by Alexus Mckeon

Created on: October 17, 2009

Assessing if rap can really be considered music; something is amiss in this title. Music is exactly that music. Maybe it was meant to be can rappers be considered singers? First of all rap is all things. It is story telling always delivering a bass driven message. It is poetry in motion literally, Rap has a life, heartbeat and soul of its own. Many confuse rap, hip hop and R&B. There Is a Major difference in these genres. Rap that is exactly what they do. Hip hop more commercialized and here you will get the singing vocals you are looking for. R&B now you're crossing a line into soul, and gospel. Here you will get some of the greatest voices and messages that have brought tears and changed the world.

There are also different levels of rap. You have your little fun rhymie kind of stuff, to your street violence, low and high level gang banging and violence. Then you have your underground, censored and explicit lyric collection. It's not just me either everyone will tell you that they do not listen to edited versions of this music. It truly does take something away from them.

Rap is a controversial,constantly under fire, genre that has many people divided of its lyrical content,sexual content, and messages. The one thing that is NOT divided is its followers and listeners. It knows no boundaries and crossed every race and ethnicity. Let them put out a political message though...Then even D.C suits and ties recognize its power. It eventually ends up in court or splashed on the front page somewhere. It does not serve its purpose when they come against this music though it just ignites its fans and revenue that much more. It crosses age groups now as well.Yes I fear that at 60 I will still be listening to Tupac...Sure do.

I would have to say rap is more than just mainstream and that it is all things. What I do know is what it is not, It is not going away anytime soon. It's roots have a strangle choke-hold on its loyal followers and in our community. A rapper's intention is never to sing no, it is to flow. If you really ever listened to all the intricate mixing of the music and what it takes to spit a rap right along with whatever is going on it is a beautiful marriage. One I never hope divorces. Rap has this way of tapping into you like a railroad spike through the eye. It's messages go deep. Its confidence bordering conceit makes it extremely seductive and hard to resist. It is loud and blatant so it's not like it can just be ignored. Trust me it cannot and will not ever go unheard. It will captivate you draw you in and make you take notice. Rap ahh rap is all people and rap is all things.

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