h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The Art of Rapping - A934607
Author: Hotblack Desiato - U178747

I think this is really good!

Oh, I'm so proud. My little ramble up for review in a matter of hours. Well, bring on the constructive criticism! I can take it!

Its a great entry, very informative!

This is a great entry. I loved reading it. It could go into the EG as it is - but I do have a couple of suggestions if you want to look at it again.

The entry is excellent on the 'how to rap' aspects, but it does lack some examples, so a reader doesn't have many avenues to pursue after reading this.

When you make an observation like "the instrumental part can take inspiration from many other genres from rock to classical", give some examples - and not esoteric ones, but well-known people (e.g. Run-DMC for the 'rock' inspiration).

It might also be good if you could find some quotes from rappers about rapping. I'm sure there are loads from garrulous hip-hop ambassadors like KRS-One.

You could also try to put in some links to other entries in the EG.

Oh - and remove "I wish you well" - first person comment! I like your last paragraph though.

Here's a thought: I think your section on what sells in rap is very funny. But it might also perpetuate a myth, which is that all rap is aggressive and "incites violence" - especially at the moment when every t**t with a few column inches is sounding off about hip-hop culture.

There are plenty of rappers who rap about the dangers of drugs (De La Soul) or love as opposed to sex (like the fantastic song 'Thin Line' on Jurassic 5's new album), or simply rap about social problems and bad behaviour as an observer not a perpetrator.

I don't think at all that you should infer that rap is really a nice, fluffy thing - but highlight the fact that it *comments* on problems, not causes them, and that subject matter can be good or bad, and no-one who knows anything about rap will disrespect you if you choose to be positive!

Peace.

Gubernatrix

Thanks Gubernatrix, I've taken it all on board. I'll deal with the easy changes now, but quotes and examples? I'm gonna need some time...

H.D.

And so the entry improves...

Definetly worthy of the EG

That was a really cool entry!
I really liked it. I was saying the rhyming examples out loud and my mum thought there was something wrong with me
Hope it gets in the guide

Cherryfish

Strange that he didn't put it in PR straight away

Right, here’s an update:

I looked at putting in a few links to relevent EG entries, but there aren’t many about on this subject! I’ve ended up with Jimi Hendrix, Pop Music and Wham! Which, as you can see, are a little distant from the topic. The links are put in relevent to the context, though, and frankly until someone gets something (else) rap related into the EG it’s the best I can do.

I looked at the section on controversy to try to dispell (or at least distance myself) from the myth that rap promotes violence and causes problems in society. I sort of liked this section as it was, so I decided to tackle it by adding another paragraph to turn the heat down a little. Hope that’ll do it.

Oh yeah, and I took out the first person bit at the end, and I've started on a few examples.

Still working on those quotes, but tell me what you think so far.

H.D.

P.S: For " ’ ", read " ' " - lost in translation from Micros*ft Word...

It's even better!

This is very good - I love the section where you run through the rhymes

Few small comments - when you talk about the risk of ridicule for white rappers, I was thinking this badly needs a footnote to Vanilla Ice... Either as one of the causes of that ridicule or as a victim of prejudice

I would also second the point about some rappers being able to sing about issues other than the usual suspects. Your follow up paragraph to the way to make money bit is good, but aside from the influence on the kids, some rappers have chosen another path.

Show how out of date I am now , but as well as Dela Soul, already mentioned, Tribe Called Quest, Fun Lovin Criminals and some of the French rappers - MC Solaar, for example, come to mind.

Sprout

>>frankly until someone gets something (else) rap related into the EG it’s the best I can do.

Far be it from me to push my own work, but if you'd done a search under 'hip hop' you would have found this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/A860519

which is in fact rap-related.

>>The parents, however, may not.

That wasn't quite the point I was trying to make. I wanted the distinction to be between 'positive' and 'negative' rap, not between what the kids like and what the parents like. I'm not remotely a parent but I was never a fan of gangsta rap and all that 'Kill Whitey' stuff.

Gubernatrix

Okay:

I appreaciate that it probably wasn't how you meant it, but surely it is still important to take into account what parents think, as they have a significant impact on the young music buyers? Anway, I'll give it a look. I'll probably just rewrite the whole section: maybe it was faintly amusing, but being largely inaccurate it's probably not much use.

Thanks also for the other rappers - and especially for the link! For some stupid reason it didn't occur to me to search for 'hip hop', but your entry is ideal.

I'll get back onto this when I can. HD

How about this for a quote:

"I don't smoke crack, I smoke emcees"

I'm sure it's LL Cool J but I can't remember the song. Rampage?

By the way, I've just realised that you've updated the entry. The paragraph on 'controversy and the music business' is looking excellent!

this is a great entry,
just right for the century,
it should go in the guide,
and should not be left to hide,
as the author has got it right,
and that no-one can fight,
as i like to rap, like i am here,
so to the author a cheer,
now have a beer!

spook

At first glance I thought the title was "The Art of Raping", and I had a bit of a shock.

No neeed to worry though, this is an excellent entry.

Thanks, I'm glad I've gotten somewhere with the controversy bit. I guess it was the subject of some controversy...

Thanks also for the quote... but since it's from a song, wouldn't there be copyright restrictions? If someone can abolish my concerns there I'll make good use of it when I get round to doing the quotes research.

Meantime, I'll try and get on with something else (sorry, I've been a bit busy of late).

I think that brief quotes are allowed if properly credited. I think it's just quoting at length which is a problem. But it would be good if someone could confirm this.

I've quoted excerpts from songs in edited entries and no-one has objected.