Rap is one of the most controversial genres of music. There is no question about it. Frequently, you will hear talk about how rap is very derogatory towards woman, about how rappers rap about drugs, money, and sex, and about how rap is basically all the same no matter who sings it. I'm here to clear the air about the last part. Do rappers make derogatory statements towards women? Yes. Do they rap a lot about drugs, money, and sex? Yes. But not all rap is the same.
There are two different types of rappers and rap these days. First there is the nonsense, no logic, hype rap. This type of rap has no meaning, and it is meant mainly as hype music. This type of rap usually sits at the tops of charts, along with being played on the radio every five minutes. This kind of rap can sound like rambling. When you hear, "All rap is people talking about drugs, money, and sex," this is the type of rap they are talking about.
A few of the main big name artists in this category are Migos, Chief Keef, Future, Meek Mill, Rae Shremmurd, French Montana, and last but not least Drake. Yes, your beloved Drake. Personally, I am a guilty fan of Drake, but as a fan I can admit that his music is mainly all hype. "Started From the Bottom" is a song where he says, "Started from the bottom now we here," for about 3/4 of the song. It is not rap; it is something that will play continuously on the radio. Drake is known as a corny rapper who puts phrases together that sound catchy enough to be overplayed. He, along with many other rappers, fits under the section of pure hype music.
The second type of rap features artists who share stories, talk about real life issues, and paint a picture in your head. These are the artists who are not rapping to make millions of dollars, or to hear their songs played on the radio millions of times. These artists care about what they are writing, and take their time in putting the most effort into what they produce. Guys like Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Tupac Shakur, Logic, and J. Cole all fit the bill.
Kendrick Lamar's "Blacker the Berry" was a song featured on his last album To Pimp a Butterfly. The song deals with hatred, racism, and hypocrisy throughout. One of his best lines is, "Or eat watermelon, chicken, and Kool-Aid on weekdays. Or jump high enough to get Michael Jordan endorsements. Or watch BET cause urban support is important." He talks about the racial stereotypes that need to be destroyed in our today's culture. He is not rambling, but rather he is preaching and speaking his mind.
The difference in rap is evident. Not all rap is the same. Open up your ears and maybe you'll see for yourself what I'm talking about.
