Rap is what you see on TV. It’s what sells. For the most part it’s blacks acting out a stereotype. It’s blacks killing each other, doing dugs, and degrading themselves to make buck. After all, isn’t that what mainstream likes to see? Stereotypes acted out.

Hip-Hop is art. It’s poetry set to rhythm. Hip-Hop Artists tend to speak on much serious topics than how much money they have and what type of car they drive. Consequently, they don’t get airtime. Talking about politics and social ills aren’t going to get you heard by mainstream. Hip-Hop is more focused on the artistic side.

I just thought somebody who has actually submersed themselves in the music should clear that up for you.

Also if you don’t know about something you probably shouldn’t speak on it. I know nothing on chemical engineering so I don’t alk about it. Just a suggestion

This is also to say, the rapper must surely have the beat and hear the rhythm of words in order comprehend LANGUAGE (which is also not taught to him in his culture… by the schools, for example).

So: In addition to RAP (spoken rhythm) there exists lyrical rap (rap poetry, which may be no more or less than grunting — emotions set to a beat). And in such a case, you solidly arrive at the “foundation” of rap … tribal dancing, or animism (to animate matter by imitating it, a rain dance, for instance). In this way, rap becomes the IMITATION of sound.

Perhaps then you have bitching (women who repeat words without listening to the meaning of them)… or “bum rap” (probably a reference to the repetative sounds of one’s Miranda Rights being read to them when they are being arrested and the feeling of meaninglessness this might inspire).

Rap has come to mean more than bitching, though (not withstanding the fact that “bitching” seems to adequately sum up what empoverished African Americans [and other repressed cultures, including women and convicts] might do so as to insure their rights). It has come to signify “wrapping up” a matter (putting a beginning and end to it, and tying a bow on top). This is to say: The success of rap (as an art form) suggests that empoverished people everywhere can now look forward to “affirmative action” (defined — the positive effect of bringing cause, via reason, to the public consciousness).

In this progression, rap becomes another name for communication (spoken word). Our search for the tradition of music can now further be traced to preaching… even Gregorian Chanting and / or the orations of a High Priest (Egyptian, and prior).

This understanding does suggest that the worship of a High Priest preceded animism* (that the king was worshipped before people started worshipping animals and trees), and further suggests how the failure of a king to secure food for the tribe might have led to his demise. And though this might seem irrelevant to the unfolding of our topic; my assertion that Eminem is the (literal) King of the World is explained thus: Eminem has resurrected the tradition of the High Priest through his recreation of music from the ground up.

Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.

*see King of the Woods, Frazer (The Golden Bough)

God I love that quote!