What epitomizes rap or hip hop for you?

I am afraid that I cannot like rap or hip hop, because of the way it degrades women. The use of ho’ and other disparaging labels for women. The fact that references to women tend to be only sexual in nature.

I hate that it sterotypes women to a whole generation of young people.

Some examples:

“Smack That” by Akon Featuring Eminem horribly degrades women. The chorus of the song is “Smack that, all on the floor, smack that give me some more, smack that till you get sore.”

Also there is another lyrics called Sexy bitch.

“Damn Girl!!!

Damn, you’s a sexy bitch, sexy bitch!
Damn, you’s a sexy bitch!

Damn Girl!!!

Damn, you’s a sexy bitch, sexy bitch!
Damn, you’s a sexy bitch!

Damn Girl!!!

Yes, I can see her
’cause every girl in here wanna be her
Oh! She’s a Diva…
I feel the same,
And I wanna meet her
Source

From Notorious B.I.G.:

First things first, I poppa, freaks all the honeys

Dummies – playboy bunnies, those wantin’ money

Those the ones I like ‘cause they don’t get nathan’

But penetration, unless it smells like sanitation

Garbage, I turn like doorknobs

Heart throb, never, black and ugly as ever

However, I stay coochied down to the socks

Rings and watch filled with rocks

TRANSLATION:

As a general rule, I perform deviant sexual acts with women of all kinds, including but not limited to those with limited intellect, nude magazine models, and prostitutes. I particularly enjoy sexual encounters with the latter group as they are generally disappointed in the fact that they only receive penile intercourse and nothing more, unless of course, they douche on a consistent basis. Although I am extremely unattractive, I am able to engage in these types of sexual acts with some regularity. Perhaps my sexuality is somehow related to my fancy and expensive jewelry.

Source

There are myriad other examples.

I have to say I find the verbal gymnastics often impressive, even if, like @marinelife, the sentiments of much of it appalls me.

Ultramagnetic MCs – Critical Beatdown

Jeru the Damaja – Mental Stamina

Public Enemy – By the Time I get to Arizona

before commercialization inevitably ruined the genre and turned it into what y’all hatin’ on up there ^

You can’t have just one image or person in mind when you think of hip hop.
The history is so complex and branched out that picking one image to represent
the genre would be very unjust

You certainly shouldnt hate/dislike a whole genre just because of one or two songs..
They’re are many artists and songs that send good messages.. BUT i bet many people have no idea who or what I’d be referring to.. and i blame marketing and the whole business aspect of the genre for making people ignorant when thinking of hip hop..
People usually overlook the good to see the bad and that makes me irate!

blame the corporate companies that make mainstream hiphop and the fucking media

Once upon a time, rap was one of two things: politically charged, or just plain fun.

I love Public Enemy, Old N.W.A., Beastie Boys, etc. And who can say no to a little Rapper’s Delight?

However, these days rap rarely involves a band of living people playing real instruments (sampling is flavor, not the whole soup, folks) and the lyrics have been watered down to nothing more meaningful than “smack that bitch up” or propagating a lifestyle that doesn’t exist.

For real, fuck the music industry.

If internet piracy kills the industry, it’ll be the best thing to happen to music since the civil rights movement.

@marinelife not all rap is like this. Just the shitty stuff. Rap imo has the ability to give a lot more meaning and depth than most other forms of music. People just fail to employ it a lot of the time.
Counter example 1 & 2

Hip Hop is Art

@uberbatman I loved both of those examples that you posted. If that was most of the genre, I would be a fan.

I wish that practitioners of the art would speak out about the objectification and demeaning of women.

@marinelife on that note, I couldnt agree with you more. I just dont like when people deny a whole genre of music because the popular form of it is garbage. There is good music everywhere, you just have to poke around a bit sometimes :)

Scroobius Pip does speak out about a lot of the issues with music so I do like that. More need to follow IMO

I was never a huge fan of rap until I heard the Gorillaz song Clint Eastwood made me reconsider my stance.

I notice I prefer jazz rap or alternative, especially nerdcore. Which is why I loves me some MC Frontalot

@Joker94 Love Gorillaz
Superfast JELLYFISH :P

@uberbatman They’re so good ^.^

Great hip-hop gems like these

You bust lead? So do I.
Except mine impregnates the page giving birth to thoughts that unify
You fuck little girls. I make love to women
My words uplift, yours are poisonous like venom
Im an M.C. Youre a rapper
Im as real as they come,
while half the guys you idolize are just actors
You run from commitment I remain loyal
You call women bitches. I call them queens because they’re royal
You make rap songs I make soul music!
When god speaks through rhythm will you go to it?
I save my cash, yours, you blow through it
I say your childs special you say hes so stupid
Im pouring my heart out in everything written
You’re scared you’ll look soft, heart remains hidden
On touchy subjects nerves I stay hittin’
I aint better than you I just think different

I’m also a big supporter of MC Frontalot.

Mack Mayne- All In One Swipe ft. Birdman, Rick Ross and Young Chu, despite of anything you might think, is the song that epitomizes the 2000’ rap, Somewhere 2003 and 2010