Jul 1, 2015 I think people who are pushing hiphop to be lyrical are not helping it as an art form. In fact, they're only pushing it to conform to an already slanted standard. If it's bad for rap to make songs without profound lyrics, songs like "Love Me Do" by the Beatles and "The Lemon Song" by Led Zeppelin should be lambasted too. Why spend the time preparing a mixtape of the best most profound hiphop songs like "Dear Mama" (where the artist clearly pour their heart out) just for an old suburban baby boomer to say "Ehh... it's okay. But I'm still going to listen to classic rock only". Don't conform to the standard. Rebel against it.
Jul 1, 2015 When I used to think of rap I always thought of it as the most lyrical genre. Something that surpassed your typical rhyme scheme so when I seen people suddenly start complaining here about Eminem being too lyrical I found it so f---ing strange. Like being lyrical has to be a main thing right? Or can anyone rhyme wall and ball now and be good as long as their beats and of course flows are good?
Jul 1, 2015 The art of hip hop form is directly linked to lyrics What your asking for would make it not hip hop
Jul 1, 2015 Rap can be more lyrical but it doesn't always need to be lyrical. If escapist rock music is fine, escapist rap music should be fine too. Delivering lyrics is not better or worse than singing. Just different. To suggest that a rap song needs to be profound is suggesting that it's automatically inferior and needs an extra boost to catch up to singing-based music. I'm not saying what 2 Chainz does is equal in quality to what The Beatles did, but it's not unequal by principle, if that makes sense.
Jul 1, 2015 I can appreciate what you're saying 100%. When I was younger I only wanted to listen to what I believed to be "lyrical rappers" up until I was introduced to lil wayne who I didn't believe to ever be considered "best" at what he did. He was alot of fun to listen to and made it seem do easy (I of course know better now and do recognize him to be pretty great). As I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate as much music as I possibly can and that includes some of these newer rappers who could never dream to be Nas or Jay Z. The cool part about it is that they don't want to be and bc of it I have, for the first time in my life; really enjoyed listening to music. The fact is you need those lyrical rappers that have that sense of pride in their work to help push the genre farther. If the genre only consisted of artists who were only doing it long enough to get paid and get out everyone would be doing it and not putting any effort what so ever into their craft
Jul 1, 2015 The reason I started listening to hip hop in the first place and really got into it was because rap artists were doing things lyrically (in this case I mean technical skills) that I wasn't really hearing in other genres. But to be fair there's lots of rappers who I think are really good at rapping but I would never listen to a full album of them because they lack in other compartments that are necessary for me to enjoy their music. Like, let's take Crooked I for example. Lots of impressive rappity rap s--- when he freestyles on radio or whatever, but n----- I ain't got no time for a full Crooked album or mixtape. Nowadays I think I listen to wider variety of music so I don't really care THAT much about all that nerdy s---, I just want good music. I think the reason people like Kendrick so much is because he's not just great MC, he's also capable of writing GREAT songs, has a vision for what his albums should sound like, picks good beats etc.. All of that comes into play. I'd say there still needs to be some form of skill though for me to enjoy it, but the whole "this is real rap" thing is f---ing r-----ed. That's why I was listening to Future this morning and now I'm listening to based Lupe
Jul 1, 2015 Production is key, but lyricism out weighs it all (imo) anyone who downs a "real hip-hop" fan, was probably one themselves at one point. Regardless, if it's good.. I like it, If I don't find it good.. I won't listen. Just like in most things these days, you're not allowed an opinion. For example, I prefer L'Orange's production over Kanye's...but hey!
Jul 1, 2015 what is the definition of lyrical? using multis and complicated words? lyrics are lyrics, they can be simple and well put, or profound or whatever. as long as it's well executed, who cares if it rhymes hood with good for the 38499329th time
Jul 1, 2015 I'd agree that Production > All. A song can be as lyrical as it wants, but if it sounds like s---, it's going to be a bad song. It could make a good poem written out, but as "music" it'd s--- the large one.
Jul 1, 2015 like for example.. If a battle rapper decides to make an album, then yea.. that's not a good idea. IF they battle, on occasion..that's a different story, but if you're a battle rapper, those kinda albums don't usually work out.
Jul 1, 2015 A lyrical miracle rapper with bad production is just as mediocre as a terrible lyricist who has bangers. Lyricism is very essential to hip hop but at the same time you need engaging production among other things as well to make great music. They go hand in hand. I'd say pushing for less lyricism holds back the art form just as much if not more than the opposite. It's all about balance. Pushing the genre to be innovative lyrically AND sonically is what helps hip hop progress
Jul 1, 2015 I think the perfect, Lyric to Production ratio goes to Blu.. especially when he collabs with Exile & L'Orange