Friday, January 30, 2009

Rap

Is it music or just noise? Discuss.
In the comments I meant Tone Loc.

6 comments:

Jack said...

It's music. Claiming it isn't is the same logic as saying cartoons aren't art because they aren't on the same level as fine art.

Jimbo said...

I agree sir that some cartoon work does rise to level of fine art but again it is subjective and judgement.
I can think of several cartoons that are as creative as any painting, sculpture, symphony or skidmark.
My own thought about calling it art is the test of time and approval, for lack of a better word.
The rap I go for is T-loce (is that spelled right?), and there is a sub-genre of rap and singing style with a hint of the Jamaican beats which I enjoy.

Caleb said...

Rap has been around for 30 years or so and it's changed a lot. I think the idea of talk/rhyming/storytelling goes back even farther to some of Bob Dylan's songs and the folk and country acts he was influenced by.

The music of rap was born out of technology like drum machines and turntables, which I can see how some people will never look at as musical instruments. Earlier groups like Run-DMC and Beastie Boys had to actually practice their performances since they talked back and forth and had to sync up with the DJ. The modern popular rap is much lazier than this, and sounds like a commercial to me. Rap rhythms are usually very basic and primal, almost in defiance of complex music like classical or jazz. So, I guess if it's done well it's musical and artistic and otherwise it's like a noisy commercial.

Jimbo said...

Nice post Caleb. I think you hit it.

Kali Fontecchio said...

Haha!

Ricardo Cantoral said...

Like I said on John K.'s blog, Rap is another low class artform like Rock and Roll and Cartoons.