Rap music — not just money, guns and girls.
A different take on rap music.
I could write a whole blog post, using only questions I get asked by people at least once a week. (Regarding my love of rap music)
I’ve touched on this subject before — but it’s something I’m passionate about explaining, and getting the message somewhat understood. Rap music, or Hip-Hop / Urban / Whatever you like, isn’t just about Money, Girls, Guns and Drugs.
In the same way Miley Cyrus, who is traditionally what you would call a ‘pop’ artist, wears sticky tape for an outfit — and rubs her backside up against the crotch of a man nearly twice her age live on MTV, rap is indeed laced with artists who sometimes prefer to tell tales of money, drugs, girls and violence.
Like any other genre of music, what you see and hear most of the time isn’t the only thing on offer. In the same way pop acts will pick the most radio friendly tracks to launch an album, rappers pick beats that will get people jumping in the club. The differing realities mean that whilst pop artist A is singing about getting drunk at a house party with her single lady friends, rap artist A is speaking on how he’s picking up chicks, popping some pills and heading to a strip club after the house party.
It is what it is — but it isn’t all there is.
For the record, I should say at this point that I do enjoy all forms of rap music — hard, soft, lyrical, club songs, whatever. The criteria for what makes a good song to me varies dependant on mood, but often a good beat and acceptable flow is the minimum standard.
However, unlike most other genres of music — rap offers storytelling and conceptual thinking that travels deep into the soul — dragging emotions out from the darkest and farthest places. Politics, religion, race, sexuality, poverty, business, hard luck, death — what other genre touches on so many heavy subjects so often?
When people ask why I like rap? I nearly always avoid answering — but if pushed, I’ll explain it’s because rap is the most profound form of musical content across any genre. Hands down. No question.
“Just ‘cause you got opinions, does that make you a politician? Bush robbed all of us, would that make him a criminal? And then he cheated in Florida, would that make him a seminal? I say and I quote, “We need a miracle” And I say a miracle ‘cause this shit is hysterical.”
— Young Jeezy on My President
“I put dollars on mine, ask Columbine. When the Twin Towers dropped, I was the first in line — donating proceeds off every ticket sold when I was out on the road, that’s how you judge Hov, no? Ain’t I supposed to be absorbed myself? Every time there’s a tragedy, I’m the first one to help. They call me this misogynist, but they don’t call me the dude to take his dollars to give gifts at the projects.”
— Jay-Z on Blueprint 2
“… to this day we remain estranged and I hate it though, ‘cause you ain’t even get to witness your grand babies grow. But I’m sorry, Mama, for “Cleaning Out My Closet”, at the time I was angry — rightfully maybe so, never meant that far to take it though, ‘cause now I know it’s not your fault, and I’m not making jokes — that song I no longer play at shows, and I cringe every time it’s on the radio.”
— Eminem on Headlights
“They try tell me keep my eyes open. My whole city underwater, some people still floatin’. And they wonder why black people still voting — ‘Cause your president still choking. Take away the football team, the basketball team — now all we got is me to represent New Orleans, shit. No governor, no help from the mayor — just a steady beating heart and a wish and a prayer.”
— Lil Wayne on Tie My Hands
“… and still to this day, though she clean, I wish my mommy never sniffed. But the hurt is making me better with this gift, I’m live with this ink, you could die in a blink, and Y’all got the nerve to ask me why do I drink, and Motherfuckers sometimes I cry when I’m thinking — Y’all ain’t there when them tears being dried by the sink. “
— Joell Ortiz on Slaughterhouse’s Move On
There’s not enough time in the world for me to list the songs, lyrics and albums that support my claim — you’ll just have to take those quotes above and do the math on the probability of what I’m saying is indeed true.
Rap music — not just money, guns and girls.
