# To be honest most rap sounds childish & ignorant to my ears. What am I missing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425 "2004-11-24T05:34:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![vinniepaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@vinniepaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vinniepaz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/21 "2004-11-25T04:06:24Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > What’s “backpack rap”? “backpack rap” is a term, often but not always used derogitoraly, used to refer to the style of underground rap that is generally done by white people that is very emotional and metaphorical and almost like poetry. Or thats how I use it. I wouldnt put ATCQ, DLS, HBMS, etc. in that category, they are more old-school/classic. As you can see, there is no clear definition. By the way, the term comes from the backpacks that white kids wear to these shows. ---
**Author:** ![Arch\_Trout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@Arch\_Trout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arch_Trout)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/22 "2004-11-25T07:54:58Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Like all other music they have the a lot of bad popular stuff, and only a few good popular artist are really worth listening to. Think about punk rock, there is Blink 182, Good charlotte, yellow card, simple plan and then there is Sex pistols, The Clash, The Who, The Ramones and NOFX. 😕 The Who are not punk rock. ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/23 "2004-11-25T08:21:07Z")
> [@vinniepaz](#): > > “backpack rap” is a term, often but not always used derogitoraly, used to refer to the style of underground rap that is generally done by white people that is very emotional and metaphorical and almost like poetry. Or thats how I use it. I wouldnt put ATCQ, DLS, HBMS, etc. in that category, they are more old-school/classic. As you can see, there is no clear definition. > > By the way, the term comes from the backpacks that white kids wear to these shows. I suppose but also to some people it is any type of rap that isn’t currently in the mainstream. A lot of people who actually wear back packs to the shows usually have it for a purpose they might be a graff artist carrying spray cans or a DJ with records. Normally these people tend to stay away from the Top 40 rap and so the lesser known mainstream artists and Underground artists that they listen to are often referred to as backpack rappers because of their fan base. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/24 "2004-11-25T10:05:09Z")
Not one mention of Eazy-E. Ya punks. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/25 "2004-11-25T15:49:13Z")
> [@Arch Trout](#): > > 😕 The Who are not punk rock. Not strictly, but they were one of its strongest influences. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425/26 "2004-11-25T15:59:40Z")
> [@Gamaliel](#): > > Public Enemy were so good they spoiled me. I can barely listen to most rap made since. Same thing for me, I own three rap albums and I haven’t been able to appreciate much else since hearing “Fear of a Black Planet”. Rap reached its apex at that point and hasn’t touched it since. I also miss the likes of Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In short **astro** , I am with you on this one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-be-honest-most-rap-sounds-childish-ignorant-to-my-ears-what-am-i-missing/276425.md?page=1)