Do you consider rap and hip hop to be music?

I don't know about hip hop but when rap music began, it was good.

Now the lyrics are awful.

No

Of course it's music. If you say it isn't, then you have to say Rock n Roll isn't music. And FTR, I don't care for much rap/hip hop.

quote:

---

Of course it's music. If you say it isn't, then you have to say Rock n Roll isn't music.

---

Okay, I submit that rap and hip hop are artistic expressions. They do come from a person’s soul, just like music. But rap is missing musical elements. Where is the harmony? Melody? When is there any singing? Certainly no musical instruments, except maybe drums. The only time you hear musical elements is when they sample songs.

Rock n Roll is music, it has everything. Rap is not because it does NOT check so many boxes of what is actually musical. Again, I give it credit for being artistic expression. But music it is not.

quote:

---

Okay, I submit that rap and hip hop are artistic expressions. They do come from a person’s soul, just like music. But rap is missing musical elements. Where is the harmony? Melody? When is there any singing? Certainly no musical instruments, except maybe drums. The only time you hear musical elements is when they sample songs.

Rock n Roll is music, it has everything. Rap is not because it does NOT check so many boxes of what is actually musical. Again, I give it credit for being artistic expression. But music it is not.

---

Imagine gatekeeping something that you can't even identify. Oof

quote:

---

Imagine gatekeeping something that you can't even identify. Oof

---

Okay, what am I missing?

quote:

---

There has been a debate for awhile about whether rap and hip hop truly meet the definition of what we would define as “music”.

---

Well, how about you start with defining what "music" is so we can have a debate? Otherwise, everyone is just blowing smoke.

I don't have a problem with artists sampling from other artists, which is a big part of rap. I see it mentioned here and all the time that sampling is not a "musical instrument." I believe it is as much of a musical instrument as using a synthesizer, which is not all that much different and most here would consider it a musical instrument. Some may argue that sampling does not take talent, but there are various degrees of sampling. Some can be very complicated, and some can be simple. IMO, most sampling is as difficult or more difficult than many simple rock songs - see "Horse with No Name" that only uses 2 chords.

I asked ChatGPT for an official “definition”. This is what I got.

Music is a form of artistic expression that utilizes sound organized in time. It encompasses various elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and dynamics, created through the manipulation of pitch, tempo, timbre, and structure. Music can evoke emotions, convey messages, tell stories, or simply provide aesthetic enjoyment. It is a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries and has been an integral part of human culture for millennia.

quote:

---

But rap is missing musical elements. Where is the harmony? Melody? When is there any singing? Certainly no musical instruments, except maybe drums. The only time you hear musical elements is when they sample songs.

---

You have some strong opinions for someone who hasn't listened to very much rap/hip hop.

No melody? No instruments? frick's sake...