Somebody explain something about rap to me.

Smiling Tiger® · 2014-05-19T00:20:21.798Z

I've tried to sing, and I can't do it, because it requires talent, of which apparently I have none, and professional training and hours of practice if you're gonna pursue it professionally. I've never tried to rap, however, I can't imagine it requiring any real talent at all, much less training, or practice besides memorizing the words. I'm pretty sure I could do it as good as anybody. I'm pretty sure almost anybody could do it. What am I missing?

unbelievable voices who do amazing, heartfelt covers of great songs. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing you don't have the natural gift that would allow you to do that. Remember Whitney Houston's National Anthem a few years back? That takes talent.

I'd rather listen to Lassie bark than listen to someone like, for instance, Celine Dion. However, It would be absurd to suggest that she doesn't have a tremendous gift and immense talent as a performer. Relatively speaking, there are very few people who can do what she does as well as she does it, even with unlimited practice and training.

On the other hand, I don't see anything about a lot of rap (like the Kanye West clip above) that couldn't be replicated by, relatively speaking, a vastly greater number of people. I just think there are millions of people, who with very little training, could pull it off. It doesn't take anywhere near the level of talent as the examples given above.

Again, just my opinion, but there are good singers who don't have great voices, particularly in Rock music, but still have a great deal more talent than rappers who never or rarely have to carry a tune. Singers have to have the timing and rhythm just like rappers, but they have to carry a tune on top of it, which is much more difficult and rules out a lot of people.

I agree that rap is more about the quality of the words than the quality they are presented. That is kind of my point.

deweather

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Kanye is a bad example

May 19, 2014, 12:24 AM

his genius or talent is more in producing (the music bit) and overall ideas. Few find his lyrics great.

Whitney's anthem was great, but there is a STRONG argument it was taken to the next level by the context in which it was performed. She was but a part of the overall production. And no, I can't sing worth a lick. (Can't rap either)

I think the confusion is in the comparison of singing to rap. They are both separate art forms that exist in a similar medium. It's like comparing a stringed instrument(say a guitar) and a percussion instrument(say a drum), both have very different sounds and talent basis to perform them correctly. They compliment one another nicely though and are found so often performing together in everything from an orchestra to a garage band. It's why so many songs today also feature both a singer and a rapper (they are different, but compliment one another)

I think so many think they can rap, just like many think they can sing. The truth is it's not as easy as it might seem. I would argue that in both cases, luck plays a huge role in success.

carrying a tune and having a flow is similar in my opinion. If you are out of tune or off flow, it's going to sound horrible. I will concede though, that if you are out of tune, rarely will can you still make it unless you try to make that part of the act (yoko ono) whereas many rappers, unfortunately can make it without having good flow (mase back in the 90s, and drake more recently). But like with pop singers, their success is more about marketing than talent.

Something different:

Check out some freestyle stuff, it's beyond impressive (even my 64 year old father thinks the freestyle stuff is amazing considering it's all impromptu)
(or just watch 8mile for the hollywood version, lol)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUcJRKVuPak

I will say, I defend rap, but I'm not the biggest fan of it. Like jazz, I respect it more than I actually enjoy listening to it.

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Somebody explain something about rap to me.

it might have something to do with the culture

I'm sure the culture I was raised in has everything to do

I refuse to defend rap-type music, but I would say

Okay - so it takes some rhythm. Check - I think I've got

I'm 100% positive you don't***

That would not take an extraordinary amount of rhythm at all

Okay, film a video of yourself rapping and prove me wrong***

I don't have to prove anything, besides, being a 55 year-old

Many rappers are hated for their "flow"

"Flow" - now that's funny.***

I'm guessing just as many people can sing well as can rap well

And that is where we disagree.***

Rap sucks! Case closed. Checkmate etc! ****

Do you think you could just write great poetry? or a book?

No, I don't think I could just write great poetry or a book.

The idea is that they wrote the words and produced the music

Just my opinion, but I think there are great singers with

Kanye is a bad example

Re: Somebody explain something about rap to me.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain country&western***

#whitepeopleproblems

It's amazing, how in spite of repeated, consistent efforts

You don't have to have talent to rap.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OLD TIMEY SOUTHERN GOSPEL RAP?!!?!?***

Re: BUT WHAT ABOUT OLD TIMEY SOUTHERN GOSPEL RAP?!!?!?***

NIce try.

If it's all that easy, seems like you should be moving in

I have the "talent" without a doubt, but could never pull

My guess is you don't have the "talent"

Let me put it this way.

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