I hate Country and Rap!!!

[SlumpBuster]

So here's my good natured rant.

Okay, so I was checking out the thread in "General Audio" regarding "What type of music do you listen to?" Tons of people said a variation on "Everything except Country or Rap." That's dumb. How can you completely dismiss a genre like that. I would have posted a direct response to that in the thread, but I can't get videos embedded in that thread. Saying you don't like country because Big and Rich are tools is like saying "I don't like pop music because of Britney." Really? Because Marshall Crenshaw is pretty pop too.

So here is my Country primer. A little "greatest hits" package that doesn't take long to put together. Can anyone really say with a straight face that any of this sucks? Find me any on reference to Wovaka in modern music. At least if people on these boards want to persist in their erroneous assertion that country sucks, I can say that I've done my part.

Here ya go:

Old Crow Medicine Show

The Bottle Rockets

Robbie Fulks

McCourys and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Chicks

Wailin' Jennys

Finally, the King of Country - Charley Pride

[bobsticks]

Effin' A right, God bless you and rawk on!!

Green Wiki aplenty and soup for you.

[Rush2112]

I wholeheartedly agree, even though I was probably the last guy in that thread to take a rip at country music.

I rarely if ever listen to new / current country music but there are old school artists I have in my CD collection which I enjoy from time to time. Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, the Gatlin Bothers, George Jones, Bellamy Brothers (how can you not like Old Hippie) or Willie Nelson's, Angel Fly'n too close to the Ground. I also really enjoy bluegrass... ever listen to the Woodsong's old time Radio Hour?

anyway, I just wanted to say good point.

Rap/Hip-Hop on the other hand I dismiss.... if not for the music itself, for the culture associated with it (I just can't relate or understand it)

[nobody]

Playin' Wanda Jackson: The Best of the Country Years right now, so I'm not gonna diss country music. Lots of gold to be mined in those hills, even if the pop country you hear around today kinda blows in my estimation. I also like a good chunk of hip hop. I don't really think its much of a worthwhile statement to say any genre sucks in its entirety. If by sucks, you mean, you don't personally like it, sure, why not? But, if you think there is some sort of universal standard by which you can pan entire genres of music, you're just talking out your ass.

[SlumpBuster]

Rap/Hip-Hop on the other hand I dismiss.... if not for the music itself, for the culture associated with it (I just can't relate or understand it)

Oh no you didn't! I was gonna leave hip hop alone, I know it doesn't get alot of love around these parts. I'll be the first to admit that my collection heavily favors rock, but how can you deny the following. I just can't figure out what is unrelatable or not understandable in the following songs.


Rock Box



Del tha Funky Homosapien



Dream Warriors



Paperboy



Q-Tip


Black Star

[kexodusc]

Atta boy, Slumpy!
Testify!

Seriously, there'a lot of modern Country crap I hate, but there's just as much modern rock, modern classical (think some bad hollywood) and modern jazz/blues that makes me sick too. It doesn't diminish the value of the good stuff!

As for hip hop - so much attention and publicity falls on the negative messages in the music, and not enough attention is paid to the good stuff. I think that has turned off a lot of people to the genre - maybe that was the plan in some cases?

Too bad, I'm gonna listen anyway.

There's a little bit o' gangsta/redneck in all of y'all!

[ForeverAutumn]

What about opera? Can I say that I hate opera? Trust me when I tell you that I've heard enough of it during my lifetime that it's an educated hatred.

Actually, opera scores can be very good...it's the vocals that I hate.

[3-LockBox]

I don't completely dismiss either country or rap, but they ain't my bag. Every great once in a while, I'll here a country or rap tune that I like, but more often than not, I find either very boring, because both have grown very predictable. Its the stuff of factories. And yes, Big & Rich are tools.

[GMichael]

I have heard a few country songs that I found enjoyable. Hip-hop, not so much. Rap, never heard one that didn't make me want to burry my head or bust a speaker. Opera? I can appreciate how much talent it takes, but please don't make me listen. Look, I'll pay you ok?

[3-LockBox]

As far as rap goes, I don't subscribe to the notion that it isn't a viable genre, because of the amount of sampling that goes on. Sometimes I hear a rap tune that sounds contrived, because it sounds like its trying to be the next Walk This Way. But by and large, I think most of the music in hip-hop is rather clever. Its the vocal style that loses me. No, not the message - the cadence that many rappers use drones on me. I liked about half of the examples used here in this thread. Q-tip had a song out I liked a few years ago, Breathe/Stop, that was just a basic prose, with little or no message; it was mostly groove oriented.

Its what the industry pushes on the rest of us, that which passes for the entire genre an example, and that's gangsta rap. Its the industry that presents the cookie-cutter images of rap in videos (by the pool, in the car, at the club) and it does the genre a disservice IMO.

I've gone through phases whereby I dabbled in country and rap, but none of it had legs for me, and by that I mean it didn't have staying power. But that is not to say I'm closed minded to it. One of my favorite comps was Mr MidFi's Waiting to Derail comp of various alt-country acts. I've heard rap on others comps that was appreciated because it was a 'take' that I had yet to hear, and for that matter, never would hear if I perused what passes for rap on the radio. Now is that my own fault? Maybe. But until I feel really compelled to go on a rap quest, all I have is recommendations (hint hint).

[Rush2112]

I listened to each of the clips, gave them an honest shot ....sorry, not my cup of tea (in reference to the music) setting the culture aside for now. I never said the genre "sucks" or meant to imply that anyone else "sucks" for liking it - I simply said that I dismiss it. (meaning that it's something I personally don't care for based on what I've heard).

Take for example the clip posted in another thread.... Beverley hills meets whoever the other guy was. He's a player, he's a hustler, yadayadayada - yawn. To be honest, the mix was catchy, but in this case I can't get past the culture or the message. Now I have no idea if the hip-hop part was a "weird Al Yankovic" type spoof or indeed a real song but if it was I feel sorry for those who can "relate" to the message. If it's real, the artist has zero self respect for himself or his potential audience. The sad fact is that those who truly live that lifestyle are moments away from either federal time or a .40 S&W hollow point to the center mass. I don't see the mystique.

I support the right for the rap/hip-hop genre to produced, marketed, purchased, listened to, and enjoyed... it's just not for me.

[SlumpBuster]

I listened to each of the clips, gave them an honest shot ....sorry, not my cup of tea (in reference to the music) setting the culture aside for now. I never said the genre "sucks" or meant to imply that anyone else "sucks" for liking it - I simply said that I dismiss it. (meaning that it's something I personally don't care for based on what I've heard).

Take for example the clip posted in another thread.... Beverley hills meets whoever the other guy was. He's a player, he's a hustler, yadayadayada - yawn. To be honest, the mix was catchy, but in this case I can't get past the culture or the message. Now I have no idea if the hip-hop part was a "weird Al Yankovic" type spoof or indeed a real song but if it was I feel sorry for those who can "relate" to the message. If it's real, the artist has zero self respect for himself or his potential audience. The sad fact is that those who truly live that lifestyle are moments away from either federal time or a .40 S&W hollow point to the center mass. I don't see the mystique.

I support the right for the rap/hip-hop genre to produced, marketed, purchased, listened to, and enjoyed... it's just not for me.

That's great that you listened. Thanks for giving it a try. I know you didn't say it sucked. I'm just being goofy to. I'm not sure what clip you're talking about that you couldn't tell if it was a spoof or not. But alot of hip hop has always been tongue in cheek. That's where the literal clowns come from. Below are clips that glorify the "culture" of which you speak. But, while they are so over the top as to border on parody, they do have a lot of truth.

Above was Hip Hop 101 and more of a survey course. One of the great things about hip hop is the local flavor. So here is Slump's Hip Hop 420: Advanced Detroit Flava. You can put together local flavor for NOLA, Dallas, St. Louis, ect. But this is Detroit.

WARNING! The following are not safe for work or the family room. But they do not exceed YouTube's guidelines. I did not embed them. You are leaving Audio Review if you click. You have been warned. Your good taste and copyright mean nothing in Detroit.

Esham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw6sH...eature=related

Twiztid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTNHbu6xKKI

ICP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RTsOvawUc

Kool Keith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4yPX...eature=related

Big Herk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cbb9Xf8e4U

[Rush2112]

I watched the first couple clips.

LOL... hey I think I get it, at least the part where he had a big ol' splif..... eerrrr, ahhhh.... we'll that is, that was a long time ago, eh.

I watched the 2nd clip while listening to Pink Floyd, Atom Heart Mother, Fat Old Sun... maybe I could get used to this.

I know it's all in good fun amigo, I just wanted to clairify on my part... being a newbie and all.

The thread I was refering to is in this section... posted by bobsticks - hey swish

Rock On!

[jrhymeammo]

Old Crow Medicine Show

I love Ol' CMS. One of my friends turned me on to them about 2 years ago. Good stuff.

JRA

[SlumpBuster]

The thread I was refering to is in this section... posted by bobsticks - hey swish

Rock On!

Oh, okay. That is a mash up of Cassidy and Weezer. Here is the original Cassidy.

But the question is this: Is Cassidy glorifying, or presenting a character. Perhaps based on someone he knew.

By way of comparison, here is how Ice-T (an actual hustler) handled similar subject matter using music as the analogy for drugs and hustling - note the Curtis Mayfield ripoff.

[bobsticks]

Aaahh, Detroit the city of lights...thanks for the memories. Who knew that when ICP took a trip downriver to collaborate with Romeo's first son that it would be a harbinger of things to come. Remember "Is That You?".

The "supersoaker" line makes me giggle like a thirteen year-old.

[Mr Peabody]

Can we get a, hell yeah!!

How bout - David Alan Cole, Never Call Me By My Name or Jerry Jeff Walker, Up Against The Wall Red Neck Mothers? Nothing like a little Dwight Yoakum when the red on your neck is glowing. Or, good ole Commander Cody. I'll have to take a gander at some them other ol boys you listed.

I have very little Rap/Hip Hop but I'm not opposed it if'in it sounds good. I have a little Nelly, Country Grammer or Bubba Sparks, Deliverance. I'm not ashamed to say I liked some of the Will Smith stuff, especially in the Fresh Prince days when Jazz E Jeff got down on the scratchin. I even got a little Rob Bass. I like some of Snoop's stuff but really not into the hard core Rap. I find with the majority of Rap a little goes a long way, it doesn't keep my attention and quickly begins to rake the nerves.

[Rush2112]

But the question is this: Is Cassidy glorifying, or presenting a character. Perhaps based on someone he knew.

hard to say, I suppose that could best be answered by those who are deep into his music.

The only similar music reference I can think of is a argument I once had with someone in regards to Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills".... he thought it was a song which glorified hunting down Indians, which it is not... (at least in my opinion) it's simply telling a story from two perspectives.

Perhaps the answer is what does it's audience make of it?

If Cassidy's listeners see him as simply telling a story then "they" are in the same situation I was when I tried to explain what the song was really about to the guy riding shotgun in my 78' Trans Am, lol... mullet flying in the breeze.

To be honest, I find the words hard to follow, my old brain just can't process that fast. I find myself trying to think about what they just said and wind up missing the next 30 seconds.

One thing for sure, I've listen to more hip-hop tonight than I ever have.

SlumpBuster if lay down tonight and can't get the cassidy song out of my head (this sometimes happens to me) I'm blaming you!

[Swish]

responded to someone's rant about hating rap and country by saying 'I hate bad music'.

I chuckled.

Swish Baby

[bobsticks]

Hey Slumpy,

I did the rounds today at the local and had a couple of interesting pickups...I got the first two discussed in the attached article. You might like the Pickering but you'll definitely dig the Justin Townes Earle. I highly recommend if you have the means...

http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/news/


Peace,

Cotton-pickin' chicken pluckin' sticks

[SlumpBuster]

I highly recommend if you have the means...

Thanks for the heads up, Ferris.