I hate this idea that rap is all about being "emotional"

[Blu]

Yeah, those get annoying as well. None of that takes creativity, it just takes a remote control or whatever to find shit to reference. I think what everyone's trying to say is that people like to make a certain type of rap into what rap should be, they box it in based on how it makes you feel or whatever (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, a lot of the time), instead of judging how creative the lyrics are. I wouldn't know though, I've not really read through the thread.

That's exactly what I'm trying to say.

If you're a rapper, you're free to make whatever songs you'd want to, but don't just take the easy route and try to sound all disturbed and depressed. You will without a doubt, undoubtedly, have a short-lived "career."

Why waste your time writing about topics that have already been done a thousand times before? Use your creativity.

[Eedee]

The majority of "internet rappers" even start rapping is because they need a way to vent/let out thoughts and emotions and rap helps them do that. Lyrics and rhyming is a way to get your thoughts out on paper during a hard time. That's why there's a lot of emotional tracks. Hell, 80% of my shit is emotional, and I don't care lol It's what I'm feeling at the time and I wanna get it out. If people connect, awesome, if not, I'll have that song for me. It's whatever, really.

Yes, rappers should be versatile and cover a wide range of topics/concepts. But having emotional songs isn't a bad thing.

[Blu]

I understand that. But some rappers don't make the emotional songs for themselves, they do it strictly for their audience. That's who I'm pointing fingers at lol.

[12characters]

How do you know it's not just because they're expressing themselves? If you're good at it, why does it even matter?

[AbramIsaac]

It's all about whether or not you're doing it in an interesting way. Blu is also talking about the perception that people sometimes hold that these guys making emotional music is superior to someone making non-emotional music. Creatively, it's often easier to make a song inspired by stronger emotions, and those songs often get a better reaction, so it can be a lazy tactic if it's done to target the fans.

That's all he's saying. He's not saying that emotional songs are bad, or that the artists that make them are either.

[12characters]

It's all about whether or not you're doing it in an interesting way. Blu is also talking about the perception that people sometimes hold that these guys making emotional music is superior to someone making non-emotional music. Creatively, it's often easier to make a song inspired by stronger emotions, and those songs often get a better reaction, so it can be a lazy tactic if it's done to target the fans.

That's all he's saying. He's not saying that emotional songs are bad, or that the artists that make them are either.

But longevity was also brought into this. We're no longer just discussing artistic integrity. If you're trying to get fans, what's wrong with making music that will get you fans?

[CrashBand]

It's certainly a great skill if you are able to get many people relate to your work and make it a good verse technically.

Kinda like situational comedy. The "ah, that's so fucking true".

One of my favourite lines that I relate to is:

"there ain't enough hours in the day to do nothing in" - Cruger

And the entire Lights Please by J. Cole (which of course is a concept as well).

But I think EmBase and Blu are a bit guilty of dismissing the ability to get people to relate well to your songs - it's still a skill.

[AbramIsaac]

But longevity was also brought into this. We're no longer just discussing artistic integrity. If you're trying to get fans, what's wrong with making music that will get you fans?

There's nothing wrong with trying to make music to get fans. It has less to do with the actions of an artist, and more to do with the overall perception that emotional music is superior because it elicits a response more readily from the listener. People can and should make and listen to whatever type of song they want to, Blu is just pointing out the fallacy in the comparisons that people sometimes make based solely on whether or not an artist makes more emotional songs than another.

[King Lance]

[12characters]

But longevity was also brought into this. We're no longer just discussing artistic integrity. If you're trying to get fans, what's wrong with making music that will get you fans?

There's nothing wrong with trying to make music to get fans. It has less to do with the actions of an artist, and more to do with the overall perception that emotional music is superior because it elicits a response more readily from the listener. People can and should make and listen to whatever type of song they want to, Blu is just pointing out the fallacy in the comparisons that people sometimes make based solely on whether or not an artist makes more emotional songs than another.

Aren't their fallacies like that with almost any type of music?

[AbramIsaac]

You mean in rap specifically? As in, their are those that think rap is all about multies, or all about beats, etc?

Yep, that argument can definitely be applied to any aspect of rap music. Criticizing that attitude applies to anyone that makes a sweeping statement or attitude about the genre and who's superior based on a single aspect of the music, this is true.

The "emotionalz is better" bit is more ubiquitous though, right now especially. That's why it was brought up. Two years ago on this site, all people talked about were multis, and this thread would have happened then with the same type of discussion going on, with "being emotional" substituted with "mindless multies".

It goes further than that, but I think that's the most direct way to address your question.

[12characters]

Because of Youtube comments? I admire Blu's effort to contribute to site that was dying, but I'm really curious as to why this is a big deal. Did I miss an argument?

[AbramIsaac]

YouTube comments are an indication of this pervasive attitude among some rap and hip hop fans.

He's just ranting about it.

[EminemBase]

But I think EmBase and Blu are a bit guilty of dismissing the ability to get people to relate well to your songs - it's still a skill.

I don't think it's hard at all.

Pick something you've been through...

Death of a loved one.

Depression.

Trying to beat all odds.

These are things WE ALL go through, and if you write something clear and expressive (just has to be understood) concerning any of these kinds of themes, and are in the public eye, lots of stupid people will fawn over your 'depth' and 'writing real shit', even if it's mediocre and contains no artful elements. It's not easy to write it very well, or make art out of it ("The Way I Am"), and the better you write it means the more engaging it is; but a lot of writers / rappers get credit from people for the simple fact of writing about these things, even when the lyrics are terrible. But 'it's deep man'.

As long as you can express yourself, even on a basic level. If you can communicate the fact you've had a bad day, people will relate to, simply because they have bad days, and think similar to what you wrote. That in itself is very easy and the least creative route for material.

I think stupid people aren't used to analyzing themselves very much so when they hear a thought about depression expressed in a lyric, even badly, they give it more praise than its due lmao.

[Slim Fiasco]

Rap is about being creative.