Are rappers really musicans? (electronic, punk, rap, rock, beatles)

RapSucks · 05-22-2007, 06:48 PM

Ok, I want to do this peacefully. And this has nothing to do with race. There is plenty of great music wriiten and performed by African Americans.

I found this in an article on the internet somewhere:
"Rappers speak over prerecorded beats, listen for hours to records, find samples (snippets of melody and rhythm), then place these on tape loops and begin narration. Sometimes rappers even use conversations as a compositional springboard, or develop rhymes while riding in cars.... Rappers utilize multi-tracking, insert snippets and melodic fragments, and weave their words in and out of thick sound montages. A rapper will change the formula of his presentation, altering enunciation, pronunciation, and cadence to make the point."

How accurate of a description is this of the songwriting process of a rapper? Obviously, everyone has there own methods to songwriting, but in general.

My point is I hear "prerecorded beats" and "finding snippets of melody and rhythm" and I'm thinking why don't you take out a musical instrument and write some melodies? If you or your band don't play any musical instruments, you have no musical talent and are not musicians. Most rappers I see performing aren't playing instruments and only have a DJ behind them with turntables.

I want to make this clear, I absolutely think rapping is a talent, but I don't think it's a musical talent.

cardboard adolescent · 05-22-2007, 06:53 PM

You say rapping is a talent... and they use it to make music... so how exactly is it not a musical talent?

RapSucks · 05-22-2007, 07:00 PM

What I'm saying is that it is a skill to rap but it takes no musical "intelligence."

Sparky · 05-22-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapSucks

What I'm saying is that it is a skill to rap but it takes no musical "intelligence."

wtf is intellegince? they're is hardly a way to describe what is intellegince in a topic as large as music. its subjective, no different from art, literature, or filmaking.

sleepy jack · 05-22-2007, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapSucks

What I'm saying is that it is a skill to rap but it takes no musical "intelligence."

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapSucks

Bottom Line: Sometimes talent doesn't make good music!!!

PWNT

Sparky · 05-22-2007, 06:57 PM

well, thankyou "rapsucks" for making a more intelligent argument then your screename would suggest.

to quote, im not sure the name of him, but the rapper sayd "rappers are musicians who couldnt play instruments but still wanted to be able to make music", not an exact quote, but along those lines.

I think being a dj still takes an incredible musical ear, if you listen to anything by "ant" or dangermouse you'd be impressed. Ive heard mixing of Frank Sinatra mixed with Biggie, the beatles mixed with jay z, even nirvana acoustic stuff mixed with jay z. And somehow they are able to make it blend perfectly.

I think it still takes a lot of musical talent, just not in the classical sense, and i think people are still not understanding that.

RapSucks · 05-22-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matious

well, thankyou "rapsucks" for making a more intelligent argument then your screename would suggest.

to quote, im not sure the name of him, but the rapper sayd "rappers are musicians who couldnt play instruments but still wanted to be able to make music", not an exact quote, but along those lines.

I think being a dj still takes an incredible musical ear, if you listen to anything by "ant" or dangermouse you'd be impressed. Ive heard mixing of Frank Sinatra mixed with Biggie, the beatles mixed with jay z, even nirvana acoustic stuff mixed with jay z. And somehow they are able to make it blend perfectly.

I think it still takes a lot of musical talent, just not in the classical sense, and i think people are still not understanding that.

I don't think have the screenname RapSucks is any different than have the screenname (inert band here)Sucks. I can't make a whole argument with my screenname.

Ok, still if really had some musical talent would you write your own beats and melodies?

Sparky · 05-22-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapSucks

I don't think have the screenname RapSucks is any different than have the screenname (inert band here)Sucks. I can't make a whole argument with my screenname.

Ok, still if really had some musical talent would you write your own beats and melodies?

so, say i have musical talent. But i don't have a well paying job, and i cant afford good musical equipment, but i am capable of making good lyrics?

music is rythm, rap still has that. you seem to be implying rap artists aren't as intelligent as rock artists? is what i seem to be getting from this.

and not all rappers are african american...

RapSucks · 05-22-2007, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matious

so, say i have musical talent. But i don't have a well paying job, and i cant afford good musical equipment, but i am capable of making good lyrics?

music is rythm, rap still has that. you seem to be implying rap artists aren't as intelligent as rock artists? is what i seem to be getting from this.

First of all don't just narrow it to rock. Second of all, they don't write their own rhythm, correct? To me having musical talent is being able to play instruments and write music.

Sparky · 05-22-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RapSucks

First of all don't just narrow it to rock. Second of all, they don't write their own rhythm, correct? To me having musical talent is being able to play instruments and write music.

how the **** are you able to generalize every rapper into one group?

the roots have already been mentioned, and they're thousands of rappers who do their own production and rapping.

05-22-2007, 06:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
RapSucks Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 35	Are rappers really musicans? Ok, I want to do this peacefully. And this has nothing to do with race. There is plenty of great music wriiten and performed by African Americans. I found this in an article on the internet somewhere: "Rappers speak over prerecorded beats, listen for hours to records, find samples (snippets of melody and rhythm), then place these on tape loops and begin narration. Sometimes rappers even use conversations as a compositional springboard, or develop rhymes while riding in cars.... Rappers utilize multi-tracking, insert snippets and melodic fragments, and weave their words in and out of thick sound montages. A rapper will change the formula of his presentation, altering enunciation, pronunciation, and cadence to make the point." How accurate of a description is this of the songwriting process of a rapper? Obviously, everyone has there own methods to songwriting, but in general. My point is I hear "prerecorded beats" and "finding snippets of melody and rhythm" and I'm thinking why don't you take out a musical instrument and write some melodies? If you or your band don't play any musical instruments, you have no musical talent and are not musicians. Most rappers I see performing aren't playing instruments and only have a DJ behind them with turntables. I want to make this clear, I absolutely think rapping is a talent, but I don't think it's a musical talent.

05-22-2007, 06:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,511	You say rapping is a talent... and they use it to make music... so how exactly is it not a musical talent?

05-22-2007, 07:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
RapSucks Groupie Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 35	What I'm saying is that it is a skill to rap but it takes no musical "intelligence."

05-22-2007, 06:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sparky not really Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 5,223	well, thankyou "rapsucks" for making a more intelligent argument then your screename would suggest. to quote, im not sure the name of him, but the rapper sayd "rappers are musicians who couldnt play instruments but still wanted to be able to make music", not an exact quote, but along those lines. I think being a dj still takes an incredible musical ear, if you listen to anything by "ant" or dangermouse you'd be impressed. Ive heard mixing of Frank Sinatra mixed with Biggie, the beatles mixed with jay z, even nirvana acoustic stuff mixed with jay z. And somehow they are able to make it blend perfectly. I think it still takes a lot of musical talent, just not in the classical sense, and i think people are still not understanding that.