this being my first contribution as a member of the Mudcat, i want to be perfectly honest: i get serious enjoyment out of all kinds of music, including both the blues and rap (to be technical, 'rapping' is what the vocalist does, 'hip hop' is the music.) i love Blind Willie McTell, and i also love De La Soul. there was a time when i couldn't stand either kind of music, but i've discovered since then that blues and rap, like other truly worthwhile interests, are acquired tastes.

there are not many things that get on my nerves, but intolerance is one of them. the fact that so many people here can totally dismiss a genre of music w/ having only a simple understanding that's not even shallow. of course there's a lot of bad rap music being made, but there's a lot of bad folk music, too. the kind of rap music that Terry Alan Hall has referenced above is certainly not something i would ever purchase or listen to intentionally. but please believe that there is more out there that you're not familiar w/ yet, music that might be to your liking.

i could go on about this, but i'd like to be relatively brief. before finishing, though, i'd like to point out that i sense a lot of anger coming from those people who accuse rap music of being only anger-oriented.

- greg