Frank I agree with you. By the way, I wasn't talking about Florence Reese. Aunt Molly was quite a disappointment when I finally heard her, but only in the sense that I felt she was being "used" a bit by the New Yorkers, in the same way that some claim Leadbelly was "used". I just didn't think she had much to offer in a "songwriter" sense.

I just don't feel comfortable with the arguments that because rap might be "doggerel, violent, devisive, and (at the top end) a huge cash cow," it ain't folk music. 'Cause it doesn't START at the top level, it starts at street level, and as Leej says "the grey area is a mile wide". Surely it's at least IN that grey area.

Wanna trade albums? What's your e-mail address again, I've lost it. Mine's rfield@interlog.com

Rick