When will rap music be less mainstream?


First time I heard MC Hammer’s song many years ago, I like the rhythm and thought it is quite unique. After that, all kinds of rap music pop up. I never thought rap music would be mainstream for such a long time in US. If you look at the music award ceremonies, you will find it being flooded with rap music. Sometimes I am not even sure rap can be considered as song because you don’t sing but speak. Now you start to hear rap music in some other languages like Chinese, Japanese and Korean that don’t sound good in rap format. It would be interesting to hear rap music in Italian.

Time will tell if a song is good or not. A song is good if somebody want to play it for their loved ones on the radio 20 years later. I can’t imagine someone will play a rap for their beloved one 20 years later. Just curious if any A’gon member keep any rap collection?

Besides rap, I also have a feeling that the music industry in general is getting cheesy now. American Idol show gets huge attention while lots of singers perform at the bar or hotel can easily sing better than the idols. The show also asked Barbara Streisand if she watched the show and who was her favorite idol. What do you expect her to answer? People said Justin Timberlake is very talented singer/songwriter. I know him because I saw lots of headshot of him on commercials and magazines, but can you name any popular/well known song from him?
yxlei

Showing 5 responses by entrope

Is John Prine country? Love his stuff.

Rosanne Cash has her moments but not totally to my taste. Now Patsy Cline....
I threw country out since the thread had thrashed around hip-hop & rap quite a lot. I am finding respect for excellence in musicianship, writing, arranging, and vocal performance in all genres as I grow older and less willing to move from my chair.

My trouble is the traditional view of "music" that I hold prevents me from recognizing those things in most rap and hip-hop music that is thrust upon me at redlights.

Take your shots but note I said the problem lies with me.
While I acknowledge Rap sells albums I find no appeal in its pounding rhythms and violent lyrics. I have listened to various rap tunes extensively mostly by having them blasted through my car windows from cars next to me at stop lights. I guess rap ballad would qualify as an oxymoron.

I also feel the same about opera and while I don't think opera sells as well as rap I have never been subjected to a 110db aria from the trunk of the Mercedes next to me.

I suppose I would never attend a rap opera.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" to quote Miss Piggy.