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YOU TOOK IT HOME BASSICK HIGH SCHOOL (Reply to this comment)
by djtrock4321
BRIDGEPORT CT I REMEMBER THE ONE AND ONLY DJ TONY WOODS DJ TUFF TONY....THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER HEARED RADIO PLAY RAP MUSIC....I BECAME DJ BACK THEN...I PLAYED AT THE EXCUTIVE LOUNGE FOR COUCH BROWN....POPLAR STREET...I USE TO WALK AROUND WITH A 8-TRACK BOOM BOX BLASTING WNAB...TUFF WITH THE GOOD STUFF HE WOULD END HIS SHOW WITH FOR THE GOODTIMES AL- GREEN...I AM GLAD SOMEBODY REMEMBER THIS...I WISH I HAD A RECORDING OF HIS SHOWS....THE FIRST TIME I HEARED JIMMY SPICER SUPER RHYME WOW WOW WOW...THE FIRST I HEARED....ROCKING IT FEERLESS FOUR...MANNNNNN...THE FIRST TIME I HEARED...SUPER RAPPIN GRANDMASTER FLASH...NEW YORK RADIO WAS NOT PLAYING THESE CLASSIC WAY BACK THEN.....THANKS FOR THIS WALK WAY BACK MEMORY LANE.......GET AT ME.....
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May 03 '08
10:37 am PDT
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excellent article (Reply to this comment)
by mubu_chronic
i always wondered if anyone would ever write such an article...great work i really enjoyed reading it...it was worth my time ...
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Mar 02 '05
8:29 pm PST
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I had no (Reply to this comment)
by katmar
idea how rap got started, and am very pleased you shared it with me. I also agreed with your rant. As Bette Midler said about Hollywood, "people here will hate you if they don't like the tie you're wearing" - in reference to our need to categorize, and judge. And we seem to have an ever increasing need to do that, and I'm not sure why that is.
This is one of the best reviews I've ever read on rap, and I thank you so much. It was much more than informative, and I'm not a rap fan, but I think I'll be much less likely to glare at the kid down the street who is blasting it from his stereo.
A truly amazing review.
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Sep 01 '01
9:52 pm PDT
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My sincere thanks (Reply to this comment)
by dee67
sibhreach
Thank you kindly. I've yet to decide if my getting so involved with these pieces makes them better, of if it just makes me a nut. I suppose my popularity (or lack thereof) will be the telling sign.
Howard_U
Agreed there is too much focus on negativity and such. I feel the industry is as involved as the artists though, if not more. Several on my list take the opposite approach and don't sell on nearly the same level. Once the industry get these figures, they pump as many cookie cutter acts into the mix as they can. I'm sure there are fairly wholesome acts who are approached by execs that say, "change every mention of school to guns and change every adjective to a 4 letter word, and we'll sign you". Ah well, I can't even change my weight, let alone the world ;) Thanks for visiting.
LEDOMAINE
Rouchelle, were you looking at my original notes? When I started work on this, I also had things like you mentioned even including the likes of Scatman Crothers, Nipsey Russell, and Harlem Globetrotter Medowlark Lemon. When I viewed the draft, it was nearly 6,000 words and had two somewhat off-topic parts. My thought was this piece would likely be read by mostly younger people who might become drowsy by my going too far back. I gambled, and figured the other sprout was more "today" and did quite a bit of pruning. In the future I'll try to be more balanced.
"Now, not many of us can make the excuse of ignorance to explain our dislike of the art, can we?"
Can't we? ;) I've never actually heard that argument. More like, "I'm right, you're wrong, take a hike". Granted, your statement is more accurate - but it's so much easier for us to think our opinion is how the world truly exists, right? I'm right, tell me I'm right, you know I'm right ;)
Thank you so much for your level headed, incredibly coherent and kind entry here.
shilmafone
I reckon it wasn't too slick or transparent, huh? Thanks for the visit.
purplewiz
Thank you, I love the wording of your comment. It's great when people with different tastes can speak their mind and not instinctively become over protective of their own views. Pure class.
rader6795
Hi Terry, thanks for the comment. I'm glad someone younger and "cooler" admitted this, I feel better now :)
pootzygirl
I appreciate your comment, thank you. The funny stuff is brilliant, Will Smith (oh, I'm sorry "the Fresh Prince") was quite good at that.
General Comment:
Thanks yet again everyone for your reading, rating, commenting and trust. There are many, many better writers here - I'm just glad my effort is being noticed, thanks so much.
-Dennis
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Aug 04 '01
11:55 am PDT
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Wow - what a review! :) (Reply to this comment)
by sibhreach
I even loved your lil off-topic rant about Marshall Mathers. LOL
Actually - those were very true words and this was a fantastic review all around.
...C. "sibhreach"
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Aug 04 '01
7:03 am PDT
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You make a convincing case (Reply to this comment)
by Howard_U
but 95% of rap is still junk. Beyond junk, it's a destructive force in our society, not just encouraging, but creating, rage and feelings of victimization. Quite a lot of negativity for one musical style to accomplish.
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Aug 04 '01
1:59 am PDT
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Rap History 101-440 (Reply to this comment)
by LEDOMAINE
Okay, I think you covered most all the bases. Very well done. Now, not many of us can make the excuse of ignorance to explain our dislike of the art, can we?
I won't throw any confusion into your well-written, comprehensive lesson on the history of rap. Like "suggesting" that rap might have even been around quite a few years prior to '79. Explaining that artists like The Temptations or The Platters or even Stevie used the very first inklings of the art form, interspersed throughout their arrangements, to add a little well-placed spice.
I will relent to the fact that not until the late '70s was the designated title of "Rap" applied to an arrangement either exclusively or predominately, thus, the official birth of the genre in the music world. And, I must respectfully agree with your points on the presence of talent(s) within us all, no matter the form of entertainment we prefer. No arguing, these guys do, of course, possess talent. As do yourself, as is apparent by this exceptional review on their behalf.
Interesting, educational review. Enjoyed it. Thanks.
Rouchelle
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Aug 03 '01
11:47 pm PDT
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DAMN (Reply to this comment)
by shilmafone
Plain ol' lists? Yeah, they can get boring. But a list with a good old fashioned RANT in the middle of it? Now that's good reading.... ;-)
Nice work.
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Aug 02 '01
11:16 am PDT
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Excellent essay (Reply to this comment)
by purplewiz
Rap is past my time, which is probably why I enjoy reading about it - I admit it's not a style of music that appeals to me, but by reading why it appeals to others and about the artists/lyrics opens a whole new world of understanding. Your review had a remarkable clarity, especially for those of us who don't have the background. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work!
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Aug 01 '01
1:21 pm PDT
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About J5 (Reply to this comment)
by rader6795
I bought the Jurassic 5 album only after hearing them in Jet Grind Radio for the Dreamcast (the song was "Improvise." There's no shame in just now finding them, I guess, since I didn't, either. Quality control is great with its old-school hip-hop sound and something that isn't to be missed.
Anyhow, this was a great list and even better summaries of the albums. Good job.
Sincerely,
The Asian Persuasion,
Terry Rader
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Aug 01 '01
9:30 am PDT
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What an excellent editorial! (Reply to this comment)
by pootzygirl
I don't really like modern rap music, though there have been a few rap songs (mostly the humorous ones) that I've enjoyed. The reason I don't like rap is because it seems to me that most of the rap today is stereotypical and rappers try to "act black" which bothers me. Plus, as an English teacher, I cringe while listening to repetions of the language being mangled. I adore the beats, and rap reminds me of modern beatnick poetry. It's just a shame that most of it has to be about sex, drugs, and violence. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. I really enjoyed reading this.
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Aug 01 '01
7:10 am PDT
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Thank you (Reply to this comment)
by dee67
tigger500/Tyler:
I appreciate your kind words, and (I could be wrong but) thought BDP and additional mention of the KRS-One CD was a mention of KRS-One ;)
About Nas & Pac, I'm an old man (33) had to stick with what I know best.
ace3502:
Thank you! Most things I write take me quite a while because I don't have the same grasp of the language many people here do. So I have to make up for it with heart, detail and elbow grease.
Daniel_Rf:
You're very kind. Point #1 - my typo, thanks for pointing it out. Point #2, though I don't agree with what gangsta rap has to say - I can't ignore style. I enjoy the artists you mentioned a lot, but was looking for "bang for the buck" value and in my head, Dre fit the bill best since there was such a large "Aftermath" (pun intended). Thanks for the visit and comments.
Comment in general: Keep those comments coming, even contrasting opinions - I never expect to please many with my opinion and with music it's all so open to interpretation, it leaves the door open for debate and learning. All good stuff.
To all who wrote or are thinking, "I'd put whomever" - please write one of these, I really like reading what makes all your ears happy, heads nod and brains tick.
Thanks again!
-Dennis
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Jul 31 '01
6:59 pm PDT
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wow (Reply to this comment)
by Daniel_Rf
Man, this essay was great. Your expertise in Hip-Hop sure was enough to impress this casual Rap fan...two minor gripes, however:
1) Blondie were/are a group. The girl singer's name is Debbie Harry.
2) I never really got into "The Chronic"...true, the production is out of this world, but the rhyming is just ugly Gangsta attitude w/o any insight or even just militance (like NWA had)...why not something by De La Soul, The Disposable Heroes Of Hipocrisy or Ice Cube instead? Or even Snoop's debut, which is just as Gangsta, but he's so much more likeable...
Anyway, this was GREAT. I hope some of the reactionary Rap haters read it and get a clue
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Jul 31 '01
4:44 pm PDT
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This review was... (Reply to this comment)
by ace3502
FANTASTIC!!! It really was excellent. Well detailed on each album, I can only imagine how long it took you to write all of this. It was worth it, I'm glad you did. Keep up the great work.
ACE3502
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Jul 31 '01
3:57 pm PDT
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Amazing (Reply to this comment)
by tigger500
This is one of the best essays on hip-hop I've ever read on epinions.com. Congrats! Great choices but I have to say that I would have put Nas' Illmatic or anyone of Tupac or KRS-One's discs in here. But that is a minor quibble.
tyler
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Jul 31 '01
3:43 pm PDT
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