First you have to make a distinction between rap and hip-hop. Most (~90%) of today’s radio played rap is CRAP. I’m still having a very difficult time of why these rappers (I can’t even begin to give them the distinction of MC) are still selling records. Well I know why, but that’s a whole nother thread. The lyrics are just not poetic at all, and the delivery (flow) is even worse off. Every time I flip on some channel that plays videos, I am bombarded by these whack ass rappers that think they have skills because they have some guy that can market and promote a record, on their side ie. Cash Money Millionares, No Limit, Bad Boy (although I love Biggie Smalls. There have only been a handful of MCs that could flow like him).
Then you have hip-hop. That basic base line. What we call “That head nod shit”. Built on top of the beat is the MC. Flowing from the MC are his/her lyrics. Back in the day, an MC would usually only speak of a few things: 1) the place to be, 2) who you are, 3) what you got, or 4) about a sucker MC (aka those punk ass rappers you hear on the radio and blarring from those prepubescent boy’s cars). Who am I taking about? The Heiroglyphics, Jurrasic 5, Rakim, KRS one, Grandmaster Flash (dj), Kool Herc (dj), RUN DMC, De la Soul, PE, Professor Griff, Biggie Smalls (without that punk Puffy), Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Big Daddy Kane, Just Ice, Def Jeff, Special Ed, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, SnP, Guru and dj Premiere, I could go on, but I think you can see that there is quality hip-hop out there. You’ll have to dig for most of it, but it’s there. All of the above, and more I didn’t mention, have that combination of beats and rhymes that is truly amazing…poetry over beats. Bottom line though: It’s music. You either get it and like it, or you don’t!
I read a couple of posts from people that think turntablists are not musicians. I’d have to wholeheartedly disagree with you on that point. Have you ever seen a turntablist in action? Better yet, have you ever seen a DJ battle? There are some djs that just play samples behind an MC, and then there are turntablists that hold their own, even when the MC is not present (Jurrasic 5). These are the djs (turntablists) that won’t fit your “not musicians” category. A few examples would be: Qbert, Shortcut, Apollo, Mix Master Mike all from the Invisible Skratch Picklz, Roc Raida and the other X-men, A-Trak, 5th Platoon, Babu, Rhettmatic, Cut Chemist, again, the list is too long. Their music says enough, but when you have the privlege to see them perform in person, even if you truly didn’t like the music, you would still be amazed at how damned fast their hands move! And they don’t just “scratch”. They also beat juggle (deconstructing an instrumental into its basic components ie. snare, bass, hi hat and playing each separate piece to create a new piece).Mind you the turntablist is manipulating two turnatbles and a mixer while beat juggling or scracthing. And there are some turntablists that form groups of up to six people that can manipulate 12 turntables at the same time to create a mosaic of sound! Check the web for samples, They’re there. I can’t give you any URLs because I just buy the vinyl instead.
This is a very superficial presentation because I have no way of sharing the actual music with you. But the point I wanted to get across is there is good quality hip-hop out there. Don’t be fooled by those marketing “geniuses” that are trying to shove SHIT down your throats with the rap label.
