All the controversial Rap comes from real-life inspirations, I hope everyone see's that. Now, how can we (more like politicans) say that rap promotes the evils of society (like rape, killing, police-hatred)? The inspirations for the lyrics are coming from the country these politians are trying to represent. My opinion is instead of bashing rap lyricists, try to contribute to the solution. Of course, most rappers are prominently black because they are a minority that has gone through a lot and still is (their inspiration). Rapping is a way to escape their minority status.

Rap is sort of raising awareness of minority issues. Back in the day, NWA, Ice-T, and others did that. Politicians are giving rap a bad name by saying that it promotes "bad things." Its just propaganda to get their name out to more people, its sad that representatives of a country trample on a great trade, when trying to get more attention and votes.

The main issue against rap is the exposure to impressionable children. In this day, if a kid is old enough to understand what is being said in a rap song, they probably watch MTV or get news about the artist. MTV and other music channels continually remind the viewer that what's in the song is JUST a song, through artist interviews, news, and other things it does. If they're old enough to get the message, they are old enough to make the judgement that its just entertainment.

Every so often we get into this in one version or another. The topic is the same, just the surrounding trimmings are different. What I mean is, liberals have so jumped on the bandwagon in trying to get government to legistale morality that you hear some version of it or some responce to it that manufactures have to meet to comply with the law.

Let's see, they have movie ratings, game ratings, music ratings, what's next? Maybe we get to where we have comic book ratings. Don't laugh, it has long been a target.

Now I can't say much for rap. There is very little of it I listen to. I just never did like it. For some reason it never seemed like music. Moving a record back and forth just didn't seem like much of an instrument. Yes, I understand, others do. Never had a problem with that. It just don't fit my ears well.

However, the idea presented in this post is what inspired me to write. The thought that little kids should be protected from this kind of enviroment. This particular theme has been drummed on societies head in one version or another for as long as I remember. Not necessarily music but the other stuff mentioned above also. So where does censorship stop? Where is the line to be drawn? Seems to me that everytime a line is drawn, someone wants to move it.

Bah humbug....

Rap....

Well, it was a kind of scream for help back in the 80s or 70s (don't remember), the era of Ice-T and Public Enemy and such by the African-American minority in the US but right now it doesn't have any sense. I also think that moving a record back and forth is not much of an instrument. Rap can be done with a whistle and a can of pickles, really.
The words are controversial, but I like reading rap lyrics. They often have a meaning, but still I find lyrics by the classical 60s 70s and 80s bands much more appealing.

Rap, just like trance, techno, dance and modern pop is a musical degradation.
Real music is blues, jazz, various kinds of rock and metal music, classical music.

All that - in my opinion, of course.

I object- TRANCE is IDEAL music to what to listen to when you are working with computer.
IDEAL background music.

I'm a sworn Trance 'n Metal follower;)

Rap is poetry set to music. Many cultures over the ages have had there own versions of Rap--the African-American iteration.

Most of it may not be great poetry, much of it may seem like the same old recycled musical theme, but at least kids are being exposed to poetry more immediately relevent than the uninteresting forms taught in school.

I don't like much Rap, especially MTV ad nausem pop rap, but I have quite a few mp3s by Snoop Doggy Dog, Dr.Dre, & Eminem that do set a certain mood for FPSing.

I agree grazzhoppa, I think there is way to much critisizm about rap. I think these politicians could better put their time and energy in trying to do something about the rape and violence in a country, instead of blaming rappers for it who most of the time lived in it themselves. They are just a product of all the violence and ghetto's and racism. I guess rappers show them a part of the USA that they rather not see.

I do think though that kids shouldnt listen to some lyrics. I am a big fan of Eminem myself, but I think that some of his songs really aren't suitable for little kids to listen to. But I think this is a job for the parents, and not for the rappers. If parents would be involved with their children, they would know what they listen to, and they could talk about it with their kids. It's very easy to blame everything on rappers..

Ok, I had my say in this...nice topic by the way, I could go on and on about this, but don't worry I won't, don't want to bore you all to much;)

Thats the only reason why I think rap should still be around, raising awarness. I do mind Gangsta Rap.

Avatar, nice sig:D

Thanks for the replies guys!

Everyone is entitled to their taste in music I'm glad no one was immature and didn't just say "I HATE RAP" without stating their tastes in music and why they don't like it.

I agree with BloodSuckingGerbile that rap used to have a much deeper and thoughtful (yet loud) message. Today's rap is spilt up between mainstream, underground (freestyling), hardcore, and others (there probably is Christian rap too). The mainstream is nothing but pop music, made to sell records (a few artists and groups still have a deep message, Eminem although controversial, tells of how "f*cked up" his life has been). If you have even seen someone freestyle in person, you probably will have a more respect for the musicality (yes that's a word I looked it up :) ) of it. All this is my opinion, you can take it with a grain of salt if you want to.

The target of this post was in defense of rap from the political fire.
Yes, I agree totally that parents should be children's censors and not some senator that lives in a mansion. I think almost everyone agrees that its the parent's responsibility to see what their children are exposed to.

I'm getting a little off topic now, but I want to raise the question of what about parentless children that live alone? Is rap (or a mainstream artist such as Eminem) able to leave a negative impression on him/her?

I forgot on my last post,


Welcome to SciForums justme!

:D

I'm pretty new myself.

I don't think anyone has the right to censor anything

no?
how about allowing to see zoofile sex pictures to your 10 year old kid? (I'm talking about internet)

Right, first off. Porn should be censored but the age certificates should be lowered to 16:D. There would be some exceptions. What i mean is censorship in films (including age certificates), games and most of all, governments. They should tell us everything. Its our country too

What i mean is censorship in films (including age certificates), games and most of all, governments.
in that sense I totally agree with you

Thank you, I forgot to put that in my other post

The only reason something should be censored is because it would cause confusion....certain types of porn should be censored. What's wrong with seeing naked people (not being aroused) all the time? Hell, some kids can't keep their clothes on, why tell them its (morally) wrong?

I think it would be the parents responcibility to control the flow of porn in the household. It shouldn't really be Taboo anymore

Welcome to sciforums, justme.

Thank you for the warm welcome, grazzhoppa and wet1:D

I'm getting a little off topic now, but I want to raise the question of what about parentless children that live alone? Is rap (or a mainstream artist such as Eminem) able to leave a negative impression on him/her?
I'm not sure what age you mean, but I think it's more that a person already has a certain attitude, and just picks up in songs what they want to hear, then that the music itself changes them. There will be people out there that listen to Eminem, and will only hear the cuss words, and the 'kill your wife and mother' message, because they are violent and messed up and want to hear that in a song. I think it's the same with movies. But every normal human being can look passed all that and just sees it's only music and it won't leave a negative impression on them, it won't change them into something they don't already have in them.

About the censorship, I don't think movies, music, games and so on, should be censored, but I do think an age indication is good, and no violence and porn on tv on times that children could see it. Internet should be controlled by the parents, it's impossible to even try to censor that.

Hi, justme;

Internet should be controlled by the parents,....
A child's access to the Internet should be controlled by the parents. ;)

A child's access to the Internet should be controlled by the parents.
that's what I meant Mr. G, good to see that you're paying attention:D ;)

....good to see that you're paying attention....
I think over in the "parapsychology" forum they would call that a Lucid Moment. ;)