Rapping techniques

[Paro]

How to rap "west coast" style

1)pick a drum beat that complements the sampled loop.
ex. o-o-o/o-o-o-o-o/o-o-o

2)fill in the drum beats with syllables that make a cool verse. remember that some syllables go high, some low.
ex. here i am/ the master of the/universe

3)alternate the flow and length of verses that sound funky and that rhyme. also include the long verse that chains beautifully.
ex. "but i got the hookup with somebody who knows how to get in contact with him."

4)use strong verbs. make sure each verse has a subject and a predicate.
ex.the scene "looked" strange and it "felt" like a set-up

5)the fun in creating these verses is the variety of how you execute them. some verses can be slow and drawling, others can be funny and witty, others can be fast, and others can be powerful and strong. (tip: challenge your friends)
ex. I'm the man you see/ and the place to be/ i went to John J. University

6) for the chorus, use a catchy drumbeat that can be repeated over and over without satiety. then fill in the beats with a hip and catchy slogan.
ex. You down with OPP? Yeah you know me!!!

7)make sure each verse is tight. and cannot be added to or subtracted from.
ex. creep with me/ as i crawl through the hood/ maniac/ lunatic/ call him snoop eastwood.

8) be descriptive. talk about ghetto life. interesting political commentary. use colorful adjectives. and make it sound cool and hip.

this is my observation of west coast "california" rapping style prevalent during the gangsta rap era. more techniques can be discovered by studying the nature of drumbeats and their psychological nature. also studying how to write good lyrics with substance is another suggestion. the journey is yours.

the east coast style i am not sure of. the drumbeat is not as much used. instead it's more a study of the actual words themselves and their symbolic nature. then it is all nicely moistened together and made at unpredictable patterns to move the listener through a roller coaster ride at magic mountain.

[Mitch]

thanks

[Drift]

theres techniques to rapping? :p

[JKTrix]

...Drumbeats?
If it ain't beatbox, it ain't true to the streets, bra.
/sarcasm

That's an interesting list you have there though, if not completely random and out of the blue. Rap, when it's good, is *good*. Rap is all about Rhythm, and rhythm is music.

[Muse]

Rapping is about finding and developing your own style. You don't necessarily need to have the greatest mic, but it's very important to find your own style. Keep it original, and don't copy other people.

[Dreddz]

Rap is a personal expression from an artist. Giving instruction on how to rap kinda strays away from what rap is.

[Roto13]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

[I Don't Need A Name]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

rap does more than rape the language, it disgraces it, but lets not go into that

[Paro]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

rap does more than rape the language, it disgraces it, but lets not go into that

You're just shooting your mouth off. You couldn't explain yourself even if you tried.

[escobert]

Ok enough of you "rap sux lolz" we know already and don't really care. Your making these pointless stupid posts is not going to change my views on music. So why bother?

Ok back to topic, I like East coast rap. Well more like I like Queens rappers and a few Brooklyn rappers. For the most part that is. Mainly I listen to NaS and AZ. Both are lyrical geniouses. I don't give to fucks about what anyone says, these two for the most part have WAY more interesting, fresh and intelligent lyrics then 99.9 to all Rock/metal/ whatever. if you actually listen and study what they actually say, it's just frigging amazing.

[Sylvie]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

rap does more than rape the language, it disgraces it, but lets not go into that

You're just shooting your mouth off. You couldn't explain yourself even if you tried.
"I'm gonna bang up my hoe, woah woah! I'm gonna rape some bitches, oh oh, I'm gonna shove my penis in a fan, woah woah!"

You were saying?

[Paro]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

rap does more than rape the language, it disgraces it, but lets not go into that

You're just shooting your mouth off. You couldn't explain yourself even if you tried.
"I'm gonna bang up my hoe, woah woah! I'm gonna rape some bitches, oh oh, I'm gonna shove my penis in a fan, woah woah!"

You were saying?

You're the same way.....

What you rap about is what's important. Maybe you don't like the idea of black guys rhyming words.

[NorthernChaosGod]

Rap sux0rz lawlz!


Ok enough of you "rap sux lolz" we know already and don't really care. Your making these pointless stupid posts is not going to change my views on music. So why bother?
Because it obviously gets a rise out of you.


Ok back to topic, I like East coast rap. Well more like I like Queens rappers and a few Brooklyn rappers. For the most part that is. Mainly I listen to NaS and AZ. Both are lyrical geniouses. I don't give to smurfs about what anyone says, these two for the most part have WAY more interesting, fresh and intelligent lyrics then 99.9 to all Rock/metal/ whatever. if you actually listen and study what they actually say, it's just frigging amazing.
No they don't. Immortal Technique is so much better than both of those people, and I don't even like rap.

[Decessus]

I use chloroform for...

Oh, rapping.

[sephirothishere]

I use chloroform for...



what about rohypnol....nevermind...jsu kiddin... :shifty:

ya...rap sux...its not cool...it jus some nancy boys thinkin they is the shiznit.....me and ncg would pwn their asses.....

[Sylvie]

I thought it said "raping techniques"

Which isn't far off, since rap rapes the english language.

rap does more than rape the language, it disgraces it, but lets not go into that

You're just shooting your mouth off. You couldn't explain yourself even if you tried.
"I'm gonna bang up my hoe, woah woah! I'm gonna rape some bitches, oh oh, I'm gonna shove my penis in a fan, woah woah!"

You were saying?

You're the same way.....

What you rap about is what's important. Maybe you don't like the idea of black guys rhyming words.
When the hell did I go around saying "I'm going to rape someone"?

And what gives you the right to assume I'm a womanizing asshole?

[Muse]

You guys are acting so immature. He likes rap, so what? I'm not a big fan of rap myself either, but that doesn't give me the to disregard the entire genre as a whole; none of you have provided any genuine reasons as to why you hate rap, because there are none.

[Sylvie]

The little quote I listed is partly why I hate rap. Thats a genuine reason. Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches. Or something. I think thats a good enough reason for me to not like rap.

[Paro]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.

[Sylvie]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.
I know that. I'm saying that all the popular rap is about this stupid crap. And I find it sad that you resort to insulting me for not making as much money as a bunch of crackheads who have no fucking idea what their talking about. They don't even deserve that money for poorly rhyming words and making no sense at all. Its hardly even music.

[Paro]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.
I know that. I'm saying that all the popular rap is about this stupid crap. And I find it sad that you resort to insulting me for not making as much money as a bunch of crackheads who have no smurfing idea what their talking about. They don't even deserve that money for poorly rhyming words and making no sense at all. Its hardly even music.


You don't know anything about rap or rap music. So how can you say that all popular rap music is crap?

I'll just point and laugh. *points* HAHA.


Thanks

[El Bandito]

I'd have to agree with the people saying rapping by a formula is silly. Having your own style in rapping is like having a different singing voice. If anything, rappers that decide to completely stray away from formulas like the ones you posted are the ones that become legends (i.e. Rakim).

[escobert]

Rap sux0rz lawlz!


Ok enough of you "rap sux lolz" we know already and don't really care. Your making these pointless stupid posts is not going to change my views on music. So why bother?
Because it obviously gets a rise out of you.


Ok back to topic, I like East coast rap. Well more like I like Queens rappers and a few Brooklyn rappers. For the most part that is. Mainly I listen to NaS and AZ. Both are lyrical geniouses. I don't give to smurfs about what anyone says, these two for the most part have WAY more interesting, fresh and intelligent lyrics then 99.9 to all Rock/metal/ whatever. if you actually listen and study what they actually say, it's just frigging amazing.
No they don't. Immortal Technique is so much better than both of those people, and I don't even like rap.
No, it doesn't get a rise out of me. It's just plain stupid. If I were to post a thread about a band I liked i would get people agreeing saying yeah I like them or whatever. But if you post ANYTHING about rap a good 60% of the posts are "LOLz RAP SUX AND U SUX 2" bull<img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">. It's just stupid.

[Cruise Control]

I dislike rap. 2PAC is good though.

EDIT: Too bad he's dead and not in Miami. Score!

[NorthernChaosGod]

Rap sux0rz lawlz!


Ok enough of you "rap sux lolz" we know already and don't really care. Your making these pointless stupid posts is not going to change my views on music. So why bother?
Because it obviously gets a rise out of you.


Ok back to topic, I like East coast rap. Well more like I like Queens rappers and a few Brooklyn rappers. For the most part that is. Mainly I listen to NaS and AZ. Both are lyrical geniouses. I don't give to smurfs about what anyone says, these two for the most part have WAY more interesting, fresh and intelligent lyrics then 99.9 to all Rock/metal/ whatever. if you actually listen and study what they actually say, it's just frigging amazing.
No they don't. Immortal Technique is so much better than both of those people, and I don't even like rap.
No, it doesn't get a rise out of me. It's just plain stupid. If I were to post a thread about a band I liked i would get people agreeing saying yeah I like them or whatever. But if you post ANYTHING about rap a good 60% of the posts are "LOLz RAP SUX AND U SUX 2" bull<img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">. It's just stupid.
Well, that's because the majority of rap does indeed suck.

2Pac is good, Immortal Technique is good. I can't be arsed to come up with more.

[Shoeberto]

Saying that all rap is about guns and bitches is like saying that all rock is like Fallout Boy or whatever crap is popular today.

"I really like Pink Floyd."
"What genre are they?"
"Rock."
"Lame. All rockers ever talk about is girlfriends leaving them. What a <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">ty genre."

Rule of thumb: Anything that is popular is likely absolute crap because the masses have no taste, so don't judge the genre on that. For every Lil' Jon there's a Mos Def, and trust me, the differences are enormous.

[sephirothishere]

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.


ya...they get money for bein dickheads....

and the only technique in rap i ever heard of was swallowin....
but seriously...its liek those people on reality tv....they are all famous for stupid shi t..like....."i sat in the chair of hugh jackman...."thats an example...and...yoou do know that the only music worth listenin to is the kinda music where the people can actually kinda play their instruments........

[Prancing Mad]

If what you rap about is important, than mainstream rap tells me that having money, stealing, being surrounded by promiscuous women, and thinking too much of myself is important. Mainstream rap blows, it's awful and has nothing of interest. If it isn't mainstream rap, then it might at least have a worthwhile message, in which case, I can respect it. Or if it actually has interesting musical phrases in it, then I might respect it, but too much Muchmusic rap is awful. Actually Much music anything is usually not very good, but they do get lucky once every few months with shows like the wedge and stuff.

CHECK MY THEORY! Whatever music is popular at the time will begin to suck. Let me explain. People find an awesome band of a certain genre (ex, though you may not agree, Alexisonfire). Suddenly marketting guys see this. So they find more bands that roughly resemble them, at the very least in look. Suddenly you have an over-saturated market with tons of awful bands that make the genre suck, because they're just not talented. And people eat it up 'cause it's being fed to them. Therefore rap has sucked for awhile (in general) and emo/punk whatever yo uwanna call it, is beginning to suck awful as well (in general)

[Polaris]

theres techniques to rapping? :p

lol the same question I made when i saw the title of the thread!

[DK]

Saying that all rap is about guns and bitches is like saying that all rock is like Fallout Boy or whatever crap is popular today.

"I really like Pink Floyd."
"What genre are they?"
"Rock."
"Lame. All rockers ever talk about is girlfriends leaving them. What a <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">ty genre."

Rule of thumb: Anything that is popular is likely absolute crap because the masses have no taste, so don't judge the genre on that. For every Lil' Jon there's a Mos Def, and trust me, the differences are enormous.

QFT, nicely said Stu. Yeah I love these threads, you always get a bunch of people sitting on their high horse mouthing off about this and that and just showing everyone else just exactly how ignorant they are. It's really quite amusing :spin:

[Rocket Edge]

Saying that all rap is about guns and bitches is like saying that all rock is like Fallout Boy or whatever crap is popular today.

"I really like Pink Floyd."
"What genre are they?"
"Rock."
"Lame. All rockers ever talk about is girlfriends leaving them. What a <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">ty genre."

Rule of thumb: Anything that is popular is likely absolute crap because the masses have no taste, so don't judge the genre on that. For every Lil' Jon there's a Mos Def, and trust me, the differences are enormous.


QFT, nicely said Stu. Yeah I love these threads, you always get a bunch of people sitting on their high horse mouthing off about this and that and just showing everyone else just exactly how ignorant they are. It's really quite amusing :spin:
I very much agree with both of these comments. It's funny, the people who mouthed off about rap in this thread i'm sure are the people who don't know anything about the genre.

[Old Manus]

If people actually took the time to read the lyrics from people like Ice Cube, 2pac and Eminem, you would find they have a hell of a lot more meaning than most mainstream music.

EDIT: IMO

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

and a lot of other offensive content without any rational reasons to be singing about

[escobert]

I Can Lyrics
Artist(Band):Nas
Review The Song (1) Print the Lyrics


I Can Lyrics



I know I can
Be what I want to be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I want to be
[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I want a be (I'll be where I want a be)

[Nas]
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, Lena Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
got her strung on that heroin
cocaine sniffing 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'm a tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I want a be (I'll be where I want a be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice
You don't want a be my age and can't read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

[Nas]
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian, Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot off they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

[Chorus]

ah ahahah ahhh ahahaha ahaha
ah ahahah ahhh ahahaha ahaha
ahaha ahaha ah aha
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all

I rest my case.

[I Don't Need A Name]

Saying that all rap is about guns and bitches is like saying that all rock is like Fallout Boy or whatever crap is popular today.

"I really like Pink Floyd."
"What genre are they?"
"Rock."
"Lame. All rockers ever talk about is girlfriends leaving them. What a <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif">ty genre."

Rule of thumb: Anything that is popular is likely absolute crap because the masses have no taste, so don't judge the genre on that. For every Lil' Jon there's a Mos Def, and trust me, the differences are enormous.


QFT, nicely said Stu. Yeah I love these threads, you always get a bunch of people sitting on their high horse mouthing off about this and that and just showing everyone else just exactly how ignorant they are. It's really quite amusing :spin:
I very much agree with both of these comments. It's funny, the people who mouthed off about rap in this thread i'm sure are the people who don't know anything about the genre.

i'll admit, i dont know much about the genre on a whole, and admit that some songs do have meanings (as do rock songs etc) but (as a personal opinion) i dont find listening to people talking to a beat (frequently about their hoes etc) very appealing to listen to. note: PERSONAL opinion

[NorthernChaosGod]

I Can Lyrics
Artist(Band):Nas
Review The Song (1) Print the Lyrics


I Can Lyrics



I know I can
Be what I want to be
If I work hard at it
I'll be where I want to be
[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I want a be (I'll be where I want a be)

[Nas]
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, Lena Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
got her strung on that heroin
cocaine sniffing 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'm a tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I want a be (I'll be where I want a be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinking life's all about smoking weed and ice
You don't want a be my age and can't read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

[Nas]
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian, Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot off they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

[Chorus]

ah ahahah ahhh ahahaha ahaha
ah ahahah ahhh ahahaha ahaha
ahaha ahaha ah aha
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all

I rest my case.

http://wiki.coolmon.org/files/cookie.jpg

[Sylvie]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.
I know that. I'm saying that all the popular rap is about this stupid crap. And I find it sad that you resort to insulting me for not making as much money as a bunch of crackheads who have no smurfing idea what their talking about. They don't even deserve that money for poorly rhyming words and making no sense at all. Its hardly even music.


You don't know anything about rap or rap music. So how can you say that all popular rap music is crap?

I'll just point and laugh. *points* HAHA.


Thanks
As in popular, I mean when I turn on the fucking radio. Popular HERE, is what all the kids at school listen to. All the popular rap HERE, is womanizing and raping the english language.

[Paro]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.
I know that. I'm saying that all the popular rap is about this stupid crap. And I find it sad that you resort to insulting me for not making as much money as a bunch of crackheads who have no smurfing idea what their talking about. They don't even deserve that money for poorly rhyming words and making no sense at all. Its hardly even music.


You don't know anything about rap or rap music. So how can you say that all popular rap music is crap?

I'll just point and laugh. *points* HAHA.


Thanks
As in popular, I mean when I turn on the smurfing radio. Popular HERE, is what all the kids at school listen to. All the popular rap HERE, is womanizing and raping the english language.

So what. You have the choice to filter that crap out.

[Sylvie]

Every rap song I hear is about hoes, cars, and bitches.

I think have a problem with black people from the ghetto.

These guys make more money then you could in your whole life and all they have to do is rhyme words.

I bet that really bugs you.

Rap isn't all about the stuff you listed.
I know that. I'm saying that all the popular rap is about this stupid crap. And I find it sad that you resort to insulting me for not making as much money as a bunch of crackheads who have no smurfing idea what their talking about. They don't even deserve that money for poorly rhyming words and making no sense at all. Its hardly even music.


You don't know anything about rap or rap music. So how can you say that all popular rap music is crap?

I'll just point and laugh. *points* HAHA.


Thanks
As in popular, I mean when I turn on the smurfing radio. Popular HERE, is what all the kids at school listen to. All the popular rap HERE, is womanizing and raping the english language.

So what. You have the choice to filter that crap out.
And you have the choice to accept other peoples opinions or not. Trust me, it comes in handy.

[Jigsaw]

Well rap does have its good side. Like if you ever go to the website "You're The Man Now Dog" they have a bunch of hilarious things with Chamillionaire's Riding Dirty and we wouldn't have had them without rap!

[Sylvie]

And its not like I hate all rap either. I listen to Hip Hop. Only by certain artists, but I still like some.

[Paro]

And its not like I hate all rap either. I listen to Hip Hop. Only by certain artists, but I still like some.

My thread wasn't about gangster rap, it was about the art of rapping and the technique involved. When a Hip Hop artist opens his mouth and "spits his game" he's rapping and you think the art of rap rapes the english language?

I'm just trying to create discussion, but as DK pointed out...


I love these threads, you always get a bunch of people sitting on their high horse mouthing off about this and that and just showing everyone else just exactly how ignorant they are. It's really quite amusing

I'm giving people kicks!

[Rocket Edge]

i'll admit, i dont know much about the genre on a whole, and admit that some songs do have meanings (as do rock songs etc) but (as a personal opinion) i dont find listening to people talking to a beat (frequently about their hoes etc) very appealing to listen to. note: PERSONAL opinion
Go back to rap before 94-95, that's the rap i listen to only (with the exception of J5, Blackalicious & Mos Def for nowadays rap). The people who know, & genuinely love hip-hop aren't really gonna appreciate a song like 50's 'Candy Shop' or whatever, and that includes me. Before hip-hop went mainstream, i believe produced the best and most real songs. With a lot of things, when stuff goes commercial it gets tainted in a way that it's not about the music anymore, but about the money, and that's what i hate about nowadays hip-hop. So i wouldn't like to be associated with nowadays rap, which i believe was a once promising genre which took a disapointing turn over the years.

[escobert]

But there are a few artists out there that try to keep hip hop at it's roots. I love how the upcomming Nas album is tittled "HipHop is Dead" I think he was right on with that. Hip Hop is dead, it's just about the money and fame. I will quote AZ "Catch me, fuck sales long as the streets accept me
It's respect before the money if I'm on correctly"

[N8V_Tidus25]

dont forget u have to drop the N bomb after every other sentence

[N8V_Tidus25]

But there are a few artists out there that try to keep hip hop at it's roots. I love how the upcomming Nas album is tittled "HipHop is Dead" I think he was right on with that. Hip Hop is dead, it's just about the money and fame. I will quote AZ "Catch me, smurf sales long as the streets accept me
It's respect before the money if I'm on correctly"

Nas is like the only rapper trying to keep true hiphop alive, every other artist you see on T.V. is pretty much a sellout, a fake or just desperate for attention, 50 cent for one:D I don't care how many times he's been shot.

[DK]

Nas is like the only rapper trying to keep true hiphop alive, every other artist you see on T.V. is pretty much a sellout, a fake or just desperate for attention, 50 cent for one:D I don't care how many times he's been shot.

Aside from the fact that while yes, a lot of mainstream rap these days is about money, as with most mainstream music, Nas is far from the only person left peddling true hip hop.

Also, this is exactly the point, if you only pay attention to what you see on MTV and the like, of course you're going to see <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> music. You're also going to be talking <img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"><img src="/xxx.gif"> if you base your opinion from what you see on MTV and other channels like it and the subsequent radio equivalents.