RAP=Retards Attempting Poetry

So true...

No. Urban poetry set to music. A rhetorical device??

Rhyming African Poetry actually fuck stick

I think you're an idiot. I bet you listen to those side show freaks screaming into the microphone and are never quite sure exactly what they're saying because they're head banging so much. Music is a personal choice and you shouldn't single out one kind and degrade it. If you sat down and listened to rap music with an open mind and actually paid attention to what they say (some rap of course) you would be surprised to find you'd like some of it. There is rap that I don't listen to as I don't care to hear how one murders another or "bangs someone's chick" but there is GOOD rap music.

Rhyming African Poetry actually fuck stick
That statement was uncalled for.
I think that there is some great rap music out there. As with any type of music you have good and bad. I like a wide variety of music if you keep an open mind you never know what could happen. The world is made up of many different cultures I find it fascinating to learn as much as I can about each and every one. Instead of being closed minded I would rather be well rounded. I am not saying that you'll suddenly love rap music or any other type for that matter. A lot of times the lyrics can have great meaning if you just take the time to listen. If RAP=Retards we have some very wealthy retards. Just my opinion.

Racism aside...

fuck stick... that made me chuckle big time.

Rap is bollocks, white, black, asian, alive and dead.

Opinion is a wonderful thing.

I would agree to some extent that rap could stand for Rhyming African Poetry because it the modern day staple of black, sorry AFRICAN American communities in the US.

Plus rap was created by blacks, sorry AFRICAN Americans, AND when white people rap they get taunted for trying to be black...

In fact I don't think it is racist at all, I'll stand beside Eirisa.

How many famous white rappers are there? How many famous black, sorry AFRICAN American, heavy metal bands are there?

Bob, what exactly is racist about it? Is it not accurate? Or is it just because I am white?

If a black fella was to say it everyone would pat him on the back for being so very witty i am sure.

One rule for all, not one, Bob.

It Rhymes, was developed predominately by African American culture and it is Poety. RAP or RAAP?

In fact tomorrow I'll ask Chris what he thinks about the phrase.

Retards Attempting Poetry should be far more insulting, Bob.

not necessarily. I probably hate rap and R & B more than anyone, but that's only pertaining to the "yo' ass so black it's wack, I wana bang that bitch..."

I discovered a little while ago that there is underground rap that is incredibly talented. (not technically underground, just definitely not even a third as popular as 50 cent and fat jo...) but these guys were amazing. They rapped about things i haven't heard rapped on the radio-politics, rape, terrorism, famine- (or in a talented manner anyway) these guys were really, really incredible. It wasn't just complaining and whining they were doing, it was actual facts that were recited in such a powerful tone and text, it was incredible (and that's a hell of a lot coming from me considering I loathe the hip hop world) if I can find the artists again I'll definitely let you know, because you will be surprised.

I'm White And Black And I'm Offended By Erisa's Statement, Natalie Was Right! You Shouldn't Degrade Something You Know Nothing About Because I'm Sure You Didn't Even Take Out The Time To Explore The History Or Heritage Of Rap, Or Its Meaning, Before You Said Something Mean, Listening To 1 Song And Calling All Rap Bad Isn't Equall Either I'm Not Saying Give Rap a Chance Because You Don't Have To, But Alot Of Rap Is Better Than White Boys Yelling And Screaming And Calling It Music At Least Most Rap Has a Meaning xoxo-Nikki-xoxo

I'd recommend Shootyz Groove, they are more crossover though.

I have Tupac's poetry and I must agree. Pretty freaking amazing. Though there are some songs that are just down right ridiculous everyone has the RIGHT to express themselves and do it however they want. And I have heard many senseless and just plain stupid songs from every kind. I've listened to Slip Knot or what ever they are called and they are just as vulgar and out there as any rapper is. So instead of being like a rapper and commentig on someone's ass they are commenting on their "tits" is that better? It's all the same. I don't think this thread should have ever been started. Everyone's personal choice for music is different.

I totally agree with you Bob like I posted earlier Closed minded shallow people. Tupac just so happens to be one of my favorites of all time. RIP! Nikki not everyone is is bright enough to take the time to study other cultures. Everything has to be stereotyped. The world of music is full of all cultures preforming a wide variety of music. I have heard caucasians rap, sing the blues, reggae, ect. If you look back in your family tree you might be surprised at what you might find. Take Nikki what type of music would be acceptable for her to perform? Every family has different nationalities all mixed together all the way down the line so to me we are all equal. I mean that in all aspects! What we are talking about is really art.
RAP=Retards Attempting Poetry well like I said before we have a lot of wealthy retards and some very talented ones at that.

Rhyming African Poetry actually ---- stick
I play in an industrial band, but we add in a little rap element to some of our songs. I respect rappers for their ability to use words and rhythms the way they do. And FYI, poetry is the foundation of rap. So in a sense, when you write poetry, you are writing possible rap lyics.

Well, I asked Chris and he thought the terminology was rather inciteful.

FYI, Chris is a Nigerian tribal leader who works for an embassy nearby, we're good mates and always ribbing each other about this and that, but I think he's going to use Rhyming African Poetry in every day use know.

It's intriguing how perception is taken across the world. Perhaps Rhyming African Poetry is perfectly acceptable as a phrase in the UK because not many people here put any credence in the colour of skin. I guess it's only an issue if you make it one.

the hell are you going on about? i am no snob (refer to my post above...)

I can see the snobby side, for example you can't even make tea properly, let alone buy coffee flavoured coffee in public! Lousy substandard Americans...

I did say many people do not put any credence in the colour of skin, not all. I should have emphasized that point and to prove you right my brother-in-law makes me cringe sometimes with his racist remarks.

Bartered slavery... started with press ganging and the navy and then some bright spark decided to make some cash by upgrading the idea.

it is possible that because most minorites in England are 1st or second generation (Jamaicans in the 50's, Indians and Pakistanis in the 60's and 70's and Africans, primarily Nigerian, in the 80's and 90's) for example) that the emphasis is on what immigrants can bring to our community over defending (or rather apologising for) the actions of our ancestors.

Having said that, Americans seemed to keep the slave trade up and running long after the Brits were kicked out.

And yeah, get running Bob, this redcoat is coming over to Atlanta to work on that novel next month, looks like I'll miss the 4th though... *raises little finger to corner of mouth* Muwahahahah MUWAHAHahahah MUWAHAHAH!

No Nicole I get it....but there are songs that are just plain ignorant. I personally don't want to hear how you bang your chick or kill your enemies. There are bad songs in every music category.

I get rap, it doesn't float my particular boat is all.

that and I don't agree with the mentality of the biggest stars in rap.

WOW I didn't know my statement would cause such controversy as I didn't mean it with any racist intent. Thanks Bret for defending me. Sheesh, I love rap music and come from a native family myself.

I'm sorry if anyone was offended but I did not intend to do that to anyone, my bad though I probably should've responded here earlier to prevent this. Scroll above and read Bret's posts, thats the perspective I meant it from.

RHYMING AFRICAN POETRY Whats racist about that? I really don't understand I'm not sitting here saying or slandering African Americans or Rap am I? RHYMING AFRICAN POETRY is exactly what it is and where it comes from (The African American community) Rap History

Rap music as a musical form began among the youth of South Bronx, New York in
the mid 1970’s. Individuals such Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash were some of
the early pioneers of this art form. Through their performances at clubs and
promotion of the music, rap consistently gained in popularity throughout the
rest of the 1970’s. The first commercial success of the rap song “Rapper's
Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang in 1979 helped bring rap music into the
national spotlight. The 1980’s saw the continued success of rap music with
many artists such as Run DMC (who had the first rap album to go gold in 1984),
L.L. Cool J, Fat Boys, and west coast rappers Ice-T and N.W.A becoming popular.
Today, in the late 1990’s rap music continues to be a prominent and important
aspect of African- American culture. Rap music was a way for youths in black
inner city neighborhoods to express what they were feeling, seeing, and living
and it became a form of entertainment...now if your offended by that or think I am at all being racist you are dead wrong. My mother is black for goodness sakes, no slander intended sheesh!

Eirisa

During the mid-1980s, rap moved from the fringes of hip-hop culture to the mainstream of the American music industry as white musicians began to embrace the new style. In 1986 rap reached the top ten on the Billboard pop charts with "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" by the Beastie Boys and "Walk This Way" by Run-DMC and Aerosmith. Known for incorporating rock music into its raps, Run-DMC became one of the first rap groups to be featured regularly on MTV (Music Television). Also during the mid-1980s, the first female rap group of consequence, Salt-N-Pepa, released the singles "The Show Stoppa" (1985) and "Push It" (1987); "Push It" reached the top 20 on Billboard's pop charts. In the late 1980s a large segment of rap became highly politicized, resulting in the most overt social agenda in popular music since the urban folk movement of the 1960s. The groups Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions epitomized this political style of rap. Public Enemy came to prominence with their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988), and the theme song "Fight the Power" from the motion picture Do the Right Thing (1989),by American filmmaker Spike Lee. Proclaiming the importance of rap in black American culture, Public Enemy's lead singer, Chuck D., referred to it as the African American CNN (Cable News Network).

Alongside the rise of political rap came the introduction of gangsta rap, which attempts to depict an outlaw lifestyle of sex, drugs, and violence in inner-city America. In 1988 the first major album of gangsta rap was released: Straight Outta Compton by the rap group NWA (Niggaz With Attitude). Songs from the album generated an extraordinary amount of controversy for their violent attitudes and inspired protests from a number of organizations, including the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation). However, attempts to censor gangsta rap only served to publicize the music and make it more attractive to both black and white youths. NWA became a platform for launching the solo careers of some of the most influential rappers and rap producers in the gangsta style, including Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Eazy-E.

In the 1990s rap became increasingly eclectic, demonstrating a seemingly limitless capacity to draw samples from any and all musical forms. A number of rap artists have borrowed from jazz, using samples as well as live music. Some of the most influential jazz-rap recordings include Jazzamatazz CD (1993), an album by Boston rapper Guru, and "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" (1993), a single by the British group US3. In the United Kingdom, jazz-rap evolved into a genre known as trip-hop, the most prominent artists and groups being Tricky and Massive Attack. As rap became increasingly part of the American mainstream in the 1990s, political rap became less prominent while gangsta rap, as epitomized by the Geto Boys, Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Tupac Shakur, grew in popularity.

Since the mid-1980s rap music has greatly influenced both black and white culture in North America. Much of the slang of hip-hop culture, including such terms as dis, fly, def, chill, and wack, have become standard parts of the vocabulary of a significant number of young people of various ethnic origins. Many rap enthusiasts assert that rap functions as a voice for a community without access to the mainstream media. According to advocates, rap serves to engender self-pride, self-help, and self-improvement, communicating a positive and fulfilling sense of black history that is largely absent from other American institutions. Political rap artists have spurred interest in the Black Muslim movement as articulated by minister Louis Farrakhan, generating much criticism from those who view Farrakhan as a racist. Gangsta rap has also been severely criticised for lyrics that many people interpret as glorifying the most violent and misogynistic (woman-hating) imagery in the history of popular music. The style's popularity with middle-class whites has been attacked as vicarious thrill-seeking of the most insidious sort. Defenders of gangsta rap argue that no matter who is listening to the music, the raps are justified because they accurately portray life in inner-city America.

Just to futher educate you!

To the above, what I am apologising for is that others are so shallow minded, particularly Bob who I thought knew me better, to even assume I would be racist...thats a shame it really is...I apologise if anyone was indirectly offended by my comment thinking it had any hint of racial hate in it. It was actually quite the opposite?! But I do stand by my statement...I have now given reasons as to why - which I didn't before and if people are still offended, I couldn't care because its what I think and what Rap History portrays...they need to do more research...

And Bob to go on about my "racist" comment when you went ahead and made one yourself : how quaint, an englishman who is knowledgeable in rap...

I'm shocked at your ignorance my friend :o)

Q, rock isn't only screaming, i'd like to see you try and do what they do...playing an instrument is difficult, it takes time, practice, and determination...i have to admit, some rock isn't the greatest, especially where all they do is scream...but there is also a lot of quality rock music out there....there are some very talented rock musicians...and they have very beautiful voices lol...

Only an attempt though, Americans don't get dry sarcasm :P

(I am such a sod)

Fallen, it's Q's right to hate rock, just as it is yours to hate bananas if you are so inclined to, let it go.

Which reminds me....

JUDITH:
Here! I-- I've got an idea. Suppose you agree that he can't actually have babies, not having a womb, which is nobody's fault, not even the Romans', but that he can have the right to have babies.
FRANCIS:
Good idea, Judith. We shall fight the oppressors for your right to have babies, brother. Sister. Sorry.
REG:
What's the point?
FRANCIS:
What?
REG:
What's the point of fighting for his right to have babies when he can't have babies?!
FRANCIS:
It is symbolic of our struggle against oppression.
REG:
Symbolic of his struggle against reality.

Bob, sarcasm that others may find as racism - much like my comment I guess :OS

i dont like rap but i dont hate it....but whoever hates rock or any kind of music thats their opinion and i respect it and so should everyone else

i like eminems songs and any other kind of music that actually comes from the heart whether it be rock or country or whatever it doesnt matter any song written by the artist themselves comes from the heart and i respect that a great deal, it takes alot to pour your heart out or let any person know how you feel, and to me thats a very respectable personality trait. (at least to me it is lol)