The "N Word" in Music

[Future17]

I'm a big fan of rap, hip-hop and other similar genres and have been since I was young. I'm white and I've always been aware of the sensitivity of the "N word", but I've also often wondered whether black artists who use that word in their lyrics have any particular expectations of how non-black fans will engage with their music.

For me, the use of the "N word" alone doesn't change how I feel about listening to a song, but there's always the dilemma of what to do when singing along. The story below brought this back into my mind when I read it yesterday, so I thought I'd canvass fellow posters on what they do, or what they feel the right thing to do is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-53930544

[Berwickhibby]

I'm a big fan of rap, hip-hop and other similar genres and have been since I was young. I'm white and I've always been aware of the sensitivity of the "N word", but I've also often wondered whether black artists who use that word in their lyrics have any particular expectations of how non-black fans will engage with their music.

For me, the use of the "N word" alone doesn't change how I feel about listening to a song, but there's always the dilemma of what to do when singing along. The story below brought this back into my mind when I read it yesterday, so I thought I'd canvass fellow posters on what they do, or what they feel the right thing to do is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-53930544

I tend to buy only radio edit tracks and that word is edited out

[Northernhibee]

If it's singing along then I'd say it's fine, the word by the artist has been repurposed into a positive connotation. It's being used in the manner in which they intended.

[EAZY-ME]

I still listen to Eazy E and NWA.... you can't rap along and not use the word.... the problem is how the word is used. Originally it was a slur to put black people down. Now some black people and whites may i add use the word in a friendly way. It can be used to greet a friend or talk about other friends.... kind of like the c word in scotland. We used to say things like where is every c tonight . Or "na it was ***** nae c turned up".......if your friendly and in that circle the word ni**as ok but the word with er on the end is most definitely not

[Sir David Gray]

I think it's all about context, the artist has used the word in their lyrics (whether they should have done so is another matter) so they should expect their fans to use that word when rapping to their music.

Using the word outside of that setting is totally off limits as far as I'm concerned. I'd say I've got a higher tolerance than most people on here when it comes to what I'd consider to be racism but I'd never dream of calling someone that in "real life".

[JeMeSouviens]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44209119

[Vault Boy]

I personally find it easy to just skip the word, even if I'm 'rapping' (wouldn't call what I do rapping) along to it at a party or something. Doesn't diminish my experience of the music and I can understand why some artists want to claim that word in their art.

On the topic, who are some of the best rap artists around right now? I really like Kendrick Lemar, but must admit it's not a genre I listen to often.

[Sir David Gray]

I personally find it easy to just skip the word, even if I'm 'rapping' (wouldn't call what I do rapping) along to it at a party or something. Doesn't diminish my experience of the music and I can understand why some artists want to claim that word in their art.

On the topic, who are some of the best rap artists around right now? I really like Kendrick Lemar, but must admit it's not a genre I listen to often.

Eminem without a shadow of a doubt is the GOAT.

I know you meant the best who are currently making new music but I just wanted to get that in there.

[Berwickhibby]

As the word is offensive....surely the answer would be to ban it

[EAZY-ME]

Eminem without a shadow of a doubt is the GOAT.

I know you meant the best who are currently making new music but I just wanted to get that in there.

Eminem and joyner lucas are quite good together..... joyner has a great song called im not racist..... its a brilliant video with a black guy and a white guy ...... just watch the video it's brilliant

[nairn hibee]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clash

[Kato]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clashSubjective. And I doubt The Clash would agree with you.

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[Berwickhibby]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clash

Post of the day 😁 Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon ...Britains best band ever

[AT8]

While I think the "n" word should be banned altogether, the overall concern regarding rap is the content of the lyrics. Is it any wonder that biggest danger to young black men is in fact, other young black men when they listen to their idols glorify crime and murder?

I was made aware this week of a song that's currently riding high on the hit parade by an artist named Cardi B called, "WAP". I obviously can't post the lyrics here, so you'll need to google them for yourself, but if anyone reads that and thinks it's acceptable, then you really need to have a word with yourself. For the record, I'm anything but a prude (my internet history will back that up https://www.hibs.net/image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDwAPANQAAAAAAOLeAPn0AL /v8DAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh QQBMgAfACwAAAAADwAPAAAFROAnikBZjuhXDoPgnijAuvQ7ynU uAGRb0r dqrUDAI0vnCAQoDGPumgw6gwic8YAL2vqMnkqF3P81N6i39T0C 06puqkQACH5BAEyAB8ALAMABAAHAAkAAAUW4CcIX/kBJVoGq m cCyOYwrcaqDrIQAh/ntUaGlzIGFuaW1hdGVkIEdJRiBmaWxlIHdhcyBjb25zdHJ1Y3R lZCB1c2luZyBVbGVhZCBHSUYgQW5pbWF0b3IsIHZpc2l0IHVzI GF0IGh0dHA6Ly93d3cudWxlYWQuY29tIHRvIGZpbmQgb3V0IG1 vcmUuAVVTU1BDTVQAOw==:wink:) but I find this sort of thing absolutely disgusting.

[Berwickhibby]

Subjective. And I doubt The Clash would agree with you.

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You are definitely right, Mick has been getting young unsigned Rappers supporting his Carbon Sylican band.

[EAZY-ME]

Forget the song id rather hear about your internet history :greengrin

[AT8]

Forget the song id rather hear about your internet history :greengrin

I'm sure it'll be sites you're very familiar with :wink:

[Kato]

You are definitely right, Mick has been getting young unsigned Rappers supporting his Carbon Sylican band.The Clash were always very open minded musically.

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[nairn hibee]

You are definitely right, Mick has been getting young unsigned Rappers supporting his Carbon Sylican band.
I don’t care ,I have radio 1 blasting in my ear all day ,and it gets on my tits

[Berwickhibby]

I don’t care ,I have radio 1 blasting in my ear all day ,and it gets on my tits

Fair enough, I currently have “from Here to Eternity “ on shuffle

[Northernhibee]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clash

Boris Johnson's favourite band. The Clash are as punk as porridge.

[DH1875]

What about comedians. Loads of black American comedians use the N word in their acts.

[-Jonesy-]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clash

Aye alright grandad🙄

[1 8 7 5]

As the word is offensive....surely the answer would be to ban it

stop it.

[CropleyWasGod]

Why not ban rap along with all the other crap that’s supposed to be music nowadays .
long live the clash

Exactly the kind of attitude that the Clash and their contemporaries stood against.

[marinello59]

Exactly the kind of attitude that the Clash and their contemporaries stood against.

Yeap.

[Moulin Yarns]

If we are talking the like of Fifty Cent then absolutely should not be allowed, an insult to music never mind people of colour.

[nairn hibee]

Exactly the kind of attitude that the Clash and their contemporaries stood against.
It’s still crap though

[-Jonesy-]

It’s still crap though

Aye alright grandad🙄

[Future17]

While I think the "n" word should be banned altogether, the overall concern regarding rap is the content of the lyrics. Is it any wonder that biggest danger to young black men is in fact, other young black men when they listen to their idols glorify crime and murder?

I was made aware this week of a song that's currently riding high on the hit parade by an artist named Cardi B called, "WAP". I obviously can't post the lyrics here, so you'll need to google them for yourself, but if anyone reads that and thinks it's acceptable, then you really need to have a word with yourself. For the record, I'm anything but a prude (my internet history will back that up https://www.hibs.net/image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDwAPANQAAAAAAOLeAPn0AL /v8DAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh QQBMgAfACwAAAAADwAPAAAFROAnikBZjuhXDoPgnijAuvQ7ynU uAGRb0r dqrUDAI0vnCAQoDGPumgw6gwic8YAL2vqMnkqF3P81N6i39T0C 06puqkQACH5BAEyAB8ALAMABAAHAAkAAAUW4CcIX/kBJVoGq m cCyOYwrcaqDrIQAh/ntUaGlzIGFuaW1hdGVkIEdJRiBmaWxlIHdhcyBjb25zdHJ1Y3R lZCB1c2luZyBVbGVhZCBHSUYgQW5pbWF0b3IsIHZpc2l0IHVzI GF0IGh0dHA6Ly93d3cudWxlYWQuY29tIHRvIGZpbmQgb3V0IG1 vcmUuAVVTU1BDTVQAOw==:wink:) but I find this sort of thing absolutely disgusting.

I haven't heard the song so just Googled the lyrics and some of them made me laugh out loud. That's probably a reflection of my maturity level though!

[AT8]

I haven't heard the song so just Googled the lyrics and some of them made me laugh out loud. That's probably a reflection of my maturity level though!

I must admit, the lyrics are funny in a fnarf fnarf kind of way, but this is not something that young girls should be listening to and emulating.

[CropleyWasGod]

It’s still crap though

The attitude? Yep, agreed.

[Berwickhibby]

stop it.

Why? It's an offensive word, a word that even my black friends don't use it and find the use of it repugnant

[1 8 7 5]

Why? It's an offensive word, a word that even my black friends don't use it and find the use of it repugnant

i wont go too far into a discussion if your go to is to "ban it".

... and I wont even start to debate how a word can be "banned".

I am though, very pleased that "even" your black friends dont use it.:aok:

[The Modfather]

It’s not my kind of music, although do like some songs by NWA, Ice T etc. Out of curiosity, what’s the definition of rap? Would someone like The Streets, who I liked and one of the best live bands I’ve seen, be considered rap? Where’s the lines between rap, hip hop, garage etc?

[-Jonesy-]

I must admit, the lyrics are funny in a fnarf fnarf kind of way, but this is not something that young girls should be listening to and emulating.

Not sure if Miss Cardi B wrote the song for 14 year olds though.
Obviously her record label and the YouTube algorithm don’t feel the same as her.

[The Modfather]

To further de-rail the thread, what am I missing with The Clash? They have some excellent songs but London Calling and a stripped down best of are enough for me. I just don’t quite see why they’re so revered, while acknowledging it’s probably as much about what they were singing about than their sound.

[Berwickhibby]

i wont go too far into a discussion if your go to is to "ban it".

... and I wont even start to debate how a word can be "banned".

I am though, very pleased that "even" your black friends dont use it.:aok:

I will expand as your correct my post reads poorly, it's a very offensive word... I personally cannot ever see me using it. I have black friends who agree with me that it is not they would use and find it repugnant

[Berwickhibby]

To further de-rail the thread, what am I missing with The Clash? They have some excellent songs but London Calling and a stripped down best of are enough for me. I just don’t quite see why they’re so revered, while acknowledging it’s probably as much about what they were singing about than their sound.

Think I will start a Clash thread

[nairn hibee]

Aye alright grandad🙄
Aye that’s right ,bet you used to get a lift to school.:wink:

[-Jonesy-]

To further de-rail the thread, what am I missing with The Clash? They have some excellent songs but London Calling and a stripped down best of are enough for me. I just don’t quite see why they’re so revered, while acknowledging it’s probably as much about what they were singing about than their sound.

The Damned were better

[EAZY-ME]

Eazy e Back to that OG on YouTube... lts just one verse but it's funky.... give a listen if u want ...i can't post a link

[Pretty Boy]

While I think the "n" word should be banned altogether, the overall concern regarding rap is the content of the lyrics. Is it any wonder that biggest danger to young black men is in fact, other young black men when they listen to their idols glorify crime and murder?

I was made aware this week of a song that's currently riding high on the hit parade by an artist named Cardi B called, "WAP". I obviously can't post the lyrics here, so you'll need to google them for yourself, but if anyone reads that and thinks it's acceptable, then you really need to have a word with yourself. For the record, I'm anything but a prude (my internet history will back that up https://www.hibs.net/image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDwAPANQAAAAAAOLeAPn0AL /v8DAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh QQBMgAfACwAAAAADwAPAAAFROAnikBZjuhXDoPgnijAuvQ7ynU uAGRb0r dqrUDAI0vnCAQoDGPumgw6gwic8YAL2vqMnkqF3P81N6i39T0C 06puqkQACH5BAEyAB8ALAMABAAHAAkAAAUW4CcIX/kBJVoGq m cCyOYwrcaqDrIQAh/ntUaGlzIGFuaW1hdGVkIEdJRiBmaWxlIHdhcyBjb25zdHJ1Y3R lZCB1c2luZyBVbGVhZCBHSUYgQW5pbWF0b3IsIHZpc2l0IHVzI GF0IGh0dHA6Ly93d3cudWxlYWQuY29tIHRvIGZpbmQgb3V0IG1 vcmUuAVVTU1BDTVQAOw==:wink:) but I find this sort of thing absolutely disgusting.

I think Cardi B et al were expecting exactly that reaction from men when they wrote the lyrics.

It's not aimed at you and they aren't looking for your approval.

[CropleyWasGod]

I must admit, the lyrics are funny in a fnarf fnarf kind of way, but this is not something that young girls should be listening to and emulating.

Those words could have been said by anyone of parental age in response to:-

Elvis
The Stones
Jefferson Airplane
Led Zeppelin
The Pistols
Grace Jones
Nirvana
Ice T
Tupac
Dave

I'm sure there are hundreds of examples.

Every generation needs to have something to piss its parents off. The day that stops being reflected in their music is the day that the music really has died.

[neil7908]

While I think the "n" word should be banned altogether, the overall concern regarding rap is the content of the lyrics. Is it any wonder that biggest danger to young black men is in fact, other young black men when they listen to their idols glorify crime and murder?

I was made aware this week of a song that's currently riding high on the hit parade by an artist named Cardi B called, "WAP". I obviously can't post the lyrics here, so you'll need to google them for yourself, but if anyone reads that and thinks it's acceptable, then you really need to have a word with yourself. For the record, I'm anything but a prude (my internet history will back that up https://www.hibs.net/image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhDwAPANQAAAAAAOLeAPn0AL /v8DAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAACH/C05FVFNDQVBFMi4wAwEAAAAh QQBMgAfACwAAAAADwAPAAAFROAnikBZjuhXDoPgnijAuvQ7ynU uAGRb0r dqrUDAI0vnCAQoDGPumgw6gwic8YAL2vqMnkqF3P81N6i39T0C 06puqkQACH5BAEyAB8ALAMABAAHAAkAAAUW4CcIX/kBJVoGq m cCyOYwrcaqDrIQAh/ntUaGlzIGFuaW1hdGVkIEdJRiBmaWxlIHdhcyBjb25zdHJ1Y3R lZCB1c2luZyBVbGVhZCBHSUYgQW5pbWF0b3IsIHZpc2l0IHVzI GF0IGh0dHA6Ly93d3cudWxlYWQuY29tIHRvIGZpbmQgb3V0IG1 vcmUuAVVTU1BDTVQAOw==:wink:) but I find this sort of thing absolutely disgusting.

Did you not refer to Trump Juniors girlfriend as a "hot piece of ass" on another thread.

Weird that you can sexualise woman but they can't do it themselves.

Male rappers have been talking about women and gay people in derogatory terms for years and now folk are now getting upset at daft song about women expressing their sexual interests.

[AT8]

Did you not refer to Trump Juniors girlfriend as a "hot piece of ass" on another thread.

Weird that you can sexualise woman but they can't do it themselves.

Male rappers have been talking about women and gay people in derogatory terms for years and now folk are now getting upset at daft song about women expressing their sexual interests.

So if you had a ten year old daughter and you heard her singing about her wet ass pussy, how would you feel about that? And please, answer honestly. My sexualizing women is neither here nor there as I'm not a role model and my words carry zero weight in the grand scheme of things.

[The Modfather]

Did you not refer to Trump Juniors girlfriend as a "hot piece of ass" on another thread.

Weird that you can sexualise woman but they can't do it themselves.

Male rappers have been talking about women and gay people in derogatory terms for years and now folk are now getting upset at daft song about women expressing their sexual interests.

There’s women expressing their sexual interests, then there’s Z list singers using “shock jock” tactics for their 15 minutes of fame. There’s nothing clever or liberating in those lyrics as far as I can see, just vulgarity.

Now where did I put my slippers and bag of werthers originals.

[Glory Lurker]

Boris Johnson's favourite band. The Clash are as punk as porridge.

Absolutely spot on. Elastica with fatigues.

[Onceinawhile]

For me, the use of the "N word" alone doesn't change how I feel about listening to a song, but there's always the dilemma of what to do when singing along. The story below brought this back into my mind when I read it yesterday, so I thought I'd canvass fellow posters on what they do, or what they feel the right thing to do is.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-53930544

I am as well. Have you heard the song "Mr. N***a by mos def aka yasiin bey? It covers this topic and basically, he decides it's not OK. Similarly, there's been issues regarding this before where (I think) kendrick got a girl on stage who was rapping a long and dropped the n word, when she shouldn't have.

What did you think of rtj4?

[Onceinawhile]

Eminem without a shadow of a doubt is the GOAT.

I know you meant the best who are currently making new music but I just wanted to get that in there.

Eminem is so so far from the goat that it isn't even funny.

I'm sure he's top 50 or so. But the best? Not a chance.

[EAZY-ME]

Eminem is so so far from the goat that it isn't even funny.

I'm sure he's top 50 or so. But the best? Not a chance.

Who would you say was better than him .his speed and wordplay is just incredible.

[Sir David Gray]

Eminem is so so far from the goat that it isn't even funny.

I'm sure he's top 50 or so. But the best? Not a chance.

Good one. :faf:

[EAZY-ME]

Good one. :faf:

Eminem walked into the house of rap then changed the locks

[Onceinawhile]

Who would you say was better than him .his speed and wordplay is just incredible.

Who would I have before Eminem?

Jay z
Guru
Raekwon
Inspecktah deck
Nas
Krs one
Q tip
Phife dogg
Rakim

That's just from new york

[Mon Dieu4]

Who would you say was better than him .his speed and wordplay is just incredible.

It's all a matter of taste, to me Eminem is a comedy act, I can't stand his stuff despite being a huge rap fan

[Pretty Boy]

Eminem is so so far from the goat that it isn't even funny.

I'm sure he's top 50 or so. But the best? Not a chance.

I think it's one of those things that is nearly impossible to quantify. It's like the endless 'greater guitarist of all time' debates. There are so many variable that it's an impossible question to truly answer.

In terms of delivery, lyricism and commercial success Eminem is certainly worthy of consideration. He was also an undoubted game changer when it came to white rappers and hip hop artists being taken seriously. Obviously people like the Beastie Boys, House of Pain, Vinnie Paz et al preceded him but until Eminem came along Vanilla Ice was probably the white rapper most casual fans had heard of. In the years since the likes of Macklemore, Post Malone, Mac Miller, Asher Rother, Yelawolf etc etc etc have all enjoyed varying levels of success and the term 'white rapper' is largely redundant.

His early albums are just ridiculously tight. A lot of credit for that has to be give to Dr Dre, his influence is all over them and they are brilliantly produced. The appearance and involvement of people like Snopp Dogg, Mel-man and Nate Dogg lends them a credibility they may otherwise have lacked. None of that matters without the aforementioned lyricism and delivery though. Eminem absolutely blew people away in those early albums. They were very deliberately transgressive and this angry guy with bleached hair genuinely frightened people. The Marshall Mathers LP still stands up today, in the era of cancel culture it's probably even more shocking than it was then.

I'm not sure I'd make a case for Eminem as the best ever. His later work never really regained the heights of the past, that seems a common theme in rap really. He arguably lacked the genuine subversive nature of NWA or Immortal Technique, he may not have been as seminal as early to mid 90s Nas, he probably wasn't even the biggest game changer when compared to Rakim, he wasn't as good a storyteller as Biggie and he wasn't as ahead of his time as the likes of Kurtis Blow, Run DMC and LL COOL J but he was a hell of an artist and if I was inclined to make a list he'd be pushing for top 10.

[Onceinawhile]

It's all a matter of taste, to me Eminem is a comedy act, I can't stand his stuff despite being a huge rap fan

Tbf, his first three albums were all pretty decent.

Sing for the moment is one of my all time favourite songs.

I am is also fantastic and he murders Jay z on renegades and xzibit on don't approach me.

[Onceinawhile]

Pretty boy, you've more or less said what I thought, but far more eloquently and with far more depth and intelligence.

[EAZY-ME]

It's all a matter of taste, to me Eminem is a comedy act, I can't stand his stuff despite being a huge rap fan

Your right it is all about taste....i always thought tupac was the best due to his writing skills and delivery though i wasn't really a fan....... my favourite was Eazy just because of his voice. He never really wanted to be a rapper but dr dre convinced him to rap boyz n the hood and he just took off from there... he's officially the god father of gangsta rap.....i liked naughty by nature . Treach was some rapper. The 90s was probably the best era

[EAZY-ME]

I think Eminem also sold the most records

[Onceinawhile]

Your right it is all about taste....i always thought tupac was the best due to his writing skills and delivery though i wasn't really a fan....... my favourite was Eazy just because of his voice. He never really wanted to be a rapper but dr dre convinced him to rap boyz n the hood and he just took off from there... he's officially the god father of gangsta rap.....i liked naughty by nature . Treach was some rapper. The 90s was probably the best era

OPP is an absolute tune.

[-Jonesy-]

With such a massive multitude of musical and lyrical styles from a little over four decades of music I can’t believe people genuinely think Eminem is the greatest hip hop artist of all time.

Biggie, KRS One, Nas, Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest and Wu Tang above all else for me, if you were wondering.

[Mon Dieu4]

Your right it is all about taste....i always thought tupac was the best due to his writing skills and delivery though i wasn't really a fan....... my favourite was Eazy just because of his voice. He never really wanted to be a rapper but dr dre convinced him to rap boyz n the hood and he just took off from there... he's officially the god father of gangsta rap.....i liked naughty by nature . Treach was some rapper. The 90s was probably the best era

You seem to like the same era as me, I prefer the heavier early 90s stuff, to this day Cube is still my favourite followed by Snoop but you can throw in the Wu Tang, NWA, Public Enemy, Nas etc, my playlists are always pretty varied

Recently I've been watching lots of the British guys as well and some of them are outstanding, always been a fan of Dizzee but the main one that blew me away was Akala doing BBCs fire in the booth which is a good series, lots of his stuff in his rap, books etc ties in perfectly with what's going on in the world just now and bringing it back to the topic of this thread he used to use the N word all the time in his earlier stuff until he had a proper think about it all and now refuses to use it

[Onceinawhile]

With such a massive multitude of musical and lyrical styles from a little over four decades of music I can’t believe people genuinely think Eminem is the greatest hip hop artist of all time.

Biggie, KRS One, Nas, Public Enemy and Wu Tang above all else for me, if you were wondering.

It's patently obvious chuck d is above Eminem. To suggest otherwise is just mental.

Wu tang have some better mcs, but you can't tell me u god or masts killa are above Eminem.

[-Jonesy-]

It's patently obvious chuck d is above Eminem. To suggest otherwise is just mental.

Wu tang have some better mcs, but you can't tell me u god or masts killa are above Eminem.

No you’re right I wouldn’t, and I’m thinking about Wu collectively.

Don’t get me wrong Eminem is a great MC with mad skills who’s made some really great music that caught the attention of and pissed off all the right people, he was perfectly suited to his place at the time he was at his peak over the first few albums. But if I want to listen to an hour of rap music I’m always picking 36 chambers over the Marshall Mathers LP (which is a great album)

I didn’t really put the effort into finding any new hip hop artists the last decade or so and just got turned onto Run the Jewels over the last year and I think theyve properly restored my faith in what hip hop is all about.

[Onceinawhile]

No you’re right I wouldn’t, and I’m thinking about Wu collectively.

Don’t get me wrong Eminem is a great MC with mad skills who’s made some really great music that caught the attention of and pissed off all the right people, he was perfectly suited to his place at the time he was at his peak over the first few albums. But if I want to listen to an hour of rap music I’m always picking 36 chambers over the Marshall Mathers LP (which is a great album)

I didn’t really put the effort into finding any new hip hop artists the last decade or so and just got turned onto Run the Jewels over the last year and I think theyve properly restored my faith in what hip hop is all about.

Oh yes. Rtj are something special.

You may like the first two or three czarface albums, Inspecktah deck tearing it up with 7l and esoteric.

[EAZY-ME]

OPP is an absolute tune.

Defo... the first time i ever heard it was on the word... woke my mum up as i cranked up the volume :greengrin

[Sir David Gray]

It's all a matter of taste, to me Eminem is a comedy act, I can't stand his stuff despite being a huge rap fan

I apologise for just providing a laughing emoji earlier, I couldn't believe someone thought he was just maybe in the top 50 but I should have engaged more.

He's so much more than a comedy act in my opinion.

Yes he brings comedy into some of his music in a way that hardly any other hip hop artist does but I'm surprised that any huge rap fan could listen to Eminem's first three mainstream albums in particular and dismiss him as little more than a comedy act.

Songs like Brain Damage, If I Had, 97 Bonnie and Clyde, Rock Bottom, Stan, The Way I Am, I'm Back, Marshall Mathers, White America, Cleanin' Out My Closet, Sing For The Moment and Soldier were just the ones off the top of my head that all talk about his experiences growing up, his dysfunctional upbringing, difficult relationship with his mother and his unstable relationship with his wife.

I'll admit that he hasn't been near that level in recent years although I thought his Kamikaze album was very good.

There have been other very good songs since those early albums as well which touch on serious subjects, Like Toy Soldiers, Mosh, Mockingbird, Beautiful and of course his Oscar winning song Lose Yourself.

I realise that not everyone will like hip hop music and therefore they are unlikely to like Eminem which is fair enough. I can even understand a hip hop fan who prefers the style of other rappers and not putting Eminem at the top of their list. However I must admit I am struggling with the idea of someone being a big hip hop fan but not being able to stand Eminem although each to their own.

I think the records speak for themselves;

Top selling hip hop artist of all time
Most successive No.1 albums in the USA of all time
Rapper with the most No.1 albums in the UK
Hip hop artist with the most No.1 singles in UK chart history

The longevity that he's had as well is just incredible. Sure there are hip hop artists still going about from the 80s but none of them have consistently been at the top of the charts for all that time. For over 20 years now, Eminem has been producing multiple hits and topping charts worldwide.

The guy's a lyrical genius.

[Onceinawhile]

Mosh is also an absolute monster of a tune.

One of my problems with Eminem is that he became everything he professed to hate. Came out firing at pop stars, then starts making tunes with Rihanna? I so think he over complicates things tbh.

Out of interest, I named 8 or so people I'd have before Eminem, who would you disagree with?

[Sir David Gray]

Mosh is also an absolute monster of a tune.

One of my problems with Eminem is that he became everything he professed to hate. Came out firing at pop stars, then starts making tunes with Rihanna? I so think he over complicates things tbh.

Out of interest, I named 8 or so people I'd have before Eminem, who would you disagree with?

I wouldn't have anyone before Eminem, in my opinion he's the best rapper of all time.

I do like Jay Z and Nas, they are probably in my top 10 along with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Tupac and Biggie.

I agree with you about some of his collaborations by the way. Songs with Ed Sheeran just don't do it for me although the one with Dido ended up being one of my favourite ever songs.

[Moulin Yarns]

Now this is a good rap

https://twitter.com/Empress_MC/status/1294966490517712897?s=09

And I like Stanley Odd

[Keith_M]

Eminem walked into the house of rap then changed the locks



Debbie Harry was actually the first person to hit the charts with Rap, and that was in the 70s.

:wink:

[Hiber-nation]

Debbie Harry was actually the first person to hit the charts with Rap, and that was in the 70s.

:wink:

Rapture (awful song IMO) was in 1981, Rappers Delight by the Sugarhill Gang was 1979. But you've put a winking emoji after your post so I'm not sure if there's a joke in there somewhere or if I'm missing something....

[-Jonesy-]

Rapture (awful song IMO) was in 1981, Rappers Delight by the Sugarhill Gang was 1979. But you've put a winking emoji after your post so I'm not sure if there's a joke in there somewhere or if I'm missing something....

Ah but the baseline in Rapture is one of the very best ever

[Hiber-nation]

Ah but the baseline in Rapture is one of the very best ever

Ach I preferred Blondie's earlier stuff. But I get that.

[neil7908]

So if you had a ten year old daughter and you heard her singing about her wet ass pussy, how would you feel about that? And please, answer honestly. My sexualizing women is neither here nor there as I'm not a role model and my words carry zero weight in the grand scheme of things.

Of course I wouldn't be happy about it. But I don't think the song is aimed at 10 year olds.

I'd be much more worried though about the stuff my hypothetical 10 year old son might be watching on the internet and how that would affect his attitude to women and sex.

Or some of the stuff from male rappers. Here's a quality piece from Eminem ""Slut, you think I won't choke no whore / Til the vocal cords don't work in her throat no more?!". I'd be way, way more worried about my 10 year daughter hearing that.

Also, Cardi B a role model? Seriously? Do you know who is a role model though? The President of America. And what did he say about p***y grabbing again?