Rap Music: Is the Backlash Here?

[sws4420]

NEW YORK, March 1, 2007 - Was Nas right, when he titled his album "Hip-Hop Is Dead"?

Music sales overall are down, but rap sales in particular have dropped 21 percent from 2005 to 2006. For the first time in 12 years, the top ten best-selling albums of the year did not include a rap album. A poll of black Americans by The Associated Press and AOL-Black Voices last year revealed 50 percent of respondents said hip-hop was a negative force in American society.

David Banner dismisses the criticisms, saying rappers discussing such negative things that they encounter in their lives bring certain things to light. Banner says even when he does positive songs, fans go for songs such as "Like A Pimp" instead.

As he puts it, "I wish America would just be honest. America is sick....America loves violence and sex."


http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5082035

[sws4420]

Here's my take on it: good. When I was younger, I was very black. My parents hated it. My dad even went so far as to tell me to 'turn that nigger garbage off'. It didn't help. For the most part, it's mostly negative garbage that promotes treating women like whores and committing crime. I was always able to look past the crap in the music and just enjoy the way the music sounds, but the sad part of the whole genre of music is that there's a huge amount of people who model their own lives after what these 'artists' are saying in their songs. I think that shows a sad state of affairs in the country, but it's also exacerbated by ignorant negroes who glorify their crap in their songs.

As a recovering niggaholic, my latest cd purchases have included Billy Joel, Hinder, Guns N Roses, Rodney Atkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Evanesence. A lot of these songs have good messages behind them and they're able to convey those messages without really exploiting anyone. In my old age, I can appreciate that.

[cassiddy]

Here's my take on it: good. When I was younger, I was very black. My parents hated it. My dad even went so far as to tell me to 'turn that nigger garbage off'. It didn't help. For the most part, it's mostly negative garbage that promotes treating women like whores and committing crime. I was always able to look past the crap in the music and just enjoy the way the music sounds, but the sad part of the whole genre of music is that there's a huge amount of people who model their own lives after what these 'artists' are saying in their songs. I think that shows a sad state of affairs in the country, but it's also exacerbated by ignorant negroes who glorify their crap in their songs.

As a recovering niggaholic, my latest cd purchases have included Billy Joel, Hinder, Guns N Roses, Rodney Atkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Evanesence. A lot of these songs have good messages behind them and they're able to convey those messages without really exploiting anyone. In my old age, I can appreciate that.

Lol @ recovering niggaholic..... I agree that it's not really about the words of a song if you really like the music. The words come second. It's the music that reals you in and then you consider the words. Even if the lyrics are bad, if I like the song, I listen to it. I hated disco when it came along and I don't like hip hop either, with a few exceptions. Eminem and Mary J. Blige and some others have some cool songs, but overall, hip hop music is a feel bad kind of music for me. Then add the sick lyrics to that and if your watching a music video...a bit of light porn. It's just not my thing, but I don't condemn it or those who like it. You should be able to listen to whatever kind of music you want to....unless your a minor and your mom says NO. ha! :happy: OH...and there will always be those who take an artists words and try to incorporate them into their lives...but it's the person who is in control. No one to blame but themselves. Songs about suicide.. Just like guns...they don't kill, sick people do.

[Donna]

fav song of the week......lithium by evanescence........starting to like more of the songs on that cd patsy......and I agree with you on liking songs for the tune b4 the words......although i was big time embarassed last year while at the nickelback concert with my then 15 yr old. I LOVED this one song until he pointed out it was about a guy getting a blow job in his car, LOL........

[MedicCook]

There are a few hip hop songs I enjoy right now. Melissa and I have competely different tastes in music. I prefer classic rock/hard rock/heavy metal and she prefers hip hop stuff. We do a pretty good job of rotating the radio use when we are in the car together. When I was in middle school I was into rap for a year or two. Naughty By Nature had just come out at that time.

[Donna]

There are a few hip hop songs I enjoy right now. Melissa and I have competely different tastes in music. I prefer classic rock/hard rock/heavy metal and she prefers hip hop stuff. We do a pretty good job of rotating the radio use when we are in the car together. When I was in middle school I was into rap for a year or two. Naughty By Nature had just come out at that time.

i grew up with zztop, skynard, zepplin, fogelberg, loggin n messina, earth wind n fire and of course, donna summer hahaha.......i liked it all....i'm back to my real roots though....love the alternative rock, but still can't stay still to the niggah music

[MedicCook]

i grew up with zztop, skynard, zepplin, fogelberg, loggin n messina, earth wind n fire and of course, donna summer hahaha.......i liked it all....i'm back to my real roots though....love the alternative rock, but still can't stay still to the niggah music

My first casette tape was Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon when I was a kid. I have always been into the classic rock and hard rock. I have a tough time with a lot of the current music that is out because these newer artist do not know how to actually play their instruments. What happened to the great guitar solo's?