RhymeGladiators

I'd love to help you with this. What are you looking for, a list of positive rappers, some positive lyrics, or some genres or movements? More specific and I could help you out. If you have aim please instant message me at Urthogie, but otherwise talk pages work fine. Peace, --Urthogie 19:48, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Positive rap

Some positive hip hop artists are A Tribe Called Quest, Will Smith, De La Soul, and Ugly Duckling. There was a big positive vibe in the golden age of hip hop(1986 to 1993, approximately), personified by a rap crew called the Native Tongues Posse, which included A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Afrika Bambaataa and others. Positive hip-hop is often characterized by an afrocentric vibe and a celebration of black culture, old and new. Of course, anyone can be positive just by talking about having a good time, so don't assume that political content is a must for being a positive rapper.

Currently, positive hip-hop isn't very popular. It's all hip-hop though, so there's nothing wrong with 50 Cent doing his thing and Will Smith doing his. Anything else you're interested in knowing?--Urthogie 17:46, 15 March 2006 (UTC)

reply

So, you wouldn't say, as I have heard others say, that there is now a difference between rap and hip hop? Whereas rap is the "useless hip hop" (or mainstream) and hip hop music is (underground)hip hop.

While it's true that rap is merely the act of rapping, and hip hop is the musical genre and culture, people often falsely claim that "fake" hip-hop is rap and that good hip-hop is actually hip hop! This is really silly, all this segmentation. In fact, you'll often find that people who insist on dividing the music into the genres of "rap" and "hip hop" just have a problem with guys from the street making a crossover.

Also, don't make the mistake of assuming that just cus its from the underground its necessarily good. There are plenty of wack mcs in the underground, just as there are plenty in the mainstream.

But I guess true lovers of underground believe that underground hip hop is the only true hip hop.

The only true hip-hop? Lemme ask you a question. What did the first MC's talk about? Do you think they talked about politics and deep introspection? No! They talked about partying and the struggle of the streets. There's hip-hop with political content (Public Enemy) and then there's just having a good time and partying stuff (Snoop Dogg). Make sure you don't get stuck in the 80's mentality-- hip hop culture has changed, just as any culture changes: now guys from the street can become millionaires off of hip hop-- thats a good thing in my opinion.

So what would you say are some things that conscious hip hop may have influenced on society or youths?

Conscious hip hop, when it was at its peak in the golden age of hip hop influenced the fashion, mentality, and lifestyle of hip hop fans. Concious hip hop has probably had its greatest effect in simply motivating a kid to realize he can be more than a thug commiting crimes(but thats just my opinion).

Would it be culture?

Hip hop definitely is a culture. Sure it's changed a lot since the 80's, its a lot less about the DJ and the breakdancers, but shit, at least it's provided a way to get out of the streets. And honestly, there's good underground and mainstream stuff coming out to this day.

strictly on African Americans?

While hip hop began mostly with African American and Hispanics in inner-city New York, its spread. It's become a worldwide movement. White kids, black kids, romanian kids, netherlands kids, nigerian kids, asian kids-- you name it: there are great rappers, djs, etc. of all races and nationalities.

Don't be mistaken though; rap and hip-hop have their roots in black culture: the blues, jazz, doo-wop, funk, dub music, etc. If you go back far enough you can even observe its african roots. So I guess my answer to this question is mixed. Lemme put it this way: "The best MC's are the most soulful ones."

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Peace, --Urthogie 21:14, 16 March 2006 (UTC)