Just hearing K-OS on CBC as someone's best-of-2004 choices as I check this thread. They are not only socially responsible but have considerable musical value--in fact it doesn't fit the "rap slot" so many people have constructed for this genre, I am hearing some real nice soulful harmony singing, the kind I couldn't do on the best day of my life.

My question is, why in this world full of freakin choices, because humans are different and understandably like different stuff, is it assumed, albeit correctly, that so many people just plain hate anything in the rap/hip-hop call-it-what-you-will genre? I've heard various interviews with country singers who apropos of nothing will say, "I hate rap", right in there with how much they love Mom, apple pie, Old Glory and good old dead dogs like Shep. I mean, I don't like opera but why would I bring that up in a conversation about sheep dog trials?

I consider this kind of special singling-out of rap for condemnationto be a kind of legitimized racism, whether intentional or subconscious.

So it irritates me to see crotchety old folkies going the same way.
If you don't listen to something cause you don't like it at all, you're hardly qualified to pass judgment on its musicality.

Of course, when it comes to other subjects, like say, drumming circles, I have my own incredibly worthwhile opinions...


W-O