Unnecessary Roughness: Can someone give us rap with a message?
As someone who isn’t happy with the current state of rap, I have to say: I’m sick and tired of rap songs that tell us to do a certain “dance.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the hyphy movement. I like Keak Da Sneak and E-40, just like anyone else. If I’m at a dance, sure, I’ll thizz face and do what the songs tell me to do, whether it’s to “walk it out” or “lean with it.”
But it’s getting old. When I listen to a song, I want more than a catchy beat – I also appreciate good lyrics and a message. It’s a problem when an industry that should be known for its creative lyrics and beats is bombarded by seemingly the same melodies, lyrics and dance moves.
Hyphy might make you dance, but it won’t inspire you or deliver positive messages. Just once, I’d like to hear Dem Franchise Boyz or Lil’ Jon tell me to dance, and stay in school.
What’s sad is that many of us think dance-rap is the only rap there is because that’s all we’ve been exposed to.
I wonder what happened to the artists like those of the ’80s and ’90s, such as Run DMC and Rakim, who got us to dance and delivered music with deeper messages.
If you want more dance moves, listen to pop and R&B. Leave rap for the people who want more than simple dance lessons.
Vidur Malik is a senior at Mission San Jose High in Fremont. His column, “Unnecessary Roughness,” appears on this blog the third week of every month.
aha
wait, i just google-imaged "thizz face." that is some WEIRD STUFF. why would somebody do that? does it mean you're tough or something?
YAY!
good message. that's why I wold rather listen to R&B than rap. Maybe if there was a better message. I would definitely listen to it more often.
BOOO!
Rap isn't for listening to, it's for dancing to!
Cha-Cha Slide for the win!!!
@Tarah
A thizz face is the face one makes when one consumes Ectasy. It's like the face you make when you're stuck on cloud nine for a year crammed into a minute. They also say it's the face one smells something awful.
My thizz face: >-x
Hug a tree? Why don't we carve "@#$% YOU" into it? Prove Holden Caulfield right.
@Chow
80% of R&B is too terrible to be listened to. Just a bunch of emo women pouring their woes into a microphone.
Go listen to some Indie or Christian or Progressive Rock if you want real message. Or go old school.
--- The only thing I hate more than a dumb person who thinks he is smart is a smart person who thinks he is dumb.
no doubt.
I do agree that Indie and Progressive Rock is more interesting and have better messages. But with a choice between rap and R&B...R&B wins. And R&B is not a bunch of emo women pouring out their woes. I'm talking about old-school R&B. Not this "R&B/Soul" category that mariah carey claims to fall into occasionally (not that i hate ALL of her songs).
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okay now
if they won't tell you, i will -- STAY IN SCHOOL, VIDUR!!
:)
and what exactly is a thizz face? this is all so strange to me. i can't even hear the words in rap music, but i'll take your word for it that i probably don't want to. they might corrupt me.
anyway, nice blog, dear buddy... i missed you at the last meeting; where did you go? anyway, on a final note: dance, stay in school, say no to drugs, and hug a tree!!!