When rap came out 30 years ago I thought it was just a fad

Now it seems like it dominates the music industry, movies and fashion. My only question is why?

taters01-01-2016 3:19am

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rhanson739 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 269 posts 01-01-2016 at 02:04pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I think it's the sworn duty of every generation to annoy the generation that came before them. I'm 58. My parents couldn't stand "my" music when I was growing up (Ten Years After, Deep Purple, Santana, The Who, Allman Bros, et al.) I loathed my father's classical, big band, and chamber music, although I've come around a bit since. I view rap/hip-hop the same way we've all felt about "our" music; as the voice of the current generation. Were we not rebelling against current convention by turning it up loud, growing our hair long, and dressing shabby? Today's hip-hop is the current generation's street music, blooming from the frustration and anger they feel due to their conditions. (I suppose. I'm no expert on this.) For many of them, music is a way up and out, an opportunity to be seen and, possibly, to make a fortune. I don't get hip-hop. I don't appreciate it at all. I think it's all crap. But I understand where it comes from. Now, if it would just go away. Not likely, though.
rar1 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,769 posts 01-01-2016 at 01:19pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I take a much simpler view on this. Rap occupies the same place with our culture today, that rock did 45 years ago (I am 58 now). As I think to myself when I see most of what is around today (be it clothes, fashion, music, etc.) ... we had our time at the plate, now it is time to step left. Rap will pass as the sound of the masses 20 years or so from now, just like rock has past for the most part. Many baby boomers just have a hard time accepting that rap is as big as rock was. My mom passed away 3 years ago at age 90. During her last year, I spent most every day either with her in the nursing home section of the hospital or in the hospice we set up in her apartment. When the patients had lunch in the lunchroom, the staff piped in big band music from the 40's. It will be no different for us ... just not sure how I will feel about the Stones in 2046 ... hope they don't play any Bon Jovi. Happy New Year! Grease for Peace! Rich
bdp24 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,788 posts 01-01-2016 at 12:07pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I have no doubt that Rap is viewed in certain circles as merely the current phase in the continuing downward spiral of Western Civilization, the dumbing down of humanity. Rock n' Roll was certainly viewed thusly in the mid-50's by the WWII generation, and I've read that intellectuals in the 20's felt the same way about early Jazz. I'm thinking every generation views the following one in that way. And it may be true---no music that followed J.S. Bach is as good as his ;-)!
taters OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,149 posts 01-01-2016 at 11:49am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Rap caters to the lowest common denominator. Just like the Jerry Springer show and the Kardashians. And I despise all 3.
bdp24 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,788 posts 01-01-2016 at 11:34am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I couldn't agree with you more taters. I myself am one who finds Rap not merely unlistenable, but unbearable. When heard, I do everything in my power to get as far away from the sound source as possible. I not only can't answer why it has stayed popular as long as it had, I can't fathom how it can be liked in the first place. But I am about as far from Rap's target audience as you can get. You too taters, apparently!
taters OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,149 posts 01-01-2016 at 10:40am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete "We had our time now it's theirs" I understood what you are saying and I agree with you. The problem is it is just not a phase like other music. It has taken over our society like a terminal disease. You can't go see a movie nowadays that Isn't playing rap in the movie or at the end of a movie. Even the mainstream department stores carry hip hop clothing. You even see rap-hip hop themes in commercials. Yes, everyone has their turn and I understand that. The problem is the rap culture is like a relative that has overstayed there visit.
bdp24 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 9,788 posts 01-01-2016 at 10:15am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Why? Why not?! My generation (the 60's) embraced first "Frat" Rock (The Beach Boys, The Ventures, Paul Revere & The Raiders, etc.), then British Invasion, both the 1st wave (Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Animals, Yardbirds, etc.) and 2nd (Cream, Hendrix---though American, he was perceived as British, Led Zeppelin, Traffic). Why? The 50's generation liked Jazz, Pop vocalists, the original Rock n' Roll. Why? In the early 70's singer/songwriters (Carole King, James Taylor, Elton John, many others) ruled, and Progressive Rock was hugely popular. Why? The mid-to-late 70's saw the rise of the "anti-Prog Rock" Punk movement spearheaded by, it can be argued, The Ramones (though The MC5 and The Stooges inspired them). The early 80's was the era of Corporate Rock (name your poison ;-) and, for the trendier, New Wave. Why? The late 80's were owned by the Sunset Strip hair bands/Arena Rock "acts". Why? The 90's saw Alternative (REM, all the other "College Radio" bands) become THE music to like. Why? And then, every once in a while an Artist comes along who endures for decades---Dylan, Tom Petty, Springsteen. Pop music is largely just fashion, no different than clothes or hair styles. How then can Rap have stay popular for so long, defying the normal rules of fashion? A person or people who don't like Rap (I have a feeling that's most Audiogoners) is/are the wrong one/s to ask. One may as well ask why jeans have been fashionable for so long. Pre-50's men did not wear jeans, sporting khaki's and slacks their entire lives. Post-50's guys rarely wear anything but jeans. Unlike the examples in the above musical timeline, Rap didn't replace anything---it is it's own genre. It may be thought of as younger peoples Blues, which it is somewhat similar to. As with Rap, Blues was originally criticized (by white America, of course, for whom it was neither created nor intended, but also by Baptist Preachers) for it's crude/vulgar lyrics, repetitive musical structure, lack of melody, and general unlistenability, just as was 50's Rock n' Roll by the Big Band generation. That generation couldn't understand how the following one could like the music it did; I know 60's guys who continue to piss and moan about how music nowadays is no good, they not being able to accept the fact that "their" music (The Beatles in particular, it seems) is no longer being made (it is, but only on a cult level), or popular the masses. Why should they expect it to be? That is no different than their WWII parents bemoaning the death of the Big Bands. We had our time---it's now "theirs"!
lowrider57 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,417 posts 01-01-2016 at 08:40am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete If you're comparing Rap to Jazz, 80s and 90s Rap music was free-form, inventive, improvisational. There was a similar niche market. But now it's a formula like Pop music, it's mass produced for the younger generation and along with that comes the fashion so your kid can look like his favorite thug. IMO, this mass-marketed formula not only includes music that sounds the same, but all Rap artists now look the same. I can understand how Rap music and it's fashion is so popular, due to some very smart marketing people, but I cannot understand how Hollywood and celebrities embraced it.
jmcgrogan2 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 6,346 posts 01-01-2016 at 07:15am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pouOzsRLJM Why ask why?
taters OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,149 posts 01-01-2016 at 04:59am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete There is a big difference to me. Jazz has lasted in a small niche way and I am happy for that. I don't remember it dominating fashion or the movie or music business like Rap has. So I ask the same question I asked before. Why?
pmotz Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 412 posts 01-01-2016 at 03:52am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Taters .... Our very own audiophile philosopher. You stay awake nights thinking up all these questions you ask? Will you reach audio enlightenment? I wish you the best of luck. As for Rap, you know, it's kind of like Jazz. Would it last? To everyone's amazement it did, but why? Hmmm, maybe just because I don't get it doesn't mean no one else does. Matter of fact a whole lot of other people do get it, so it must be successful despite me. Who'd of figured? As for the thugs, they have been with humanity since the dawn of time. Didn't you take history? . . . Sorry to be a smart ass, the target was just to big to miss.
taters OP Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,149 posts 01-01-2016 at 03:32am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete My question to you is. Were they thugs before rap or did rap make them thugs?
jafant Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 19,602 posts 01-01-2016 at 03:27am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Unfortunately, there exists more "thugs" than decent people in these troubles times.

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