OK, so gangsta rap isn't very positive. Rap as an art-form (perhaps not music but I'm a literature major so I know nothing about music) is interesting, though. Consider the really slick old-school 80s rap, from groups like RUN-DMC, the Fat Boys, Grand Master Flash, and the Sugarhill Gang.

First, their version of 80s pop culture: well, living in the hood they had missed out on the booming economy, the fluorescent clothing, and big hair rock bands, but caught the unemployment and drug use square-on. Then along comes Run-DMC, two young black men, standing on a stage talking-- talking!-- into their microphones, telling the whole world how great they were. And people listened and bought their albums! which contained a bunch of samples. Samples of other people's music, re-interpretted into their own message, much as graffitti re-interpretted the urban landscape that urban kids see every day, but don't own any piece of.

How ironic, that two black kids from NYC could captivate a generation by laying down lyrics based on rather complex rhythms and rhyme schemes. And their messages-- Run-DMC and Grand Master Flash especially-- were very positive for the most part.

And I have to agree with an earlier post-- try rapping sometime. You'll sound pretty silly. Just if you do start rapping, try to stick to a positive message.