Is Rap Poetry?

LivreAmour217 · Post by **LivreAmour217** » 07 Oct 2014, 10:51

Yes, I believe that rap is a form of poetry (just like most music). Just like poetry, some rap songs are well written and meaningful, and some are definitely not. Of course, it all depends on who is doing the listening, right? I've heard rap songs that I thought were dreadful and said so out loud, only to have another listener come to the song's defense and point out that the lyrics about drugs, guns, sex, etc are forms of social commentary. I didn't always agree, but those moments did make me think.

rainydayluck · Post by **rainydayluck** » 13 Oct 2014, 04:31

Absolutely! Some of my favorite hip hop artists are poets, especially the locals I listen to in my city. Some of them even participate in poetry slams here in the Midwest. Its an art and form of expression, whether we see or appreciate it is up to the listener.

WinterCandyMints · Post by **WinterCandyMints** » 17 Oct 2014, 20:28

Yeah, of course. It uses verses and literary devices such as rhyming, metaphors, allusions and so on.

cvega93 · Post by **cvega93** » 25 Oct 2014, 12:23

I mean technically anything can be considered poetry.

To me poetry is just an artistic way of putting lines of words together, rhyming or not.

Rap adds music to the 'poetry' I guess.

I don't judge.

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 25 Oct 2014, 13:26

It can be I guess.

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 26 Oct 2014, 05:47

BAD poetry IMHO...

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 26 Oct 2014, 18:22

Well they never asked if it was good or not.

suzy1124 · Post by **suzy1124** » 28 Oct 2014, 22:50

Ya got a point there!

rssllue · Post by **rssllue** » 29 Oct 2014, 00:15

I try to be pointy if possible.

ThosHowellBookReview · Post by **ThosHowellBookReview** » 02 Nov 2014, 08:51

Since Death Row Records started this nasty business of rap, and were rejected by the major industry types like Timne-Warner, rap has been associated, in my mind at least, with guns, violence and degrading words about women. All these associations come to mind when the mindless monotonous drum beat of rap begins on the radio and I flick the off switch as soon as possible! The whoring corporations have jumped on the band wagon big time, always looking for a parade to jump in front of.

pizzapartyy · Post by **pizzapartyy** » 04 Nov 2014, 15:15

Yes, it is. But there's good rap and bad rap and sometimes people really fail to differentiate between the two

ThosHowellBookReview · Post by **ThosHowellBookReview** » 04 Nov 2014, 16:19

Agreed. They (we) fail to differentiate between good rap and bad because it all began with gangsta rap and the assocation, the stigma, continues to the present. In addition, there is an almost total lack of melodies or harmonies associated with traditional song writing, replaced with a repetitive, mind-numbing chant and nursery rhyme style lyrics, i.e. "moon. June, spoon"... ad nauseum.

ajmiller99 · Post by **ajmiller99** » 13 Nov 2014, 12:55

I think a lot of it definitely is! I enjoy listening to rap if it has a good rhythm to it and I can understand the words and relate to it.
When you really think about it though, all music with lyrics could also be poetry, poetry doesn't have to rhyme.