rap, please help me, rap fans Options

[SoaDyPOP]

I have to write a speech for my Public Speaking class, and I'm writing about stereotypes. One of my topics is how rap isn't all about sex, drugs, pimps, drinking, clubbing, etc. I need an example, but I don't listen to rap, so I'm hoping somebody could help me out and give me an example of a rap song that doesn't have to do with the aforementioned topics. Also, make sure you tell me what the song is dealing with. If you can help me, thanks a bundle!

[D1SMANTLED]

i highly dislike rap.

[azn_r4pf4n]

Nas is a good example.

His 2001 album God's Son had this track, "I Can," which really made a good point about trying your best in stuff. Here's a bunch of verses:

Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Got her strung on that
Heroin, cocaine, sniffin up drugs all in her nose...
Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow

okay, it was talking about drugss... but Nas was rapping about not taking drugs.
here's another one. Talib Kweli - I Try featuring Mary J. Blige. Tells people to keep trying, even in the hardest of things.

Life is a beautiful struggle
People search through the rubble for a suitable hustle
Some people usin' the noodle, some people usin' the muscle
Some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle
C'mon, say it now

Nas is one of them rappers that really does make a good point about stuff. yes, he raps about violence, but his album God's Son is a good example of the reasons why they happen.

Then there's Twista - Hope Featuring Faith Evans. It was the hit single from the Coach Carter soundtrack, so you probably heard it b4. look at the lyrics carefullly and you can prove that rap is not all those steryotypical things.

[TrustU2HurtMe]

Try the lyrics to "Jesus Walks" by Kayne West and I think "Why" by Jadakiss.

[*mzkandi*]

i highly dislike rap.

umm then why did u post in here.....

Anyways Kanye West, Nas, and Tupac are good subjects. Some songs to check out are Kanye West-Jesus Walks(as someone has already mentioned), Tupac-Smile(one of my favorites by him), Nas-One Mic...good luck!!

[sweetdreamsx3]

Alicia Keys about Karma?

[jnukes]

^ .. err.. that isn't rap ...


i suggest looking up lyrics to these songs ..


talib kweli - around my way
twista - hope
jadakiss - why
tupac - thugz mansion
kanye west - through the wire, jesus walks, all falls down


that one song .. it's like "i know i can [i know i can] be what i wanna be [be what i wanna be] if i work hard at it " and blah blah .. and has fur wlise playing in tha backround

[xGlovex]

Try the lyrics to "Jesus Walks" by Kayne West and I think "Why" by Jadakiss.

good idea

[FLIPxADDICTION]

i highly dislike rap.

Ditto sistah!

[Saeglopur]

i dislike rap too but ..

Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love?

shut up, i like this song.

[*mzkandi*]

i dislike rap too but ..

Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love?

shut up, i like this song.

lol...i like too!!!!

[poopyflkes]

rap isnt about all that, that's mainstream rap they have to please ppl that listen to rap that like rap and ppl that dont like it that much but listen to it, look towards mixtapes, ppl such as tupac,biggie,big L,jay-z,any old school shit

[HongKongDong]

^^man this topic is hecka old, im pretty sure his/her project is done by now...

[*Statistik*]

50 cent-god gave me style
50 cent-many men
50 cent-ski mask way
50 cent-my toy soldiers
50 cent-outta control
fat joe-so much more

[*basick*]

50 cent-god gave me style
50 cent-many men
50 cent-ski mask way
50 cent-my toy soldiers
50 cent-outta control
fat joe-so much more

wow. f**king feggot read the f**king thread

[*nightmare4taki*]

i highly dislike rap.

LMAO. Obviously you must be drawn to it or you wouldn't have posted here.


2pac has many songs that don't have stereotypes in them.

1. 2pac - I aint mad atcha
2. 2pac - Keep your head up
3. 2pac - Changes

Anyways why do people say thats all hip hop is about. In all other Genres of music what do they talk about. HMMMMMMMM let me think.

Love songs - They have sex in them.
Rock songs - They also have drug use and even some talk about suicide.

I mean I like all forms of music but why is rap highly stereotyped and not other forms of music. If you ask me Rap is the only music you can fuse with other Genres of music.

[WTFwasIthinking]

No, rap is stereotyped for a reason... A GOOD REASON AT THAT... Anyone that stereotypes rap has every right to because what is it is the strongest in each of those categories you named... SEX, MONEY, HOES, CLUBS, DRINKING, ETC... Hip hop is dying right now and that's one of the reasons... I love hip hop but it can't be defended at the moment because that's the state of hip hop......

And 2Pac was a hypocrite... Just as much as he tried to portray a "real image" he sold out... Just as many songs he had that couldn't be classified under the stereotype of what hip hop is today, he had that many songs that did fit under that classification.......

[*basick*]

yeah camron and dame dash looked very stupid on the bill o'reilly show.

[*nightmare4taki*]

No, rap is stereotyped for a reason...  A GOOD REASON AT THAT...  Anyone that stereotypes rap has every right to because what is it is the strongest in each of those categories you named... SEX, MONEY, HOES, CLUBS, DRINKING, ETC...  Hip hop is dying right now and that's one of the reasons...  I love hip hop but it can't be defended at the moment because that's the state of hip hop...... 

And 2Pac was a hypocrite... Just as much as he tried to portray a "real image" he sold out...  Just as many songs he had that couldn't be classified under the stereotype of what hip hop is today, he had that many songs that did fit under that classification.......

I understand that. All Im saying is why is rap just a target. Is it because it stands out more these days. I guess what Im trying to say is it was cool to talk about all the above categories until it got into the hands Suburban america.

[*basick*]

it was cool to talk about all the above categories until it got into the hands Suburban america.

or, when it got into the hands of suburban america, it was cool to talk about it

[*nightmare4taki*]

Exactly. No one paid attention to hip-hop as long as it stayed in the background. but once word got out well you know the rest. I also agree with PentheInstrument about how hip-hop is dying. I dont really care about all that because the truth is all music is dying. They dont make songs like they did back in the days. Im talking about EARTH WIND AND FIRE, TEMPTATIONS, MARIVIN GAYE, AL GREEN, JACKSON 5 and so many more. I can still listen to these songs and they never get old like most of the music today.

[WTFwasIthinking]

Exactly. No one paid attention to hip-hop as long as it stayed in the background. but once word got out well you know the rest. I also agree with PentheInstrument about how hip-hop is dying. I dont really care about all that because the truth is all music is dying. They dont make songs like they did back in the days. Im talking about EARTH WIND AND FIRE, TEMPTATIONS, MARIVIN GAYE, AL GREEN, JACKSON 5 and so many more. I can still listen to these songs and they never get old like most of the music today.

No, that's not true........ Music is dying because the Machine, not the talent... And hip hop isn't dogged, only because it's in the mainstream eyes... the reason it wasn't dogged when it wasn't big is because it didn't get big until all the nonsense talk started... remember, back in the day? 80's-early 90's... until the NWA movement came, gangsta rap was non-existent... neither was this profane, vulgar language used in rap today.... it's not because it's in the public eye... remember, hip hop wasn't even huge then and NWA was gettin' dogged hard...........

and as far as the quality of music... that's also cuz the machine... the talent is there and production is only getting better... listen to an old Michael Jackson track and tell me that the beats are THAT nice... I'd take a Kanye West beat over ALMOST anything Michael Jackson was on... it's about what they're talkin' about in the music because the industry controls the artist... it's not comin' from their hearts... that's the only difference... the talent is there... and if they wanna talk what's in their hearts, they don't get signed or don't make it... it cuffs you and shackles you so you can't move..............

"If you didn't do the track they wanted you ta do~fa~'em~last~week /
Prepare fa them; they'll start comparison wit you~'n~the~black~sheep /
So better lose the drivers mindset; get intro-duced~ta~the~back~seat /
Or the truth's you'll get chewed 'n then glued~ta~the~crap~seat"

[*nightmare4taki*]

So why does every Rapper that picks up a mic today have to have street credibility. I know rap wasn't started from vulgar language and pistol popping so why has it evolved into what it has become today.

[WTFwasIthinking]

So why does every Rapper that picks up a mic today have to have street credibility. I know rap wasn't started from vulgar language and pistol popping so why has it evolved into what it has become today.

It all started with NWA... They were successful in a time that hip hp wasn't succeeding... So the MACHINE says, this works... So everyone they signed needed to be from some sort of struggle and be "gangsta"... Remember, even Vanilla Ice was portrayed by his label as a kid from a "hood"... it started from NWA's bein' one of the most successful early on......................

[*nightmare4taki*]

It all started with NWA...  They were successful in a time that hip hp wasn't succeeding...  So the MACHINE says, this works...  So everyone they signed needed to be from some sort of struggle and be "gangsta"...  Remember, even Vanilla Ice was portrayed by his label as a kid from a "hood"...  it started from NWA's bein' one of the most successful early on......................

Yes I do remember Vanilla Ice being portrayed as a gangster. Then when he was exposed everyone rejected him. Dont get me wrong I like listening to Gangster Rap to a certain extent because these people are telling a story but I do believe that everyone who has a mic in their hands does not have to be a gangster as long as they have talent to deliver their message. I just want hip-hop to change its outlook. For instance I would like to see more rappers like Nas who lived the Gangster life but try to stay away from it by doing positive unlike 50 cent who brags and boast about getting shot 9 times.

EDIT
I like 50s music but not him personally.

[WTFwasIthinking]

Yes I do remember Vanilla Ice being portrayed as a gangster. Then when he was exposed everyone rejected him. Dont get me wrong I like listening to Gangster Rap to a certain extent because these people are telling a story but I do believe that everyone who has a mic in their hands does not have to be a gangster as long as they have talent to deliver their message. I just want hip-hop to change its outlook. For instance I would like to see more rappers like Nas who lived the Gangster life but try to stay away from it by doing positive unlike 50 cent who brags and boast about getting shot 9 times.

EDIT
I like 50s music but not him personally.

No, Nas didn't live the "gangster life"... It came out during the entire Hov vs. Nas battle and Nas admitted he wrote what he saw looking out his window in the hood.... (not literally)... he wrote what he saw but not did...

[*basick*]

No, Nas didn't live the "gangster life"...  It came out during the entire Hov vs. Nas battle and Nas admitted he wrote what he saw looking out his window in the hood....  (not literally)...  he wrote what he saw but not did...

told like a real jay-z fan

[*nightmare4taki*]

Really, Now that I did not know. I knew it was something I like about his dimeanor. So is 50 also a fake to. I mean I know him and Nas used to be cool back in the day. I also hear that Curtis Jackson got his name from a famous gangster in New York which went by the name 50 cent.

[*basick*]

if you didn't grow up with the person dont judge their credibility... lol... dont believe everything jay-z or some kids on the internet tells you... im not sayin Nas is a gangsta or anything but im not going to judge his credibility just cause jay-z said he was an observer in "takeover"... lol

[*nightmare4taki*]

if you didn't grow up with the person dont judge their credibility... lol... dont believe everything jay-z or some kids on the internet tells you... im not sayin Nas is a gangsta or anything but im not going to judge his credibility just cause jay-z said he was an observer in "takeover"... lol

I agree. Did these words come out of Jay's or Nas's mouth.

[WTFwasIthinking]

if you didn't grow up with the person dont judge their credibility... lol... dont believe everything jay-z or some kids on the internet tells you... im not sayin Nas is a gangsta or anything but im not going to judge his credibility just cause jay-z said he was an observer in "takeover"... lol

NO, Nas admitted it... I believe it was 105.1 where he said that he writes how he saw it or somethin' of that nature

[WTFwasIthinking]

Really, Now that I did not know. I knew it was something I like about his dimeanor. So is 50 also a fake to. I mean I know him and Nas used to be cool back in the day. I also hear that Curtis Jackson got his name from a famous gangster in New York which went by the name 50 cent.

Every rapper is sayin' 50 Cent isn't "gangsta"... He actually seems like he's some soft kid but he's big... and he got shot 9 times but like I always say, that don't make you gangsta.........

told like a real jay-z fan

and no, I have no bias... I tell it how I see it... if I think someone's dope, they're dope... basically, Kweli is my favorite rapper at the moment... I'll name 15 rappers I know are better than him... AND??!?!

[*nightmare4taki*]

NO, Nas admitted it...  I believe it was 105.1 where he said that he writes how he saw it or somethin' of that nature

So why did Nas jump on stage and dis 50

[WTFwasIthinking]

So why did Nas jump on stage and dis 50

Cuz Nas knows 50's garbage... he's probably just as pissed off as I am and any TRUE hip hop lover about what 50's doin' to this game... his wack ass "MCing" skills......

he doesn't like the fact that cats like that (that can't spit) are makin' do' while REAL MC's are not

[*nightmare4taki*]

Cuz Nas knows 50's garbage... he's probably just as pissed off as I am and any TRUE hip hop lover about what 50's doin' to this game... his wack ass "MCing" skills......

he doesn't like the fact that cats like that (that can't spit) are makin' do' while REAL MC's are not

That makes sense. The truth of the matter is the Commons, Mos Defs, and Nas's can only do so much because not many people dont want to hear the deep and truthful songs that come from the soul.

[poopyflkes]

well any1 who says 50 cent gangsta and any of that shit, think of it this way, former g-unit member bang'em smurf had a video shoot liek awhile backk i mean long time ago when he use to b wit em but 50 rollde up with 2 vans full of COPS for no f**king reasons and then he left, he aint allowed back in his hood or else ppl kill him , if u dont beleive me http://www.allhiphop.com/features/?ID=747, thats a real interview with bang'em, not just what"i heard from ppl or from the internet"

[IamRad]

rap can bite me in the ass

eminem is the only DECENT rapper

[Rachel]

^aahahahahhahaha EMINEM?!?!?


And guys, stop arguing or whatever, this topic is a month old. I am pretty sure the project is over with

[heyyfrankie]

eminem is the only DECENT rapper

okay, yeah, sure...

[*Statistik*]

Eminem is the best rapper in the industry. Then Kanye West. Then Nas.

Here's my top 5 best rappers currently ALIVE. NUFF SAID. period.

1)Eminem
2)Kanye West
3)Nas
4)Jadakiss
5)Game

[illuminessence]

Alicia Keys about Karma?

Eh...there's a major difference between rap and R&B.

Anyways, a lot of rap these days IS about sex, drugs, violence, etc, but there are Tupac and Kanye West, some of the only few I like.

Wait...Eminem??? Decent????

[*Statistik*]

Eminem is decent. IF you compare him to 50, eminem's lyrics are more intelligent

[jnukes]

Eminem is decent. IF you compare him to 50, eminem's lyrics are more intelligent

OMFG NEWS FLASH !!























no duh ..

[WTFwasIthinking]

Eminem is the best rapper in the industry. Then Kanye West. Then Nas.

Here's my top 5 best rappers currently ALIVE. NUFF SAID. period.

1)Eminem
2)Kanye West
3)Nas
4)Jadakiss
5)Game

You're retarded... Eminem is the best rapper ever when he really spits but the rest of your list is ignorant as f*ck... stop tryn' make up for your foolishness.........

none of the four others on your list stand comparison to Em as far as lyricism or flow... he's on another league from them...

[poopyflkes]

alrite heres my top 5
1) Pac
2)biggie
3)big l <-- not really mainstream but yeah
4)em
5)nas or jay-z
this isnt all that great of a list but yeah, sumtimes i feel pac n biggie overated cuz of they death but chea this is what i just came up with
50 n game can suck my nuts, LOL any1 heard guerrilla black signed with g-unit and lil'scrappy still tryin to get out of his contract with lil' jon n get wit g-unit
haha 50 - the next "Pac"
guerrilla black - Biggie Smalls poser
man seems like fake hip hop is gettin organized --"

[xquizit]

Jason, are you having an identity crisis? One second you sweat 50's nuts and say that Nas and Jada are sh*t, then next you list both Nas and Jada in your top 5 and fail to name your idol, 50. You are one sad little poser. Stop trying to act like you know something about hip-hop because all you ever post displays your ignorance and only makes hip-hop fans look bad. You're a disgrace.

Anyhow, looking for rap artists with substance? Research Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, The Roots, etc. to get you started.

[Negi]

i have no idea on how to help u?

[KELLYYY]

Um, I think his project is finished. O_O

[*videogamsta*]

hope by twista is not about drugs or any of that its about god and stuff like that

[*Statistik*]

get some trick daddy and lil flip

[fameONE]

What I'm having a hard time understanding is why so many people feel as though they can post in this thread criticizing and speaking against a genre which they know absolutely nothing about.

If you need poetic insight from a hiphop emcee that is class appropiate, pick up Blackaliscious' Blazing Arrow album.

As for the rest of you "haters," get a life and find a blunt object to fornicate yourselves with.

[xquizit]

get some trick daddy and lil flip

Are you kidding me?!?!?!



Just stop. She asking knowledgable hiphop fans for their guidance. You're just pointing her in the wrong direction.

[*Statistik*]

What? theyre both good rappers. its not like i said something bout 50 cent again..trick daddy and lil flip dosent talk about violent, drug use, and suff. Yes they do talk about girls, of course but it aint bad.

[starlette]

Will smith. Period.

[*Statistik*]

oh yah dont forget Murphy Lee and Nelly..their lyrics are pretty good...Hold Up..hm..Mase too..Mase

[*nightmare4taki*]

What I'm having a hard time understanding is why so many people feel as though they can post in this thread criticizing and speaking against a genre which they know absolutely nothing about.

If you need poetic insight from a hiphop emcee that is class appropiate, pick up Blackaliscious' Blazing Arrow album.

As for the rest of you "haters," get a life and find a blunt object to fornicate yourselves with.

The Truth has been told.

[fameONE]

The Truth has been told.

Thanks.

And Jason, as for you, most people earn respect. In a sense, respect appreciates. But, as for you, the more you speak, the more you post, the more you allow that mind of yours to conjure up anything that (to you) makes sense, the more your respect will depreciate.

[xquizit]

oh yah dont forget Murphy Lee and Nelly..their lyrics are pretty good...Hold Up..hm..Mase too..Mase

STOP!

[*basick*]

get some trick daddy and lil flip

STOP !

[*mzkandi*]

STOP!

I know right! Jason must think this is the Humor section

[fameONE]

Jason, why do you lack common sense and intelligence? Is that a part of your brain that as sifted away intot he atmosphere after listening to so much bad music or are you just not cognizant of the sh*t that you say?

[*basick*]

jason when did you become all southern

[sammehmyst]

What about Eminems latest stuff, mockingbird, like toy soldiers... he's getting a bit more mature too. WILL SMITH!

find some kanye west and jin songs

[*nightmare4taki*]

Has anyone heard Nelly's -Errtime song. It sounds like a G-unit diss to me.

[Eryi]

i hear mostly on love

[weirdness]

eminem. cuz like toy soldiers is talking about.. against the war, i think.

i dunno i don't listen to rap

[poopyflkes]

toy soldiers is about beef with benzino,50's beef with ja rule, dre's shit with suge knight, not about agianst the war that i kno of, ohyea and lil flip sucks i heard he got his ass whooped by T.I.(or by his crew) IN HIS OWN HOME TOWN , but yeah i heard T.I got beatdown aswell
and yes jason almost any artist u think of isn't...agreeable as a decent MC or rapper, whats next u gonan mention atl crunk shit? i mean i have nothing agianst that i live in atl but im just sick n tired of it, a recording for a lil' jon song is him just yellin out 2 lines and then put them on repeat on one of his beats

[agirlnamed_aly]

toy soldiers is about beef with benzino,50's beef with ja rule, dre's shit with suge knight, not about agianst the war that i kno of, ohyea and lil flip sucks i heard he got his ass whooped by T.I.(or by his crew) IN HIS OWN HOME TOWN , but yeah i heard T.I got beatdown aswell
and yes jason almost any artist u think of isn't...agreeable as a decent MC or rapper, whats next u gonan mention atl crunk shit? i mean i have nothing agianst that i live in atl but im just sick n tired of it, a recording for a lil' jon song is him just yellin out 2 lines and then put them on repeat on one of his beats

??? I really couldn't read a word of this? Translation please?

People like to call me a "rocker" and such, but the truth is I actually listen to a lot of rap. I actually feel bad for rap/hiphop, the genre gets a bad rep because some of its artists produce/write music that either sends out really bad messages to kids or just plain sucks.

A really good rap group that is actually against mainstream rap is Hieroglyphics. They have some great songs, along with Immortal Technique, whose song Dance With The Devil is graphic, but meaningful.

Hieroglyphics - At The Helm (I'm sure this is a collaboration, but I can't remember with who)
My rhymes is like droppin your head on cement
Crackin it open hopin to make a dent; I'm hell-bent on
resurrection, per-fection
Lesson #1: rekindle the essence
Rap ain't about bustin caps and f**king bitches
It's about fluency with rhymin ingenuity
All of this is new to me, see I peep rhymes
with scrutiny, under a microscope I walk a tightrope
A thin line between insanity and sanity
mixed with a little vanity, boostin the morality
with Hiero hospitality, soon to strike it: rich
like calories, salaries, ahh sounds like a plan
And, I will expand hip-hop as well

Life is a blast when you know what you're doin
Best to know what you're doin 'fore your life get ruined
Life is a thrill when your skill is developed
If you ain't got a skill or trade, then shut the hell up

Immortal Technique - Dance With The Devil
Everyone trying to be trife never face the consequences
you propably only did a month for minor offences
ask a nigga doing life if he had another chance
but then again there's always the wicked at new and advanced
dance forever with the devil on a code cell block
but thats what happens when you rape, murder and sell rock
devils used to be gods, angels that fell from the top
there's no diversity because we're burning in the melting pot

Don't worry, none of those quotes are full lyrics. Unless I'm not allowed to post lyrics period. Then I'm in trouble.

Personally rap artists like 50 Cent or Ja Rule or Snoop (though I totally love his music) are not going to help her on her quest to justify the bad reputation rap music's getting. I actually think it will just make it worse. Not that they aren't socially acceptable bands -- apparently they are because they have a huge fanbase. I mean, at the beginning of the thread she did say

One of my topics is how rap isn't all about sex, drugs, pimps, drinking, clubbing, etc.

, so that initially throws most mainstream or more well-known artists out the window.

Mucho love,

Alyson

P.S. If you don't like rap, why the hell are you posting?

[*nightmare4taki*]

Alyson

P.S. If you don't like rap, why the hell are you posting?

Because the truth is she likes hip hop and is drawn to it. The topic said rap and she clicked on it. If she didn't like rap she would skip past this topic.