Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved music. My parents raised me on the city streets.
Music was my constant companion. My father and father were incredible music aficionados, and I can still remember them going on about something about the music that was played back in the days when they were growing up.
Music has always helped me to find my way, both in life and in music. There have been times when I have been lost, times when I was down in the dumps, or when I didn’t know where else to turn.
And, when I found myself in the middle of a dark place, I would turn to the music, and it would either become a lifeline to escape or the strength to get through the night.
The more I listen to the music that others put out there, the more I learn about the artist. The lyrics, lyrics that many people couldn’t even care to comprehend, are powerful and offer life meaning.
And I know that’s a big statement, but it’s true. I know that most people may think they know the meaning of life, but I really think many of us have this notion of what we believe the meaning of life to be.
And some of it may very well have to do with what we hear in music, in rap music, which is much more important than you may realize. Music is life, and at the end of the day, you may have lived your life to the fullest, but that music that once gave you life is still with you.
Some people say that you can’t take away from music, but you can take your love of music and give it away to someone else who would love it as much as you once did.
What’s the point of rap music?
When I talk about what rap music is to the modern-day world, I want to start by stating that it is a cultural expression. You can find songs about many different topics, including gangster activity, breaking down the racial barrier, the environment, love, and many others.
Rap music today is one of the most popular music genres, and it is a big part of our society. Rap is the type of music that everyone can relate to in one way or another.
In one way or another, we have all heard the lyrics to the songs; we have all had to listen to the same music; we have all thought about the types of things the artist is saying. So why should we pay money to listen to this music?
Rap can be one of the most impactful forces in the world
Let’s start by talking about the impact rap music can have. In one of my previous posts, I talked about how rap music can significantly impact your everyday life.
In the book “The Rap Theology: A Pronunciation Guide to the ‘Sacred And Profane’ of Rap,” Jeff Chang uses the verse “The Beautiful Struggle” from the song “Bust a Move” by Salt-N-Pepa as an example.
The verse in this song is taken from D-Roc’s viewpoint, a character in the movie “Juice,” and the verses tell of how D-Roc has tried to overcome the obstacles in his life. Through the lyrics of the song, the reader can tell that D-Roc is on a journey.
At the beginning of the verse, he talks about how he was involved with street gangs in Watts’s hometown. Through the years, as he tried to learn how to do things independently, he was constantly encountering obstacles.
He was struggling to find a job, had a family to support, and was experiencing poverty, and at the time, his relationship with his family wasn’t doing well either. By the end of the verse, he can overcome these obstacles, and he is living a great life.
The poem gives many examples of what it is like to be young and poor and just how difficult it can be. By reading this, you can see that there are people out there that have it much harder than you do, and even though you may be struggling with the same things they are, they made it out of the struggle and have an amazing life that you can have.
In the next section of the book, Jeff Chang talks about how rap music is important to teenagers and their development. He discusses how many teenagers can deal with all of the emotional ups and downs of adolescence through their music.
He points out how rappers can talk about things that teenagers are often too afraid to talk about because they are afraid of their parents or other people around them. He says that rap music can serve as a “safe-haven” for teenagers, where they can be open about all of their emotions and problems without any judgment.
He also talks about how rap can show young people how to stand up for what they believe in. He says that if rap becomes so prevalent in young people’s lives, it can greatly impact them.
The next section talks about how rap has evolved and how it has changed over the years. Now, he says that we see that rap music is similar to music in the ’60s and ’70s.
Most of the music that you listen to today, you hear it at the same time that the songs are recorded. The songs were recorded in the ’50s and ’60s. Rap music today is also made differently from the music that you hear in the past.
When you listen to rap music from the past, it was a bit rawer and stripped down. It was definitely a different time when rap music was first coming out.
Now, rappers talk about how they lived a life similar to what they rap about in their music. They talk about all of the things that they were going through when they were younger.
Rap music in history
When it comes to rap music evolution, there are a few things that people can look at. On November 4, 1981, Run DMC released their album “Raising Hell.”
This album has been seen as one of the best rap albums of all time and is one of the top-selling rap albums. In 1985, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five released their album “The Message.”
It is the fastest-selling rap album of all time. Then, in 1987, the gangsta rap group N.W.A. released their album, “Straight Outta Compton.”
This was the first gangsta rap album.
Rappers that came out of the 1990’s such as Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, and Tupac Shakur, helped create rap music as we know it. In addition to these individuals, rappers like 50 Cent and The
Notorious B.I.G. helped to expand the scope of rap music as well.
All of these individuals shaped the future of rap music as it is known today.
Rap music is for everyone
This isn’t just a rap thing. This isn’t just some street dude that’s just talking about what he thinks or what he does.
It’s about human beings trying to tell a story about something real to them. Rap music is for everyone.
It is about telling your story about what you are going through. It is an open conversation about what you want in life and how you deal with the obstacles you face in your life.
Maybe you grew up in an abusive household, or maybe you grew up with a father who was never around. Maybe you grew up with a single mom, or you grew up with a single dad.
Or maybe you grew up with both parents around, but they are never around when you need them. Whatever the story is for you, rap music can help you tell your story if that’s what you want to do.
Keep that in mind. Not every song is about being broke, drunk or high, or going to clubs.
There are songs about so much more. There are songs about being homeless and songs about not having enough money.
Don’t get it twisted. There is definitely a place for positive, “happy” rap music too. But some people can’t seem to understand that.
Music is a universal language
There’s a lot of confusion about rap music. Like, don’t most rappers really sound the same?
They’re all using the same voice and the same hip-hop terminology.
Sure, they do. But that’s not what really matters.
Most rap music is about the lyrics, and the music all stems from a deeper meaning.
In other words, rappers can rap about almost anything, and I don’t think they have to hide the truth from anyone. But if there is a deeper meaning that they are trying to tell, you need to get it.
