Tag Archive: rap


The Music of Today

The year is 1791. In a small room in Vienna, a man paces back and forth with papers strewn about. This man is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and he is spending his last days on Earth composing his Requiem, which would go on to be regarded as one of the best pieces of classical music ever composed. Only seventeen years later, Beethoven unleashes his famous masterpiece, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, upon the world.

Now jump forward to the 1960’s, when The Beatles explode in America and the UK. Week after week, month after month, they would continue to release hit after hit, constantly topping the charts. In ’71 Led Zeppelin released Stairway to Heaven, which would go on to become a classic rock staple. In ’75 Queen released Bohemian Rhapsody. By the ‘80s, there was so much unbelievable music; alternative rock was becoming mainstream, and even the punk scene was rockin’.

But now where are we? Music nowadays takes no talent. Record labels search for the bands that the kids will be sure to like. The charts are dominated by rappers whose lyrical focus only seems to be ‘whips, cash, hoes and booty’. Of course, there is always Hot Topic’s newest fad. If it can make the kids feel cool—they’ll buy it.

Bands these days only seem to have the capacity to write lyrics about three things: overused love scenarios, death, and depression; whatever makes all the kids in the suburbs feel like their life is some kind of mess, or that they are suffering more than anyone could ever understand! Musical groups find three chords and ride them to fame; drummers play a simple beat, and the vocals yelp out a horrid wail into your ears. Even crazy metalcore bands get to pass their drums pounding away with no rhythm and their screaming, cacophonous, dissonant singing about murder for talent.

Even in the past there was bad music. Today great music is still being created, but it is so few and far between the piles of garbage that anyone could come to this conclusion: “The ‘00s will be a huge gap in musical history.”

-FRUIT

Rap – A Load of Crap

Today’s music consists of many different styles and genres. One of the biggies is definitely the genre known as Rap. 

Rap, along with hip-hop and r&b of the sort, has planted its name in the current generation of music. Just walking down the hallway of a high school, one is probably bound to run into some cacophony of strong, rhythmic lyrics and a booming bass (that is, when he or she is not walking near a headbanger with a pair of loud headphones). If not in the form of overblown iPods, the very act of rapping can be heard in a multitude of places, from walking down the streets to the middle of gym class.

But what is it about this style of music that captivates so many young adults these days? Is it the ongoing beat throughout each song? Is it the eccentricity of the lyrics? Or does the music somehow speak to the listener through the creations of the artist?

Here is my humble opinion as a fellow musician and listener: rap is a load of crap. Not that I believe the lyrics are untrue in any sense, but that the diversity that I look for in music is not what I would find in a rap song. The music that I listen to varies from classical to alternative. In all the songs that I enjoy, the expression that I feel from the artist is indescribable. However, the way in which the artist does this is what I’m amazed by. What I look for when exploring new forms of expressions is dramatic changes in key, chords, structures, and melodies. What I find when I listen to almost any rap song is a simple, 2-3 riff change with some clever words (that pretty much talk only about sex, drugs, gangsters, and betrayals). The very format just seems so irritating to me. It’s so repetitive, with few varying melodic changes and no traditional or original climax at all. This can also be said about minimalist music (a classical genre that is not so successful in our generation because of this very reason). The odd thing about this is that these two styles have the same structure, but one is so much more recognized than the other. I must suppose that the lyrics must be the source of this fandom, because the instruments (or should I say, drum machine) do not bring forth what seems necessary for adequate entertainment. The worst part is, the very source of my discontent is the lyrics. I just hate having to listen to the same thing over and over again with each song, about falling in love with a stripper and life as a P.I.M.P.

Therefore, I do not intend to give lenience on my already low appreciation for rap anytime soon, but if there is anyone that can debate on the matter, I will gladly hear his or her voice.

This is my youth’s voice. What’s yours?

-Iron Man

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