MARKEEFE@aol.com
Fri, 4 Dec 1998 02:32:27 EST
In a message dated 12/3/98 9:10:23 PM, you wrote:
<< What exactly is Rap? >>
Well, this is definitely an interesting academic argument to investigate.
Yes, certainly, with almost any form of expression, the rigid definitions of
labels usually only apply accurately to the unimaginative dross that rides on
the coat-tails of that which is truly artful. Such is probably also the case
with rap. And, while I can observe the subtle differences amongst styles of
rapping, the general rhythm of rapping (and toasting!) just bugs me, in the
same way that fusion guitar playing in jazz generally bugs me, while be-bop
style guitar playing can be wonderful.
But if there are vocalists out there who challenge the boundaries of
rapping so fiercely that it no longer seems like rapping (if it only vaguely
referenced rapping), then maybe I'd like that . . . but then maybe it wouldn't
be rapping anymore. Or maybe it would be. I'd be happy not to call rapping
rapping and not to call trip-hop trip-hop. But we have shorthand notations in
our language for a reason: to help communicate. Maybe the use of the word
"trip-hop" in this case only hinders use of communication. Maybe "rapping"
does this, too. I think that the more a person knows about a subject, the
less meaningful the jargon applied to that subject becomes. Words like "trip-
hop" and "rapping" do, however, give some people something to hold onto.
Still, on this list, they probably serve only to over-generalize and, thereby,
confuse.
In that case, I'm interested in music that sounds as close to DJ
Shadow's "Endtroducing" as possible, and I particularly wish to avoid any
vocal styles which resemble those of Mike D or Eazy-E or Ice Cube (as a few
examples that immediately spring to mind) and which, if they exist at all,
might be more readily likened to those vocals found on records by artists like
Portishead or Tricky (yeah, if any of those vocals could be considered
rapping, then they're all right by me).
If anyone has anything to recommend, that would be really cool.
-----Michael K.
seen?
80M
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