Cory's Soapbox - Modern Rap

To say the least, rap music on the radio has abused me. We live in a culture where people can be massively rich off of one song, one beat, one freaking dance move. Unfortunately, I have realized popular rap music is so entrenched in this culture that I am blind to what is good and what is not. I do not have any clue what makes a good rapper, but I do know what makes a not so good one.  If your song has a man, who is known more for the effects put on his voice than his ability, “singing” in it, I will not listen to you. If kids across the nation are learning your dance move or how to be like you I will not listen to you. Essentially, if you are popular and little kids like you, I will not listen to you.

Now, this may seem like a ridiculous statement and me being extremely close-minded. But I live in a world and go to a school where I have to hear the chorus of the same song sung by 17 different people in a day. I do NOT want to move my body like a cyclone. I do NOT want to crank that Soulja Boy. I do NOT EVER want to wear apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur. But popular rap music’s greatest quality (in most people’s eyes) is in my opinion it’s greatest flaw. People should not be able to listen to your song once and get the general idea of your song. These rappers on the radio aren’t clever at all. They don’t have any originality. They just layer up the effects, have somebody write a good beat for them and automatically have a hit.

Another thing I have to get past before I can like rap music again: The lack of superstars or even talented people. Sure, you have your Kanye’s, your Lil’ Wayne’s, your T.I.’s; but for every 1 of them there is 15 Flo-rida’s or Soulja Boy’s. From my outside looking in perspective, there is nobody out there with talent enough to put out more than one successful album. The problem is, these rap songs get so massively popular (which getting your song popular is about as likely as getting struck by lightning) that that artist will NEVER come close to surpassing it. Never will Soulja Boy be able to put out another song and be successful, or even another album. People will just compare it to Crank Dat Soulja Boy and be disappointed.

I am not saying that I am a rap connoisseur, but I would say that the few rap songs I have liked have been by Indie rappers that don’t get much radio air time. I listened to Lupe Fiasco (who put out some sweet free mix-tapes and has a song posted below) for a long time. I even have enjoyed the little Clipse I have listened to. The reason is that these guys don’t follow the formula that makes other people popular; they just rap. These guys are clever with their lyrics, and can “flow” as my brother and his friend call it.

So, we just need to stop settling for the “one and done” formula of modern rap. We can’t let these guys who can only have enough material for one song be such a major part of a great genre. I hate rap, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Really, it isn’t rap I hate so much as I hate the way the genre has evolved. Let’s get back to the Dr. Dre’s, the Biggie’s and the 2Pac’s. People looked forward to their albums, something that never happens today. If I never had to hear a kid’s version of a rap song again I would be totally content. Let’s make it stay that way.

Now I step off my soap box and leave you to consider my thoughts...

Cory, Le Blog