Rap was not pre-destined to remain the dominant genre of mainstream music in perpetuity; the fact there is still “good” rap currently being made doesn’t guarantee that any of it will have mass appeal.
To be fair - King Von (rapper top row middle picture) could actually be considered a serial killer. Dude had a suspected 10 bodies him. He lived the life he rapped about, and ultimately it caught up to him (he died violently). He wasn’t a rapper that killed people, he was a killer that rapped. Dude was a menace to society, but Took Her to the O hits.
Damn, I remember back in the day Remy Ma rapped about shooting someone for talking shit and merely shot someone in the face in real life for talking shit. Now they got actual serial killers rapping.
yea king von definitely was not a good person. my main point with that isn't even about king von, it's about how the recent epidemic of "rap fatigue" is coming from people who have only seemed to listen to and pay attention to the bad parts of rap music/culture for the past 5-10 years meanwhile there are many different types of rappers who are making the music these types claim they want to see more of, yet that barely gets any attention because it doesn't fit this narrative of "I have rap fatigue because of the themes it discusses and etc"...
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD can you give any examples! I genuinely want to start listening to rap again, and all the algorithm feeds me is machismo garbage. Apparently the underground is overflowing with real artists unfortunately none of them have a name.
If you want something a little more in line with how commonly rap is viewed, bravado and cockiness and the general attitude of "I'm awesome and I'm gonna show it" then mf doom. If you want something deeper, perhaps story telling, something emotional and with a genuine message (plus a lot of love towards their own community) then Kendrick Lamar and Tyler the creator. If you want something little oldish and with messaging but also a good beat and sampling (more on the funky side), De la Soul and A Tribe Called Quest
Lol at Kendrick being the go to for emotional and a genuine message. He talks out one side about how tragic the projects and ganglife are then perpetuates the same motifs that make ganglife seem cool and attractive out the other. In fact he's a great example of someone who is a genuine musical artist but lyrically he's still immature enough to write something like DNA. Shit's a bop but the lyrics are DAMN. near meaningless.
I do like MF Doom because he isn't saying everyone sucks. He's after other rappers for the childish puffery and he isn't talking his pocket or his chain or his whip his claim to the high ground is based in his opposition to that trend. So it works. Also been a long time fan of De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest.
If you think DNA is just immature you didn’t understand anything about it, no disrespect intended. It’s exactly this kind of lack of knowledge that makes people fed up with people disrespecting rappers without having kne background of knowledge to give a reasonable critique. Do let me know if you want me to explain or give other examples.
Unless literally the entire thing is ironic I stand by my statement. I understand he is speaking about certain aspects of his culture and how he overcame them but in the same he is asking us to be impressed when he perpetuates them.
Danny brown isn't that new but he released a album called stardust that kinda mixes hyperpop with rap I liked. I'd say listen to atrocity exhibition
clipse- let god sort em out came out and was a well made album
Any jpegmafia project from the past couple of years, my favs are I lay my life down for you and veteran.
Earl sweatshirt just released live laugh love
Injury reserve is a rap group that has made good albums such as floss, their self titled album from 2019,by the time I get to Vegas, etc
Amine has been pretty underrated for a while. I've enjoyed stuff like limbo and onepointfive
Mike-Showbiz, Pinball II
Vince Staples is someone I also like. Big fish Theory, his self titled from 2021, and fm are cool
McKinley Dixon is a newer artist I've listened to a bit that I like
I went and listened. I will say they are doing a lot of good work with the sound and instrumentation, but for me it's about the lyrics too and there's the occasional introspective track but next one is still gonna be about flexin on bitches, fuckin bitches or shootin bitches and I don't like that kind of stuff. I used to listen to rap but as I've matured the immature macho stuff just gets more and more unpalattable to me.
As hard as a beat may be my vibe gets stopped in it's when they start talking about their collection of valuables or pretending that killing and hurting people or otherwise being a threat makes you cool.
I know that's just kind of how rap is right now but it's that exact reason that I just cannot listen to it regularly.
OK,, I'm not entirely sure you listened to Atrocity Exhibition attentively because the whole album is effectively about Danny Brown's relationship with drugs and moving past it but if you want introspective lyrics the Ms Mural by Lupe and Get Out the Car by Aesop Rock should both float your boat
I'm aware these may be very normie suggestions because I am not remotely immersed in "music culture", this is just what I've picked up and enjoyed over the years:
Imortal Technique is fantastic, his repertoire is very political but generally very thematically dark so you definitely have to be in the right mood. I liked him even before I got into rap in general. He's very early 2000s in style though which might not be your thing
MF DOOM, which chances are you've already given a shot but on the off chance you haven't, had very much his own style. Guy loved sampling Saturday Morning Cartoons which gives his songs a recognizable charm
Try out UK drill and grime! They're both distinct subgenres of rap, I'm nowhere near music literate enough to tell you what the actual concrete difference is but you'll notice heavy bass involvement, intense beats, and imo more lyrical complexity than most US rap. I enjoy Skepta, Jme, Dave, Central Cee just as examples
And if you (or anyone else reading this) haven't yet it's worth looking in that most obvious of places: 90s rap. For years I had the silly idea that rap was all gangsta rap and Tupac and Biggie were my gateway drug into the genre as a whole.
I look forward to the comments roasting my extraordinarily pedestrian taste but maybe someone here will get something out of it (and conversely if anyone has suggestions for me I'm happy to take them... 🤗)
Yeah, MF Doom has been the only one I had respect for for a while now. My main issue isn't that it's popular but that the theme often revolves around hating on others or claiming you would/could hurt others as if that kind of animalistic mindset is impressive. Another person gave me some good recommendations that I've been enjoying. I'm excited to check yours out.
When a lot of the bad parts of rap music/culture is what is mainstream and popular, this is bound to happen. Its hard for people to try to get into rap in the past 5-10 years when "sex, money, drugs and violence" is the first thing they see.
If the majority of a genre is composed of the same beat with barely intelligible words about how the rapper fucks bitches, takes drugs and makes money, then its obv going to be hard to get people to stay enough to find the ones they like.
seems like this is more of a response to some kind of pseudo-critical trend (ie pop culture website clickbait think pieces like “have we reached ‘peak rap’?”) that gets picked up by people who have little domain knowledge or critical thinking skills but think that being contrarian makes them interesting.
disclaimer: idk anything about rap but i have seen this happen again and again with every subculture that goes mainstream in my 30 years of being an punk/alt rock lover
I think some if it as well, if I can add to your point is that you could read into the politics of it as a left/right or rural/urban cultural dominance thing since country seems to be the next big thing.
I think the overall culture is moving and this is just a canary in the coal mine. It’s a way to talk about it without talking about it and those kinds of articles are both a sign of the culture changing, and people trying to change the culture by raising the question.
Like I’m not particularly horny for rap (or country) but I think the actual larger thing is pretty interesting.
kind of, but it's more of a response to how mainstream rap just isn't putting out good projects anymore. 21 savage, lil uzi vert, lil baby, young thug, drake, kanye, all of these artists used to put out consistent bangers, but they've all dropped duds in recent years, with no visible urge to put out anything better (drake you could argue against, but it's undeniable the quality of his music has declined since the 2010s). and then, as a result, people use that to push the "rap fatigue" message, saying people are getting tired of rap.
they point to this one stat in particular which happened about 2 months ago, where no rap songs charted in the top 40 of the billboard top 100, which hasn't happened since 1990. people try to use this to make a statement about rap as a genre, but it's really more of a statement about the decline of mainstream rap. people are tired of the same lackluster sounds from artists who are phoning it in.
Yeah I find this to be a weirdly un-relatable set of characteristics. Personally I see way more “boomer who thinks all rap is garbage bc he’s old and somewhat racist” (I’d like to add I go the even crazier take “I think there’s just no good and original music being made anymore” like two weeks ago at work💀💀)
i think the point is that people who have these un-nuanced opinions only have a surface level knowledge of music that’s based exclusively on trends that they just absorb from whoever is around them.
to be fair that’s how most people consume or derive culture, and most people who just absorb culture are self aware enough not to really have opinions on the subject. however those who do are pretty insufferable because their general dearth of curiosity, self-awareness, and critical thought leads to poorly formed opinions that are strongly defended yet loosely held.
I interpreted it as "ppl who think they're into rap, but listened to slop, got frustrated, and moved on thinking they're better than everyone"
Current rap is definitely NPC music. It's generic, lazily slapped together, uses annoying samples like squeaky chairs & fentanyl mumble lyrics. But they don't know good rap exists under the mainstream.
If you're wondering, I listen to Larry June & think 2008-2013 was peak rap. Mac miller, young Wiz, Cudi, Ross, Kid Ink, etc. Beats, raps & singing, collabs, samples, electronic synths all at their best.
A starter pack is all the things together, not cherry-picking one to get mad at. If you look at all the other pictures and the bottom right corner , these type of people op is describing only “liked” rap because it’s what was played on the radio. Now that it’s not they “like” the other genre because that’s what’s played on the radio. Hence “npc music taste” the type of person op is describing likes whatever is popular lmao it’s not because you don’t like rap
there is good rap that's neither making the charts nor a pile of pretentious crap. i don't fully agree with op, but he has a point or two, people don't have to hate on rap (and on people who don't like rap too tbh), maybe you just haven't found the project you'd like. or maybe rap just isn't your thing. either way, hardcore rap haters are weird asf
I was just glad to get a new Chief Kamachi album this year. The first new music from him in a decade. Godbody. My favorite track was the first and the last on the album. True poetry imo.
not op but the ug/rage/plugg scene is doing better than ever. che, luracks, smokedope2016, osamason, lil shine, 1oneam, tdf, smokingskul, xaviersobased, and prettifun have all had good albums out this year
Maybe they don’t have any. Maybe they like trendy mainstream rap and are tired of people giving them a hard time for it? Liking something mainstream isn’t a bad thing. Rap as a genre is the only genre that consistently looked down upon. It’s looked down upon by people who refuse to engage with it in any capacity. It’s even in this thread ironically.
Also I see someone recommended something to you. What did you think? Good, bad?
Any rapper who came up after 2010 can't rap, all they know is mumble, trap beat, make music video, and lie.
Back in my day rap was real, the rappers rumbled, had dre beat and made music video and lied.
/s
I do 100% think rap fatigue is setting in. You can only have a genre so popular for so long, and rap has had its day, come back, had another day, came back again and now it's properly gone.
I watched a video 2 days ago, according to it(totally accurate btw), this year was the first in 35 years that there wasn't a rap song in the billboard top 10 for a week. Which is kind of crazy, considering the only genre that's probably had a longer run is pop, which changes style all the time, so is it really one genre.
Hopefully we aren't in for a decade or two of country dominance, that might just drive me insane depending on which direction it takes.
Knew I was misquoting there, forgot billboard was the whole top 40 thing.
Weird to think that I've lived a whole life where rap has just been the genre. Aside from pop, the only genre I can think of to take second place is the emo boom of the 00s, which I was barely there for.
Top 40, as you know, and that was actually artificially caused. A new policy they implemented knocked out Luther by Kendrick Lamar off the top 40 by technicality, because it charted so long, it fell under a new rule that if a song has been charting for more than a certain amount of time, if it's outside the top 25, it gets knocked off the chart. Luther would have still been up there if they didn't implement that rule THAT week.
Which even then came after multiple rule changes over the years heavily prioritizing radio play over streams when it comes to billboard placement, when rap doesn’t get a lot of radio play compared to other genres and is mostly listened to through streaming
It's also really weird, because for radio, a song comes on, but when a song comes on streaming, unless it's free Spotify on mobile (i hate that), it's an active DECISION to put on a song.
“ Can't wait to still hear the same "I'm better than everyone because I have vapid and materialistic taste and I'm down to kill someone over the slightest perceived disrespect".
This is how you approach a topic in “good faith” and you’re surprised nobody takes your requests seriously lmao
I've been approaching in good faith for years and people give me good beats but the lyrics are still the same I know it's easy for me to say but I have genuinely tried.
I don't think making yourself out as a threat to society is cool and I probably never will, but you see it constantly in rap. It's to the point most people don't even think about it.
I just went out of my way to listen to 20 songs or so from OP's recommendation and they all have the same undertones of claiming to better than everyone and appealing to a machismo and ego that I just don't have anymore.
I find the idea of an artist justifying their self image via the cars they drive, jewelry they wear, and the threat they pose laughable.
it is honestly strange to say you don’t understand the value of an artist embodying in their work traits that are considered subversive, taboo, violent, or anti social. you hate horror movies and slashers too? metal? punk? outlaw country? pro wrestling kayfabe?
i think the problem is probably that you imagine rappers are too stupid to understand art and thus reject the notion that they are producing personas for the sake of their work like an actor does for a role. you figure they are just telling you plainly about their personal lives and values as though they aren’t musicians seeking to make interesting, evocative art.
anyways, if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for literal years to find even a small handful of rap songs that aren’t all about drugs and murder and balenciaga or whatever, you’re simply not trying very hard.
No, punk and metal are some of my faves. Except of course, the ones that do the same thing as rap where being a killer is supposed to be cool or exciting. Examples include Five Finger Death Punch and the like.
I'm not saying a having a stage persona is bad or stupid or dishonest. Just that I find the stage persona they chose to be entirely distasteful and it doesn't seem ironic to me. But maybe I'm wrong.
I really don't understand the general "you only know about the mainstream stuff" critique.
If I don't like what's presented as the best, showcase version of a genre, how is it on me to go exploring?
Like, are you supposed to go digging for the Appalachian Murder Ballad that's just right for you, once you've decided you don't like Appalachian Murder Ballads?
Do you have to keep trying opera until you've heard literally everything before you decide you're not into opera?
And how does "you're listening to what makes you feel special for listening to it" not apply to whatever unicorn-tears rap sub-genre OP decided is better?
Most of the time, it’s mainstream for a reason. It’s generally considered to be good. Maybe not revolutionary or experimental, but the average person will enjoy it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is odd when someone only listens to the top 50 songs at any given moment.
If I don't like what's presented as the best, showcase version of a genre, how is it on me to go exploring
Mainstream and what's presented as the best are two separate things. Scorpion and ? are SUPER mainstream, but no one who listens to rap will say they're the best.
The Forever Story isn't very mainstream (judging by numbers, it does get its flowers in hiphop circles) , but it's arguably the best album (at least for Rap but I'd argue of all genres it still contends) of the 2020s.
I just can't understand what they are saying due to an auditory processing issue. Then a popular thing to do is rap fast which then just sounds like someone speaking gibberish. I like the concept of MF DOOM, but I can't stand listening to it. Different strokes for different folks
i did not expect someone else here to also have auditory processing issues lol cuz i have it and all rap is mumble rap to me. any music with lyrics in general take up too much brain energy because it's all spent on trying to calculate what the hell is being said and no room for parsing what it means
That's interesting. I used to have a stronger auditory processing issue, but eventually adjusted to familiar music & grew.
Personally I never bothered with trying to understand lyrics, I just went with the overall feeling & vibe using a few words for context. One day it just clicked & music was easier to digest, but I still don't pay much attention.
Rammstein is a perfect example, had no freaken clue what they're saying, but still loved the vibes.
As a 40-year-old fan of the genre I must say that unfortunately that attitude has gone back practically since the very invention of rap itself. I have bumped into several people who say shit like "Rappers Delight is the only rap song I like and it just all went downhill after that". Thank you for this. I'm pretty sure the majority of comments on this are or are going to be shitty, but this meme is cathartic.
I don't I like rap and I think they do bring out negative stereotypes and it is all they rap about. But if you like it that's fine, even if people like mainstream "npc" music who cares.
The thing is rappers are talking about how fucked it is to be put in the positions they are in. Nobody wants to stay in them, that is clear considering how quickly they stop doing the illegal shit when they make money off of raps.
Go ahead, hit me with some recommendations. Can't wait to still hear the same "I'm better than everyone because I have vapid and materialistic taste and I'm down to kill someone over the slightest perceived disrespect".
Comically validating op's point. You're clearly not asking in good faith, but I'll put these out here for anyone who's looking for music.
Injury Reserve - By the Time I Get To Phoenix
Sunmundi - Nature of My Nature
R.A.P. Ferreira - the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Dälek - From Filthy Tongues of Gods and Griots
I've been listening. Currently on Light Emitting Diamond.
Fucking FINALLY some good shit! God damn poetry so far. Thanks for showing me this stuff. I knew it was out there the braindead shit is so popular it's hard to get a search algo to show something written by a human being. Thanks again, I was losing hope and then OP's rec's left me with same macho bullshit just with actually unique backing tracks. Then you came in clutch. It's been years since I've had a rap playlist.
Jesus Walks, Kanye (ik ik hes a controversial figure but he's a generational artist)
Dance With The Devil, Immortal Technique (WARNING, this song is heavy, and does still deal with gang violence and murder, just not in a braggadocious way, but an incredibly graphic, ugly telling of a disgusting real life event of a rape and murder)
idk what you like, but im assuming rock and metal or similar genres, you might like rap rock, like paris texas' "they left me with the sword" and "they left me with a gun" eps. or jpegmafia's stuff, there are some nasty riffs on some tracks on "scaring the hoes" and "i lay down my life for you" (the opening track goes the hardest imo). and i second the recs above, especially injury reserve, their lyricism is something else, hella unique sound too.
This is pretty much me except I’ve never been into it. The stuff I hear other people play or on the radio is very sex-money-violence which isn’t my bag. Anybody got any alt recs
Rap music was started by low income street kids who grew up in the ghetto. In the 80s, they figured out they could use their music for positive means like educating street kids to do better than falling into the poverty to prison trap.
Conscious rap as it was called was fairly punk rock. It was true counter-culture music.
The corporate labels subverted rap music in the early 90s by marketing gangster rap towards the new market of suburban kids who loved the image but didn't know shit about street politics.
80s rap was fairly political, social, positive, and encouraged good values. The corporate industry shifted the entire culture to promote some of the worst values like greed, materialism, apathy, ignorance because they don't want low income people to do better. For the last like 35 years they've been conning poor people into acting like fools while filling prisons which conveniently make money for rich people.
As a Fr*nch, our rap just sucks, take all the 90's rap stuff that were cool back then, add some White guy who has never seen gang shit and looks like your friend's 8 years old brother Diclane with equivalent singing skills but with the "cool hip hop" beats and autotune, bonus points if you added the little weapon reloading sound.wav everyone used since 2002 and you get some top rappers of the country
Lmao someone’s mad someone likes a different genre of music better. Also, claims this group has “npc music taste” while simultaneously glazing and minimizing the faults of the genre that has been on the top 10 for most of the last 30 odd years.
The comments not understanding the post 💔 it’s not about disliking rap it’s about how there’s alot of non black people who don’t actually give rap a chance and harshly criticize it. Many people dislike rap for having certain features but then listen to other genres who do the same thing. They indulge in genres that based in black culture (and usually performed by white people) but hate things like rap. Rap is diverse. Like every other genre. Reducing rap to being stupid and being about drugs, sex and violence doesn’t actually show that it’s understood. It’s just a surface level take.
People always say that while refusing to listen to underground rap I felt like I was going through that then a friend hooked me up with the new shit and I’m listening to music 24/7
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Rap was not pre-destined to remain the dominant genre of mainstream music in perpetuity; the fact there is still “good” rap currently being made doesn’t guarantee that any of it will have mass appeal.
Someone even made a song about it like 25 years ago
https://youtu.be/y9lNbNGbo24?si=AYdHaayt36EQufWZ
Top 5 preemo beat here, banger!
god not dj akademiks
To be fair - King Von (rapper top row middle picture) could actually be considered a serial killer. Dude had a suspected 10 bodies him. He lived the life he rapped about, and ultimately it caught up to him (he died violently). He wasn’t a rapper that killed people, he was a killer that rapped. Dude was a menace to society, but Took Her to the O hits.
Damn, I remember back in the day Remy Ma rapped about shooting someone for talking shit and merely shot someone in the face in real life for talking shit. Now they got actual serial killers rapping.
yea king von definitely was not a good person. my main point with that isn't even about king von, it's about how the recent epidemic of "rap fatigue" is coming from people who have only seemed to listen to and pay attention to the bad parts of rap music/culture for the past 5-10 years meanwhile there are many different types of rappers who are making the music these types claim they want to see more of, yet that barely gets any attention because it doesn't fit this narrative of "I have rap fatigue because of the themes it discusses and etc"...
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD can you give any examples! I genuinely want to start listening to rap again, and all the algorithm feeds me is machismo garbage. Apparently the underground is overflowing with real artists unfortunately none of them have a name.
If you want something a little more in line with how commonly rap is viewed, bravado and cockiness and the general attitude of "I'm awesome and I'm gonna show it" then mf doom. If you want something deeper, perhaps story telling, something emotional and with a genuine message (plus a lot of love towards their own community) then Kendrick Lamar and Tyler the creator. If you want something little oldish and with messaging but also a good beat and sampling (more on the funky side), De la Soul and A Tribe Called Quest
Lol at Kendrick being the go to for emotional and a genuine message. He talks out one side about how tragic the projects and ganglife are then perpetuates the same motifs that make ganglife seem cool and attractive out the other. In fact he's a great example of someone who is a genuine musical artist but lyrically he's still immature enough to write something like DNA. Shit's a bop but the lyrics are DAMN. near meaningless.
I do like MF Doom because he isn't saying everyone sucks. He's after other rappers for the childish puffery and he isn't talking his pocket or his chain or his whip his claim to the high ground is based in his opposition to that trend. So it works. Also been a long time fan of De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest.
Try Little Simz.
If you think DNA is just immature you didn’t understand anything about it, no disrespect intended. It’s exactly this kind of lack of knowledge that makes people fed up with people disrespecting rappers without having kne background of knowledge to give a reasonable critique. Do let me know if you want me to explain or give other examples.
Unless literally the entire thing is ironic I stand by my statement. I understand he is speaking about certain aspects of his culture and how he overcame them but in the same he is asking us to be impressed when he perpetuates them.
Alright.
Danny brown isn't that new but he released a album called stardust that kinda mixes hyperpop with rap I liked. I'd say listen to atrocity exhibition clipse- let god sort em out came out and was a well made album Any jpegmafia project from the past couple of years, my favs are I lay my life down for you and veteran.
Earl sweatshirt just released live laugh love Injury reserve is a rap group that has made good albums such as floss, their self titled album from 2019,by the time I get to Vegas, etc Amine has been pretty underrated for a while. I've enjoyed stuff like limbo and onepointfive Mike-Showbiz, Pinball II Vince Staples is someone I also like. Big fish Theory, his self titled from 2021, and fm are cool McKinley Dixon is a newer artist I've listened to a bit that I like
I went and listened. I will say they are doing a lot of good work with the sound and instrumentation, but for me it's about the lyrics too and there's the occasional introspective track but next one is still gonna be about flexin on bitches, fuckin bitches or shootin bitches and I don't like that kind of stuff. I used to listen to rap but as I've matured the immature macho stuff just gets more and more unpalattable to me.
As hard as a beat may be my vibe gets stopped in it's when they start talking about their collection of valuables or pretending that killing and hurting people or otherwise being a threat makes you cool.
I know that's just kind of how rap is right now but it's that exact reason that I just cannot listen to it regularly.
OK,, I'm not entirely sure you listened to Atrocity Exhibition attentively because the whole album is effectively about Danny Brown's relationship with drugs and moving past it but if you want introspective lyrics the Ms Mural by Lupe and Get Out the Car by Aesop Rock should both float your boat
Let me pop in another recomendation for Clipping.- There existed an Addiction to blood and Visions of Bodies being burned double album combo.
You didn't listen to Live Laugh Love or Mike
Tha God Fahim
I Second up this!
Roc Marciano
I'm aware these may be very normie suggestions because I am not remotely immersed in "music culture", this is just what I've picked up and enjoyed over the years:
Imortal Technique is fantastic, his repertoire is very political but generally very thematically dark so you definitely have to be in the right mood. I liked him even before I got into rap in general. He's very early 2000s in style though which might not be your thing
MF DOOM, which chances are you've already given a shot but on the off chance you haven't, had very much his own style. Guy loved sampling Saturday Morning Cartoons which gives his songs a recognizable charm
Try out UK drill and grime! They're both distinct subgenres of rap, I'm nowhere near music literate enough to tell you what the actual concrete difference is but you'll notice heavy bass involvement, intense beats, and imo more lyrical complexity than most US rap. I enjoy Skepta, Jme, Dave, Central Cee just as examples
And if you (or anyone else reading this) haven't yet it's worth looking in that most obvious of places: 90s rap. For years I had the silly idea that rap was all gangsta rap and Tupac and Biggie were my gateway drug into the genre as a whole.
I look forward to the comments roasting my extraordinarily pedestrian taste but maybe someone here will get something out of it (and conversely if anyone has suggestions for me I'm happy to take them... 🤗)
Yeah, MF Doom has been the only one I had respect for for a while now. My main issue isn't that it's popular but that the theme often revolves around hating on others or claiming you would/could hurt others as if that kind of animalistic mindset is impressive. Another person gave me some good recommendations that I've been enjoying. I'm excited to check yours out.
I am not sure why you are being down voted because these types of people exist and they are all over social media right now.
These are the songs reaching the top of the charts... its's for the best it loses it's appeal to the younger generation.
These are NOT the songs reaching the top of the charts 😭😭
It’s Reddit there’s no point even trying with them lmao
I fucked up posting this on Reddit of all places
25 downvotes from redditors who tell their co-workers, “I dont call it RAP I call it CRAP because thats what it is!” 🤦🏾♂️
When a lot of the bad parts of rap music/culture is what is mainstream and popular, this is bound to happen. Its hard for people to try to get into rap in the past 5-10 years when "sex, money, drugs and violence" is the first thing they see.
If the majority of a genre is composed of the same beat with barely intelligible words about how the rapper fucks bitches, takes drugs and makes money, then its obv going to be hard to get people to stay enough to find the ones they like.
You sure dont like when people diss rap
seems like this is more of a response to some kind of pseudo-critical trend (ie pop culture website clickbait think pieces like “have we reached ‘peak rap’?”) that gets picked up by people who have little domain knowledge or critical thinking skills but think that being contrarian makes them interesting.
disclaimer: idk anything about rap but i have seen this happen again and again with every subculture that goes mainstream in my 30 years of being an punk/alt rock lover
I think some if it as well, if I can add to your point is that you could read into the politics of it as a left/right or rural/urban cultural dominance thing since country seems to be the next big thing.
I think the overall culture is moving and this is just a canary in the coal mine. It’s a way to talk about it without talking about it and those kinds of articles are both a sign of the culture changing, and people trying to change the culture by raising the question.
Like I’m not particularly horny for rap (or country) but I think the actual larger thing is pretty interesting.
You’re right, it’s always people who don’t know much that want to critique.
kind of, but it's more of a response to how mainstream rap just isn't putting out good projects anymore. 21 savage, lil uzi vert, lil baby, young thug, drake, kanye, all of these artists used to put out consistent bangers, but they've all dropped duds in recent years, with no visible urge to put out anything better (drake you could argue against, but it's undeniable the quality of his music has declined since the 2010s). and then, as a result, people use that to push the "rap fatigue" message, saying people are getting tired of rap.
they point to this one stat in particular which happened about 2 months ago, where no rap songs charted in the top 40 of the billboard top 100, which hasn't happened since 1990. people try to use this to make a statement about rap as a genre, but it's really more of a statement about the decline of mainstream rap. people are tired of the same lackluster sounds from artists who are phoning it in.
Yeah I find this to be a weirdly un-relatable set of characteristics. Personally I see way more “boomer who thinks all rap is garbage bc he’s old and somewhat racist” (I’d like to add I go the even crazier take “I think there’s just no good and original music being made anymore” like two weeks ago at work💀💀)
Just because someone doesn’t like rap doesn’t mean they have NPC music taste?
i think the point is that people who have these un-nuanced opinions only have a surface level knowledge of music that’s based exclusively on trends that they just absorb from whoever is around them.
to be fair that’s how most people consume or derive culture, and most people who just absorb culture are self aware enough not to really have opinions on the subject. however those who do are pretty insufferable because their general dearth of curiosity, self-awareness, and critical thought leads to poorly formed opinions that are strongly defended yet loosely held.
So it seems to me that OP is thinking “they have no nuance about my music, so their music is NPC music!”
it specifically refers to music taste not the music itself.
Is that better?
I interpreted it as "ppl who think they're into rap, but listened to slop, got frustrated, and moved on thinking they're better than everyone"
Current rap is definitely NPC music. It's generic, lazily slapped together, uses annoying samples like squeaky chairs & fentanyl mumble lyrics. But they don't know good rap exists under the mainstream.
If you're wondering, I listen to Larry June & think 2008-2013 was peak rap. Mac miller, young Wiz, Cudi, Ross, Kid Ink, etc. Beats, raps & singing, collabs, samples, electronic synths all at their best.
Is fine to not like it but some people act like hip hop isn’t music or that there’s no good hip hop out there at all
Bro the top right of this starterpack says “npc music taste”
I think the “misunderstanding” comes more from you being purposefully obtuse due to op listing a genre of music you like
https://preview.redd.it/sjcrtqe4ct8g1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78c1a23e25af7ba2d99121f1d6e8039c4fe5c5f3
What’s the misunderstanding? Explain it to me?
A starter pack is all the things together, not cherry-picking one to get mad at. If you look at all the other pictures and the bottom right corner , these type of people op is describing only “liked” rap because it’s what was played on the radio. Now that it’s not they “like” the other genre because that’s what’s played on the radio. Hence “npc music taste” the type of person op is describing likes whatever is popular lmao it’s not because you don’t like rap
I didn’t make the starter pack
I'm really excited to hear your music recommendations, OP. What are you favorite tracks which aren't trendy or mainstream?
Alfredo 2, for a specific track its either Ensalada or Gold Feet.
I am familiar with Freddie Gibbs but missed this collab. Thanks for the recommendation.
Ensalada mentioned
https://preview.redd.it/w0k2tfk21u8g1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3bb980fbee4165a5f167fd909069bdb747883621
You know it's 20 minutes of some dude in a sweater and a baseball cap rambling about higher consciousness over jazz.
Earl Sweatshirt?
there is good rap that's neither making the charts nor a pile of pretentious crap. i don't fully agree with op, but he has a point or two, people don't have to hate on rap (and on people who don't like rap too tbh), maybe you just haven't found the project you'd like. or maybe rap just isn't your thing. either way, hardcore rap haters are weird asf
Quarter Zip Drip!
No, is a brother in a messanger cap rapping about pyramids
I’m curious about why this is bad
I was just glad to get a new Chief Kamachi album this year. The first new music from him in a decade. Godbody. My favorite track was the first and the last on the album. True poetry imo.
not op but the ug/rage/plugg scene is doing better than ever. che, luracks, smokedope2016, osamason, lil shine, 1oneam, tdf, smokingskul, xaviersobased, and prettifun have all had good albums out this year
Maybe they don’t have any. Maybe they like trendy mainstream rap and are tired of people giving them a hard time for it? Liking something mainstream isn’t a bad thing. Rap as a genre is the only genre that consistently looked down upon. It’s looked down upon by people who refuse to engage with it in any capacity. It’s even in this thread ironically.
Also I see someone recommended something to you. What did you think? Good, bad?
Any rapper who came up after 2010 can't rap, all they know is mumble, trap beat, make music video, and lie.
Back in my day rap was real, the rappers rumbled, had dre beat and made music video and lied.
/s
I do 100% think rap fatigue is setting in. You can only have a genre so popular for so long, and rap has had its day, come back, had another day, came back again and now it's properly gone.
I watched a video 2 days ago, according to it(totally accurate btw), this year was the first in 35 years that there wasn't a rap song in the billboard top 10 for a week. Which is kind of crazy, considering the only genre that's probably had a longer run is pop, which changes style all the time, so is it really one genre.
Hopefully we aren't in for a decade or two of country dominance, that might just drive me insane depending on which direction it takes.
It was actually the first week since 1990 where a rap song didn’t chart in the entire top 40.
Knew I was misquoting there, forgot billboard was the whole top 40 thing.
Weird to think that I've lived a whole life where rap has just been the genre. Aside from pop, the only genre I can think of to take second place is the emo boom of the 00s, which I was barely there for.
It's been all pop and rap
Top 40, as you know, and that was actually artificially caused. A new policy they implemented knocked out Luther by Kendrick Lamar off the top 40 by technicality, because it charted so long, it fell under a new rule that if a song has been charting for more than a certain amount of time, if it's outside the top 25, it gets knocked off the chart. Luther would have still been up there if they didn't implement that rule THAT week.
Which even then came after multiple rule changes over the years heavily prioritizing radio play over streams when it comes to billboard placement, when rap doesn’t get a lot of radio play compared to other genres and is mostly listened to through streaming
It's also really weird, because for radio, a song comes on, but when a song comes on streaming, unless it's free Spotify on mobile (i hate that), it's an active DECISION to put on a song.
You're a Fantano fan, aren't you
There is zero doubt in my mind. This dude watches him religiously
fantano has notoriously bad rap takes so I wouldn’t count on it tbh
If you think OP has a good take here, I have some unfortunate news for you
do speak your mind instead of being passive aggressive
It's a bad take. I thought my opinion was pretty clear
Nono what’s the unfortunate news
Somehow more annoying than the Reddit rap haters who would call Kendrick Lamar a “mumble rapper.”
Perpetuates racist stereotypes, I mean yeah a lot of rap xoes that on its own without needing outside help
Theres nothing wrong with disliking rap music.
I mean no, but it’s honestly a sizeable probability a rap hater is a racist
Depends on your reasoning
I agree with dinkle, depends on your reasoning
I’m just here for all the people that are going to act willfully obtuse like they do anytime rap is brought up lmao
already happening lmao
only proving op right. seeing lotsa
"finding ways to perpetuate racist stereotypes in their critique"
and "only pays attention to the worst aspects of rap culture" here
The only thing willfully obtuse is the people saying the scene is so good while apparently nothing is good enough to recommend.
“ Can't wait to still hear the same "I'm better than everyone because I have vapid and materialistic taste and I'm down to kill someone over the slightest perceived disrespect".
This is how you approach a topic in “good faith” and you’re surprised nobody takes your requests seriously lmao
I've been approaching in good faith for years and people give me good beats but the lyrics are still the same I know it's easy for me to say but I have genuinely tried.
I don't think making yourself out as a threat to society is cool and I probably never will, but you see it constantly in rap. It's to the point most people don't even think about it.
I just went out of my way to listen to 20 songs or so from OP's recommendation and they all have the same undertones of claiming to better than everyone and appealing to a machismo and ego that I just don't have anymore.
I find the idea of an artist justifying their self image via the cars they drive, jewelry they wear, and the threat they pose laughable.
it is honestly strange to say you don’t understand the value of an artist embodying in their work traits that are considered subversive, taboo, violent, or anti social. you hate horror movies and slashers too? metal? punk? outlaw country? pro wrestling kayfabe?
i think the problem is probably that you imagine rappers are too stupid to understand art and thus reject the notion that they are producing personas for the sake of their work like an actor does for a role. you figure they are just telling you plainly about their personal lives and values as though they aren’t musicians seeking to make interesting, evocative art.
anyways, if you’ve been trying unsuccessfully for literal years to find even a small handful of rap songs that aren’t all about drugs and murder and balenciaga or whatever, you’re simply not trying very hard.
No, punk and metal are some of my faves. Except of course, the ones that do the same thing as rap where being a killer is supposed to be cool or exciting. Examples include Five Finger Death Punch and the like.
I'm not saying a having a stage persona is bad or stupid or dishonest. Just that I find the stage persona they chose to be entirely distasteful and it doesn't seem ironic to me. But maybe I'm wrong.
guy who hasnt listened to the new saba record from march
It may shock you to know that people who have not yet gotten enjoyment from a music genre do not keep up with the latest releases.
I'll add it to the list, thanks very much.
specifically the one from march tho. the mixtape from october was trash
I really don't understand the general "you only know about the mainstream stuff" critique.
If I don't like what's presented as the best, showcase version of a genre, how is it on me to go exploring?
Like, are you supposed to go digging for the Appalachian Murder Ballad that's just right for you, once you've decided you don't like Appalachian Murder Ballads?
Do you have to keep trying opera until you've heard literally everything before you decide you're not into opera?
And how does "you're listening to what makes you feel special for listening to it" not apply to whatever unicorn-tears rap sub-genre OP decided is better?
Most of the time, it’s mainstream for a reason. It’s generally considered to be good. Maybe not revolutionary or experimental, but the average person will enjoy it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is odd when someone only listens to the top 50 songs at any given moment.
Mainstream and what's presented as the best are two separate things. Scorpion and ? are SUPER mainstream, but no one who listens to rap will say they're the best.
The Forever Story isn't very mainstream (judging by numbers, it does get its flowers in hiphop circles) , but it's arguably the best album (at least for Rap but I'd argue of all genres it still contends) of the 2020s.
You are 26 bro, be more self aware
As one philosopher once said, “rap is feces, for example”.
Bro doing a better job at setting up his own counter argument... against rap.
I just can't understand what they are saying due to an auditory processing issue. Then a popular thing to do is rap fast which then just sounds like someone speaking gibberish. I like the concept of MF DOOM, but I can't stand listening to it. Different strokes for different folks
i did not expect someone else here to also have auditory processing issues lol cuz i have it and all rap is mumble rap to me. any music with lyrics in general take up too much brain energy because it's all spent on trying to calculate what the hell is being said and no room for parsing what it means
That's interesting. I used to have a stronger auditory processing issue, but eventually adjusted to familiar music & grew.
Personally I never bothered with trying to understand lyrics, I just went with the overall feeling & vibe using a few words for context. One day it just clicked & music was easier to digest, but I still don't pay much attention.
Rammstein is a perfect example, had no freaken clue what they're saying, but still loved the vibes.
https://preview.redd.it/jm4el4qfbt8g1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=2789fc1b9f1c4472af7f5da4ac690845c1ccbb14
haha, not all of us. I have that same face cuz I'm zoning into the music during a good workout.
"it's too overstimulating"
Send me your top 10 favorite rap songs. Ill listen to em all. Thanks for the opportunity.
Funny how people say that yet genres like black metal exist
*Proceeds to listen to REAL music like 180bpm breakcore*
As a neurodivergent white guy
https://preview.redd.it/ak16lq937u8g1.png?width=222&format=png&auto=webp&s=f897a5dc16e26900604aabedd3763cc20f82c704
(It's just a personal preference)
As a 40-year-old fan of the genre I must say that unfortunately that attitude has gone back practically since the very invention of rap itself. I have bumped into several people who say shit like "Rappers Delight is the only rap song I like and it just all went downhill after that". Thank you for this. I'm pretty sure the majority of comments on this are or are going to be shitty, but this meme is cathartic.
I don't I like rap and I think they do bring out negative stereotypes and it is all they rap about. But if you like it that's fine, even if people like mainstream "npc" music who cares.
The thing is rappers are talking about how fucked it is to be put in the positions they are in. Nobody wants to stay in them, that is clear considering how quickly they stop doing the illegal shit when they make money off of raps.
So its bad to not like rap?
“Here’s a list of critiques of [thing] that I find silly”
“SO YOU CAN NEVER CRITIQUE [THING]?????!”
Is that what you understood from this starter pack?
It was pretty passive aggressive
The same way basically every starter pack is because that’s how the sub works, it only seems to be a “problem” because it’s about rap
Yeah. Don't like it when people make intentionally obtuse comments :)
Go ahead, hit me with some recommendations. Can't wait to still hear the same "I'm better than everyone because I have vapid and materialistic taste and I'm down to kill someone over the slightest perceived disrespect".
Comically validating op's point. You're clearly not asking in good faith, but I'll put these out here for anyone who's looking for music.
Injury Reserve - By the Time I Get To Phoenix
Sunmundi - Nature of My Nature
R.A.P. Ferreira - the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures
Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Dälek - From Filthy Tongues of Gods and Griots
I've been listening. Currently on Light Emitting Diamond.
Fucking FINALLY some good shit! God damn poetry so far. Thanks for showing me this stuff. I knew it was out there the braindead shit is so popular it's hard to get a search algo to show something written by a human being. Thanks again, I was losing hope and then OP's rec's left me with same macho bullshit just with actually unique backing tracks. Then you came in clutch. It's been years since I've had a rap playlist.
upvoted mainly for mentioning rap ferreira tbh
Try Larry June "still learning"
2008-2013 was peak rap IMO & he emulates it almost perfectly.
Sistanem, JID
Mother I Sober, Kendrick Lamar
Answer, Tyler
Birds Don't Sing, Clipse
Jesus Walks, Kanye (ik ik hes a controversial figure but he's a generational artist)
Dance With The Devil, Immortal Technique (WARNING, this song is heavy, and does still deal with gang violence and murder, just not in a braggadocious way, but an incredibly graphic, ugly telling of a disgusting real life event of a rape and murder)
I Gave You Power, Nas
idk what you like, but im assuming rock and metal or similar genres, you might like rap rock, like paris texas' "they left me with the sword" and "they left me with a gun" eps. or jpegmafia's stuff, there are some nasty riffs on some tracks on "scaring the hoes" and "i lay down my life for you" (the opening track goes the hardest imo). and i second the recs above, especially injury reserve, their lyricism is something else, hella unique sound too.
This is pretty much me except I’ve never been into it. The stuff I hear other people play or on the radio is very sex-money-violence which isn’t my bag. Anybody got any alt recs
I’d send you to earl sweatshirt’s lates project - very content and happy-with-life music
They tend to like conscience rap more and refer to it as real rap
Rap music was started by low income street kids who grew up in the ghetto. In the 80s, they figured out they could use their music for positive means like educating street kids to do better than falling into the poverty to prison trap.
Conscious rap as it was called was fairly punk rock. It was true counter-culture music.
Here's an example. Listen to the lyrics.
https://youtu.be/E7t8eoA_1jQ?si=50KTIqUIC3w2Nlpp
He's telling kids to get jobs instead of robbing people.
Here's an interview with Ice T talking about this stuff.
https://youtu.be/8k7E7zVAC54?si=SEQcGSAh06MWClDS
The corporate labels subverted rap music in the early 90s by marketing gangster rap towards the new market of suburban kids who loved the image but didn't know shit about street politics.
80s rap was fairly political, social, positive, and encouraged good values. The corporate industry shifted the entire culture to promote some of the worst values like greed, materialism, apathy, ignorance because they don't want low income people to do better. For the last like 35 years they've been conning poor people into acting like fools while filling prisons which conveniently make money for rich people.
As a Fr*nch, our rap just sucks, take all the 90's rap stuff that were cool back then, add some White guy who has never seen gang shit and looks like your friend's 8 years old brother Diclane with equivalent singing skills but with the "cool hip hop" beats and autotune, bonus points if you added the little weapon reloading sound.wav everyone used since 2002 and you get some top rappers of the country
Lmao someone’s mad someone likes a different genre of music better. Also, claims this group has “npc music taste” while simultaneously glazing and minimizing the faults of the genre that has been on the top 10 for most of the last 30 odd years.
Second dumbest comment section I’ve seen on reddit, I feel for you OP
Does this apply to people who didn't listen to Rap in the first place
Larry June. You're welcome.
Long live 2008-2013 rap. Fuck 90's Fuck 2015+
You know the starter pack is good when its full of defensive comments haha.
“You know something is good when people shit on it”
The comments not understanding the post 💔 it’s not about disliking rap it’s about how there’s alot of non black people who don’t actually give rap a chance and harshly criticize it. Many people dislike rap for having certain features but then listen to other genres who do the same thing. They indulge in genres that based in black culture (and usually performed by white people) but hate things like rap. Rap is diverse. Like every other genre. Reducing rap to being stupid and being about drugs, sex and violence doesn’t actually show that it’s understood. It’s just a surface level take.
People always say that while refusing to listen to underground rap I felt like I was going through that then a friend hooked me up with the new shit and I’m listening to music 24/7
The only rapper they like is Kendrick or Eminem
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what qualifies as actual music, if rap isn't actual music?
i know a good one
Agreed! This type is annoying and does not know shit about music
It's not "rap" fatigue I have. 🐵
Bro never listened to Owen Ovadoz
If someone doesn't like rap I don't trust them