Rap is a type of spoken-word art: poetry with rhythm and cadence, at least potentially. Gil Scott-Heron (70's mostly) is a very easy example of how compelling the medium can be. His "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was ahead of its time. And "Whitey's on the Moon" would find common ground with a lot of posters here. He's rap about as much as Natalie Cole is pop. Popular top-selling rap today is mostly degenerate, but so is popular rock, or anything on Billboard's list almost regardless of genre. Even country has hits like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" that might make Johnny Cash walk away in disgust. Doesn't mean that good stuff, including rap, isn't out there.
Rap is a type of spoken-word art: poetry with rhythm and cadence, at least potentially. Gil Scott-Heron (70's mostly) is a very easy example of how compelling the medium can be. His "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was ahead of its time. And "Whitey's on the Moon" would find common ground with a lot of posters here. He's rap about as much as Natalie Cole is pop. Popular top-selling rap today is mostly degenerate, but so is popular rock, or anything on Billboard's list almost regardless of genre. Even country has hits like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" that might make Johnny Cash walk away in disgust. Doesn't mean that good stuff, including rap, isn't out there.