# Will Rap/Hip Hop ever go stale? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559 "2010-08-08T00:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/21 "2010-08-08T03:01:35Z")
> [@Hades](#): > > Also, rapping is monotonous and nothing but swears? Funny, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eQL3BrRqM8) isn’t very monotonous, and there’s not a single swear to be heard in the entire song. No need to apologize for rap. Some of the funniest songs involve quite a lot of swearing, everything from (NW)A to (Jay-)Z. And it’s hugely entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/22 "2010-08-08T03:04:55Z")
And like Cohen V CA taught us, sometimes swearing is a necessary form of self expression. Saying because rap has bad words (oh noes!) it’s not expressive or artistic is. . . well, I’d judge the intelligence of the person saying that, that’s for sure. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/23 "2010-08-08T03:07:04Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I could get in front of a mike with no rehearsal and do it just as well as any of those idiots with the gold teeth and their pants around their knees. It’s just reading out loud. How much you want to bet? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/24 "2010-08-08T03:14:20Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > > [@Hades](#): > > > > Also, rapping is monotonous and nothing but swears? Funny, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eQL3BrRqM8) isn’t very monotonous, and there’s not a single swear to be heard in the entire song. > > No need to apologize for rap. Some of the funniest songs involve quite a lot of swearing, everything from (NW)A to (Jay-)Z. And it’s hugely entertaining. I wasn’t apologizing. I have no problem with swearing in general, or in music. I love Eminem, for instance. I was simply offering a counterpoint from one of my favorite rappers. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/25 "2010-08-08T03:16:11Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Hasn’t it been stale since, like, 1993 or so? > > Rap still sounds the same to me. Not wanting to threadshit or anything, but really, a guy talking over music is still a guy talking over music, isn’t it? Go back another decade and you’re closer to the mark. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/26 "2010-08-08T03:20:50Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > How much you want to bet? I’m going to let you save your money. I fronted rock bands for years as singer, guitarist and songwriter. I’m perfectly comfortable on stage in front of a microphone. I’ve done it hundreds of times. Giving a reading of some lyrics would not be a new trick for me. I’ve performed lyrics cold before and had to play guitar and actually sing them as a melody while doing it. Removing the guitar and the melody would actually make it easier for me, not harder. I’m not some neophyte just blowing hard. I’ve actually even done a few rap songs onstage. I’d be taking your money. I’m a ringer. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/27 "2010-08-08T03:29:59Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Miller](#): > > > > How much you want to bet? > > I’m going to let you save your money. I fronted rock bands for years as singer, guitarist and songwriter. I’m perfectly comfortable on stage in front of a microphone. I’ve done it hundreds of times. Giving a reading of some lyrics would not be a new trick for me. I’ve performed lyrics cold before and had to play guitar and actually sing them as a melody while doing it. Removing the guitar and the melody would actually make it easier for me, not harder. I’m not some neophyte just blowing hard. I’ve actually even done a few rap songs onstage. I’d be taking your money. I’m a ringer. Oh, I’m so excited! Ok, I’d like you to perform [this Busta Rhymes song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrghtXWfVYM) for us. It’s really not the fastest he raps or anything (I’ve seen him battle live and it’s much, much faster), so this should be super easy for an experienced musician. I can’t wait to see your video of this- I’m stoked! Oh, that Youtube link even has the lyrics right there for you if you need to practice first :). And of course, you are welcome to remove all the bad words you find objectionable first. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/28 "2010-08-08T03:33:00Z")
Perform it where? What the fuck? I’m supposed to bark it my monitor? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/29 "2010-08-08T03:34:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Perform it where? What the fuck? I’m supposed to bark it my monitor? Record a video, upload it, and post a link for us to see. I realize that rapping is super easy for anybody, but as an experienced musician, you’ve got even more talent- making this super mega crazy easy. I figure if you do this, it’ll shut up all those knuckleheads who are sitting here telling you rapping is difficult or takes talent. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/30 "2010-08-08T03:35:11Z")
By the way, I don’t object to profanity in lyrics. I put enough of it in my own lyrics. I’m just saying it doesn’t take any _skill_ to curse, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/31 "2010-08-08T03:36:23Z")
Even better. I figure it’d take a long time to remove all the profanity from that song anyway, plus it’d mess up the flow. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/32 "2010-08-08T03:39:22Z")
Anyway… Rap is as much an artform and a legitimate music genre as rock/pop/R&B/blues/whatever. I can see it maybe not dominating as much as it has in the last decade, but it’s not like it’ll ever go away, unless we want to argue that the other major genres are going to completely disappear too. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/33 "2010-08-08T03:40:27Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Perform it where? What the fuck? I’m supposed to bark it my monitor? > > Record a video, upload it, and post a link for us to see. I realize that rapping is super easy for anybody, but as an experienced musician, you’ve got even more talent- making this super mega crazy easy. I figure if you do this, it’ll shut up all those knuckleheads who are sitting here telling you rapping is difficult or takes talent. Record a video with what? I don’t have any fucking video equipment, and wouldn’t know how to put anything on the internet if I did. I don’t even know how to upload pictures. Even if I had the video equipment, I don’t have any backing music or a microphone or a PA or anything to mix or record it with. You don’t know shit about recording music, do you. That’s probably why you’re impressed by Busta Rhymes. Rap is basically for people who can’t understand real music. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/34 "2010-08-08T03:41:35Z")
If you ever want to sound really, really old and out of touch, start banging on about “real music”. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/35 "2010-08-08T03:47:08Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > Record a video, upload it, and post a link for us to see. I realize that rapping is super easy for anybody, but as an experienced musician, you’ve got even more talent- making this super mega crazy easy. I figure if you do this, it’ll shut up all those knuckleheads who are sitting here telling you rapping is difficult or takes talent. > > Record a video with what? I don’t have any fucking video equipment, and wouldn’t know how to put anything on the internet if I did. I don’t even know how to upload pictures. > > Even if I had the video equipment, I don’t have any backing music or a microphone or a PA or anything to mix or record it with. You don’t know shit about recording music, do you. That’s probably why you’re impressed by Busta Rhymes. Rap is basically for people who can’t understand real music. First of all, just about any digital camera (for taking pictures) made in the last 5 years can take a video. Secondly, I’m not asking you to make a Grammy Award winning vocal rendition- I’m just saying show us suckers how easy it is to rap. It’s funny that you want to knock someone as shitty, but they’re doing something you’re incapable of doing yourself. If you’d like to link me to some of your “real music”, I’d love to listen to it. Actually, I’m sure everyone here would. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/36 "2010-08-08T03:47:28Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Even if I had the video equipment, I don’t have any backing music or a microphone or a PA or anything to mix or record it with. You don’t know shit about recording music, do you. That’s probably why you’re impressed by Busta Rhymes. Rap is basically for people who can’t understand real music. Busta doesn’t seem to have a hard time rapping a capella [here](http://video.yandex.ru/users/parial1992/view/56/). If he can do it, I don’t know why a mighty man like you can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/37 "2010-08-08T03:49:56Z")
I’m with **Dio**. Give me some [real music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZoQygZ_Io); the stuff that requires actual talent. Not just some [thugged out dude](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZoQygZ_Io#t=5m5s) with his gold teeth and pants around his ankles. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/38 "2010-08-08T03:52:41Z")
Ooh. Thanks for the links, **Jimmy**. I posted a Dessa link earlier, but these are even better. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/39 "2010-08-08T03:56:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > How does anyone tell the difference between a good rapper and a bad rapper? I’ve never been able to figure that out. There’s no talent or skill required. It’s just talking. They all sound exactly the same. An’ dadgummit, muh bridge pard’ner Die-oh swears they all LOOK alike, too! Y’know, those rappers may wear their pants too low, but I have a feeling sommmme of us here are wearing our Sears pleated poly-cotton blend khaki slacks a wee bit too high… ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559/40 "2010-08-08T03:57:59Z")
To say hip-hop requires no talent is to basically stand up and say “I have no understanding of this music whatsoever”. This argument is like a caricature of music snobbery, if it wasn’t so stupid it’d be almost funny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-rap-hip-hop-ever-go-stale/549559.md?page=3)