shows up.

See Lady Gaga.... or any other pop.

While I hate the d-bags that blast it, some rap is GREAT compared to a lot of new pop.  While I loathe both of them personally, eminem and kanye west are both fairly talented folks, I know I couldn't write anything that creative and/or catchy.

[BridgeRunner]

Friend of mine has a fun solution.  Very impressive sound system and a lot of Wagner.  He *will* play opera louder than the loudest gangsta rap out there.  Personally, I am glad I have never had to share a stoplight with the battle of Hip-hop v. Die Valkyrie, but it seems to be amusing for him.

[Balog]

Sturgeon's law. You just never sought out the %10.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I tried blasting some opera at the rap pricks across the street.  Carl Orff gets really fricken cool at extreme decibels.  Undeniably cool.  The rap pricks asked me to make 'em a copy of the CD.

 :|

[Monkeyleg]

Sorry, freakazoid and Fistful, but these old ears can't be convinced that any rap is good. It just sounds like obscene limericks with a heavy back beat.

[Perd Hapley]

I'm not trying to get you to like it.  I just don't see how it's better or worse than any other form of music.  I love old-school bluegrass and classic hymns that are hundreds of years old.  You just have a lot of bad music in all genres, and everybody has different tastes in music.