Dominion Strategy Forum

Miscellaneous => General Discussion => Topic started by: Roadrunner7671 on September 13, 2016, 10:16:50 pm

Title: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on September 13, 2016, 10:16:50 pm
So we talked about rap for about a second in Random Stuff III. It was suggested that a RSP thread be made. I don't actually think we need to go to RSP. We need more RAP and less RSP!

Anyway, a few general questions:

1. Is there such thing as good rap?
2. What makes rap goods? The lyrics? The video? The voice/artist? The beat? A combination?
3. What are some rap songs you listen to that would you consider 'good?'
4. Is there amy rap that you consider 'bad' but still enjoy listening to?

I'm going to tackle question four and post a few rap songs that I regularly listen to:

Coolio-Gangster's Paradise
A little bit of Rae Sremmurd
Some Waka Flocka Flame
T.I
Future I guess
50 Cent
Kendrick Lamar
DJ Khaled
Tyja
Denzel Curry
Keven Gates


I think all of those besides Coolio are 'bad.' You could make a case for a few of them but it wouldn't be super strong. However, I still enjoy listening to all of the above.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: LibraryAdventurer on September 13, 2016, 10:21:10 pm
When I saw the subject and who posted it, I was sure you were going to protest about Scout getting a bad rap.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Chris is me on September 13, 2016, 10:33:02 pm
Even notably "bad" rap has a lot of value. Have you ever listened to Lil' Wayne? Every single line is just absolutely terrible puns and word play. It's great.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on September 13, 2016, 10:54:23 pm
Even notably "bad" rap has a lot of value. Have you ever listened to Lil' Wayne? Every single line is just absolutely terrible puns and word play. It's great.
That's a pretty good example. I agree, I like the lyrics. They're funny and witty. But I can't stand his voice. So I don't listen to him
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: jsh357 on September 13, 2016, 11:20:58 pm
1-2,4: Who cares, just listen to music you like and don't worry about it.
3: The OG, and the greatest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMBxlu62c0
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: sudgy on September 13, 2016, 11:58:06 pm
I personally feel like good rap is a combination of good lyrics and a good rapper.  Some rap (which I feel like is more popular) is really slow and the voices just sound weird.  However, when get some guy blazing through great lyrics and you can still understand them, I feel like it's good.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: ConMan on September 14, 2016, 12:36:00 am
Andrew Huang is great at both good rap and good bad rap, which he mostly achieves through puns and clever wordplay although he also has the skill to rap really fast. I think it also helps that he has a strong background in many genres of music, so he can borrow what he knows in non-rap styles to boost his rap.

http://youtu.be/JKfAMyJAT64
https://youtu.be/K_F2ByljLtc
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: LaLight on September 14, 2016, 02:14:03 am
Every rap is perfect compared to russian one guys. You've to believe me.

I love Outkast and Eminem a lot.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: ConMan on September 14, 2016, 03:17:14 am
Every rap is perfect compared to russian one guys. You've to believe me.

I love Outkast and Eminem a lot.
I've heard that the easiest way to clear a dancefloor is to start playing Czech crunk.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Chris is me on September 14, 2016, 08:29:35 am
One of the examples of good lyricism and wordplay from this Huang guy you linked to is literally a Kanye West cover? And yeah, Kanye is a great lyricist, and does the whole bravado game well. There's a reason he plays up his reputation as a cocky asshole; it's part of his rap persona and it makes his music better.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: drsteelhammer on September 14, 2016, 01:25:57 pm
Calling Kendrick Lamar bad is funny to me :)
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: schadd on September 14, 2016, 06:47:08 pm
beck won a grammy but it wasn't for one of the rappy ones unfortunately
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: ConMan on September 14, 2016, 07:12:41 pm
One of the examples of good lyricism and wordplay from this Huang guy you linked to is literally a Kanye West cover? And yeah, Kanye is a great lyricist, and does the whole bravado game well. There's a reason he plays up his reputation as a cocky asshole; it's part of his rap persona and it makes his music better.
I freely admit I linked a Kanye cover, more for his interpretation and arrangement. Also because I threw it in there while looking for raps he actually wrote himself and didn't bother taking it out.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Seprix on September 14, 2016, 07:14:25 pm
You can never go wrong with DJ Khaled.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: J Reggie on September 14, 2016, 08:33:06 pm
If you're a fan of bad rap or like making fun of it, you need to check out GMCfosho. He's the guy who did imdabes, in case any of you know that video. He's basically a parody of bad rappers. He makes songs that are a mix of so bad it's good and actually good.

Here's my favorite song of his: https://youtu.be/dwwewgHK9VI
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Seprix on September 14, 2016, 09:05:36 pm
That was a great song.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: DG on September 14, 2016, 10:04:01 pm
I will offer this bad rap and I certainly don't enjoy it.

https://youtu.be/BsyHQgiem8c

As one of the older posters on the forum, I feel unashamed in saying that rap ruins a vast swathe of music for me. It was fine when people like Gil Scott Heron had something articulate to say but I intensely dislike the common rap style of narcissistic self aggrandizement. Too many songs with good riffs (usually sampled) and great female vocals were ruined by some twerp boasting away as if he's god's gift to music. I felt that a large proportion of rap was created to culturally exclude people like myself so in that sense it succeeded. Also as a British guy I felt there was nothing worse than British kids with a gangsta attitude thinking they were 'all that' in their stupid 'designer' sportswear. Rant over. I felt like someone had to say it.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: kieranmillar on September 15, 2016, 03:01:58 am
I think bad rap gets a bad rap.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Awaclus on September 15, 2016, 04:32:45 am
I think bad rap gets a bad rap.

This is only the third time I've seen this joke on this forum this week.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: drsteelhammer on September 15, 2016, 06:07:31 am
I think bad rap gets a bad rap.

This is only the third time I've seen this joke on this forum this week.

So only 87-90 more times until f.ds gets sick of it?
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Chris is me on September 15, 2016, 08:14:35 am
I think bad rap gets a bad rap.

This is only the third time I've seen this joke on this forum this week.

So only 87-90 more times until f.ds gets sick of it?

Let's make a bracket to decide, because bad rap jokes are far more skippable than people think. They're Da Bomb, and there's been a real decline in civility on this forum (and Isotropic) these days. Mine and Mint are often mixed up.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: J Reggie on September 15, 2016, 09:58:34 am
I think bad rap gets a bad rap.

This is only the third time I've seen this joke on this forum this week.

So only 87-90 more times until f.ds gets sick of it?

Let's make a bracket to decide, because bad rap jokes are far more skippable than people think. They're Da Bomb, and there's been a real decline in civility on this forum (and Isotropic) these days. Mine and Mint are often mixed up.

I think bad rap gets a bad moat.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Witherweaver on September 15, 2016, 10:04:50 am
It's not a rap but I just feel compelled to post it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ctK1aoWuqY
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: mcmcsalot on March 21, 2017, 02:13:58 pm
So I understand I am necromacing this thread from quite awhile ago but I'm bored.

I realized this was a pretty long post and felt the need to toss a disclaimer up here that some of the songs discussed below are explicit and almost all have adult themes, as such they should be listened to with appropriate discretion.

I think the questions posed in the op are actually pretty interesting. First off I don't really think there is such a thing as "good" or "bad" music. Obviously there is a collective taste that the audience of a genre of music enjoys and that is usually what determines a "good" song from a "bad" one. As far as rap goes in the past lyricism was king, poetry put to a tune. But in current days beat fetishism has taken over mainstream rap and it's mostly about production value and beats that "move" you.

My favorite rapper and one who I think does a good job of blendig clever poetic lyrics with really diverse beats is childish gambino. It's infortunate his sophomore album "because the internet" is his most popular because camp and awaken my love are both clearly albums he spent more time with and poured more of himself into. Redbone/california/zombies are really really fun songs that can really work their way inside your head and make you never want to stop listening, they also have a very gorillaz vibe to them if you liked them.

B.o.b. Is also a really good example of a poetic diverse rapper who has everything from club bangers like "bands" to introspective ballads like bob vs. bobby ray.

As for "bad" rap I guess Big baby dram comes to mind. Broccoli and cash machine are songs that are really fun to listen to and have catchy beats that make you wanna move but the beats don't have any real progression to them nor do the lyrics have any meaning to them whatsoever.

Lastly if your a fan of early 2000's rap at all T-pains NPR tiny desk concert on YouTube is a MUST WATCH I'm not going to spoil anything but really go listen to it.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Doom_Shark on March 23, 2017, 12:11:24 am
I dislike the lyrics of most rap songs. That and the voices of a lot of rappers are crap. And I find the beats way too aggressive.
I will get a lot of hate for this, but the only rap songs I actually enjoy are a couple youtubers and Lin-Manuel Miranda (read: Hamilton)
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: mcmcsalot on March 23, 2017, 07:23:57 am
I dislike the lyrics of most rap songs. That and the voices of a lot of rappers are crap. And I find the beats way too aggressive.
I will get a lot of hate for this, but the only rap songs I actually enjoy are a couple youtubers and Lin-Manuel Miranda (read: Hamilton)

Well its pretty hard to give you anything that will stand up to what is one of the best musicals of our generation...but if you like hamilton you are looking for a wordplay flow and softer orchestral beats. I would suggest artists like watsky and Logic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO8v1iWVTIM - Watsky, Wounded Healer is an amazing example of his lyricsm and has a softer/emotional story to go with it. I would also see Tiny Glowing Screens Pt. 2, and Woah Woah Woah(has a cool bo burnham cameo).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFt0tO4Op14 - Logic, Man of the Year has an amazing beat produced by No I.D. who is legendary in the world of producers. I would also give Till the end a chance, everything he does has really personal meaningful lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-buh95_zRU - Childish Gambino, Break(All of the Lights), This should satisfy your want for more orchestral beats. Its Donald Glovers remix of Kanye West's All of the Lights. I have always felt Kanye is one of the most talented producers out there but has had terrible storytelling/flow for the last 3 albums. So with this you get an amazing producer and amazing lyricist.
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: AndrewisFTTW on March 26, 2017, 02:42:34 am
Ok. Step one: turn off that shit on the radio. Step two:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq8hrg4rO2g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P800UWoE9xs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj-vPcCfQ6k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nb3YEEc5is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V3CVnMVVW8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co3qMdkucM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjd7EbUUds8
Title: Re: 'Bad' Rap
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on March 26, 2017, 09:02:34 pm
I thought childish gambino was little b the based god and I thought mcmcsalot was really...odd.