Reply #277: I'd rather go there than debate whether or not rap is music...

[PurpleChez]

I didn't want to get into music, which is a matter of personal taste. I wanted to talk about the culture and one of the major aspects of that is the tolerance, even celebration, of "Thug Culture" and "Gangsta Culture" as being somehow the epitome of African American Culture. I also think that some people are unwilling to scrutinize hip hop as closely as they would other genres. If I put up a post that asked "What's wrong with Cock Rock" or "Why do Hair Bands suck?" i would get a few objections from fans of those genres but, on the whole, others would feel comfortable saying what they felt. But when it comes to rap, even the most valid critique is likely to get someone labeled a "hater" or even as "hating African-American Culture" -- and, yes, both accusations are made elsewhere in this thread. Rap is not sacred...it is at least as worthy of critique as any other art form.