# Rap is not a fad **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783 "2004-04-01T19:53:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Faucet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faucet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/1 "2004-04-01T19:53:32Z")
Anytime I hear someone say that rap music is a fad I always wonder where they have been for the last 20 something years…how can anyone honestly say it’s a fad when obviously it’s here to stay just like any other style of music. I prefer the Underground Hip Hop though. Underground or Mainstream rap will be around for as long as music itself and people like me will continue to annoy others that don’t have an appreciation for the art form by dressing and identifying ourselves with the rich Hip Hop culture and bumping the music in our cars. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/2 "2004-04-01T19:59:48Z")
And I’ll bet you would have said the same thing about disco. ---
**Author:** ![Faucet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/50afbb/32.png) [@Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faucet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/3 "2004-04-01T20:09:20Z")
Maybe I should have posted this in the Cafe section but oh well…I admit I wasn’t even alive during disco but what I do know about it is that it did not last 20 years. Anyone that hates rap should actually sit down and listen to it and then they will see why so many people young and old can’t get enough of it. I started liking it when I was 10 I am now almost 18 and the only thing that has changed is that now that I am mature I appreciate it all the more for some of the deeper insightful lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/4 "2004-04-01T20:17:08Z")
> [@Faucet](#): > > I appreciate it all the more for some of the deeper insightful lyrics. [Little John]What?! Yeah![/lj] $1 to Chappel. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/5 "2004-04-01T20:19:00Z")
No one would mistake me for a fan of rap, or hip hop, or really much popular music in general, but certainly Faucet is correct. Rap is a very well established musical idiom, and has shown far greatly longevity (and, frankly, greater artistic achievement) than disco. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/6 "2004-04-01T21:08:16Z")
I dunno about comparing it to disco. The difference between the disco of 30 years ago and pop-techno of today is only greater than the difference between the rap of 25 years ago and today in that the names are different. Both genres have changed quite a bit since then. Disco was, and is, clubbing music. I would prefer the cheesiest of disco to be played in a dance hall rather than the most cutting-edge-yet-accessible rap today. Not to mention the hardcore grooves the DJs seem intent on foisting upon us :rolleyes:…oops[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/7 "2004-04-01T21:12:44Z")
> [@Faucet](#): > > Underground or Mainstream rap will be around for as long as music itself (cough cough) ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/8 "2004-04-01T21:31:20Z")
Methinks people who say that rap is a fad are those who want it to be true. I can be counted among these hopefuls. _Puts on ruby slippers, clicks heels together_ Rap is a fad. Rap is a fad. Rap is a fad… ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/9 "2004-04-01T21:49:55Z")
In a comic strip a couple of days ago: “Maaaaaa! I can’t wear these sneakers to school. They have _bunnies_ on them.” “I thought they’d be big with your hip-hop friends.” ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/10 "2004-04-01T21:57:18Z")
> [@Faucet](#): > > l…I admit I wasn’t even alive during disco … No kidding? “Word”, “G”. Gregorian Chant was a fad. Beethoven was a fad. Minstral was a fad. Big Band was a fad. Elvis was a fad. Lesbian Rock-a-billy was a fad. The Beatles were a (fab!) fad. Disco was a fad. Rock-n-roll is a fad. Rap is a fad. Don’t get hung up on it. All things must pass. Twas ever thus. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/11 "2004-04-01T23:01:55Z")
I think that anything that can survive both MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice isn’t going to die easily. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/12 "2004-04-01T23:14:44Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > I think that anything that can survive both MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice isn’t going to die easily. I don’t care if it dies easily or dies hard…as long as it dies **soon!** ---
**Author:** ![Karmagun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Karmagun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karmagun)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/13 "2004-04-01T23:54:50Z")
I used to breakdance to GM Flash and the furious five. I like new rap, it goes in-out-in of the rhythm kindalike a sax jazz solo. Enough with notes already. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/14 "2004-04-01T23:58:26Z")
Everything in music is a fad, except Bach. And Louie Armstrong, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/15 "2004-04-02T00:02:33Z")
I like a few rap artists but wouldn’t be considered a fan by any means but I agree with **Faucet** ; rap is here to stay. Sure, you can be pedantic about what you consider a fad and say that everything is just that like \*\*gatopescado \*\* has but I don’t see the genre dying any time soon. For better or worse, it’ll be around as long as the other mainstream genres of music - Rock, R&B, Country, et al. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/16 "2004-04-02T00:05:50Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Everything in music is a fad, except Bach. OUCH!!!..no Beethoven? Or Monteverdi? Or Josquin? Or Machaut? Or Mahler? (hang on, Mahler might be a fad…) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/17 "2004-04-02T00:28:31Z")
I think it’s safe to say that rap is no more a fad than rock and roll was. Both will, no doubt, one day fall by the wayside, but both have already been around long enough that no one should question their credibility as musical genres. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/18 "2004-04-02T00:35:32Z")
Pedantic? PEDANTIC?? I \*swear \*it was \*just \* a _SLEEPOVER!!_ * * * I’m off home for the weekend for internal deployment of liquid intoxicants! ---
**Author:** ![Karmagun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Karmagun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karmagun)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/19 "2004-04-02T00:40:11Z")
> [@Faucet](#): > > Underground or Mainstream rap will be around for as long as music itself Well now _that_’s wishful thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783/20 "2004-04-02T00:54:16Z")
I love rap, and I’m a nearly-38-year-old balding white guy. I heard rap for the first time when I was about 13YO. That would have been around 1979. The song was _Rapper’s Delight_ by the Sugar Hill Gang. I was hooked. I loved it! It was different, and cool. Unfortunately, being 13 years old back then, it meant I had no money to search out and buy more rap. And of course rap disappeared from the “mainstream” for several years. When rap re-entered the mainstream, I used to annoy the crap out of my fellow white folks by rapping all the time. Nobody could understand why I liked it. They all thought I was some kind of wierdo! However, I have to confess that I really prefer the more lyrically-complex, “old school” rap to the stuff that I hear on the radio today. I find most of the current stuff to be lyrically weak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rap-is-not-a-fad/237783.md?page=2)