Stupid, just stupid.

Here's a post to feed my current self righteous state:

>From: "I can't get over my old band"
>Date: Fri Mar 21, 2003 1:46 am
>Subject: Re: Rap vs. Pop

>Rap is gay.

>The fact that a retard like Jay Z can do it proves that it's easy. At
>least most of the lame fuckers who sing pop music don't bother to
>even
>pretend that they can write.

>Ya'll can talk until you're blue in the face, but rap is ridiculous.
>Sure, it may be good fun at times, but it is NOT an art form.

>If you chose to believe that being able to rhyme is a great
>achievment, that hawking any and every logo known to mankind is a
>statement, that acting like a pouty little pussy who think's he's a
>baddass is cool...well, be my guest.

>But don't expect any respect from me or the many of us who know
>better.

>The day I start believing that some dickwad like Ice Cube is in any
>way relevent or entertaining...feel free to blow my goddamn head off.

>I mean, Snoop Dogg is a funny guy. He's all lanky and laid back and
>stoned and shit...kind of like a character from Fat Albert...but that
>doesn't mean I need to listen to him whine about being busted right
>after he finishes bragging about breaking the law.

>Those who this type of music really speaks to should not be listening
>to it. They should be saving their money, feeding their children and
>bettering their situation.

>Those who like to pretend that this shit speaks to them are basically
>"slumming it" at the expense of the less fortunate.

>It's a giant con job. there is a reason "respect" is so commonly used
>in the hip hop circles. They are all aware that they are a farce and
>don't deserve any...therefore they feel the need to demand it.

>Rap is for suckers...end of story.

>Skiptard

And then I said:

From: "Teeni Santini"
Date: Fri Mar 21, 2003 10:04 am
Subject: Re: Rap vs. Pop

Oh my God, are you kidding? If not, this is your ignorant opinion
and I disagree with you wholeheartedly. First of all, all rap music
that you hear on the radio is pop music. It's popular music. It's
catchy, people dance to it and it appeals to a wide variety of youth
and adults. Rhyming is an integral characteristic of popular rap
music. True, you don't have to be a genius to rhyme verse in any
style of music, but rap uses rhyme to integrate the vocals with the
beat and rhythm of the song. There's more to making rap music than
you really know. And while there are a lot of bling-bling rappers out
there who rap about things they probably can't afford like Escalades,
Burberry, Cristal and Manolo Blahnik boots, it's all part of the
show, image and culture of this industry...it's party music, it's
fun, it's not the gospel. Just so you know, Ice Cube is not
the "dickwad" you think him to be. Not only is Ice Cube (O'Shea
Jackson) a talented screenwriter (Friday is one of the best "dumb"
urban comedies), actor, musician, producer, businessman, but he also
holds a degree in architectural drafting. Furthermore for you to
allege that the only group that rap speaks to, are people who
regularly have trouble feeding their children and are in bad
situations, is absolutely ignorant. Are you really saying rap is for
poor, black people? First of all, there are so many rappers out
there that are amazing social commentators. Nas, Common,
your "dickwad" Ice Cube, KRS-One, NWA, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen
Latifa, Jurassic 5, and there are more. These artists have addressed
issues that appeal to all kinds and all colors of people: racial
equality, love, police brutality, politics, gender equality,
vegetarianism and so much more.
Rap is not made for just poor, disenfranchised, ethnic people. On
some levels it speaks to far more than you think. And I urge you to
educate your self on rap before you denounce the whole genre
as "gay." Your generalizing of this genre only shows your
ignorance.

Teeni Santini