Recommend some good, kid-safe R&B/hip-hop music.

Cafe Society
1

My 8-year-old daughter is getting a new CD player for Christmas, and I’m trying to find a couple good CD’s to go with it. She seems to have developed a taste for hip-hop and R&B music, some of which I like too, but it’s hard for me to choose something that’s appropriate for her becuase I don’t know the genre very well. I’m more of an alternative/classical/movie score type, I guess.

Anyway, I think the new Alicia Keys album is very good, but on listening to the songs, many of them have sexual overtones (subtle, but there) I’m just not all that comfortable with for an 8-year-old listener. This is a common problem I’ve run into… R&B/hip-hop music often seems to have such hints of sexuality.

I’m also trying to be a little subtle about figuring our what to get her. She’s a smart girl, and if I just come out and ask who she likes, she’ll know where I’m going with it. I’d like to surprise her, at least a little, and maybe with someone she’s not heard of yet.

So far, I’ve actually gotten the Powerpuff Girls “Power Pop” CD (figure that’s safe, at least, and she loves PPG), and I’m definitely considering Stacie Orrico’s new CD as well.

Any other thoughts from those with more experience with the genre than I?

2

I can’t give you any reccomendations but stay the hell away from R. Kelly…

3

Beyonce is good. She makes good R&B, it’s poppy and she just sings about how in love she is. From what I’ve heard.

Or maybe Black Eyed Peas. They’re positive, and they rap about how they like Latin girls, but what’s wrong with latin girls?

Justin Timberlake makes high quality R&B. He seems pretty well behaved - he was an ex-*Nsyncer.

I’m sure people will come in and mention - like others have in these threads - music like De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest or some contemporary underground artists. These are all fine hip hop suggestions, but not for an eight year old. The first two are ten years old, and kids aren’t usually into stuff that isn’t contemporary. And underground hip hop is underground for a reason - it’s challenging and requires more discerning taste to enjoy. There’s good mainstream hip hop out there.

Personally, though, I’d buy her 50 Cent and Missy Elliot. People need to quit looking for the negative aspects in music and look for the positives.