To interject a little heresy into this conversation, I submit that some rap music could be folk music in process. The idea of a narrative in rhythm depicting the lives of contemporary society has its roots in African-American and African traditions. The Griot of Africa might be a ancestor of the modern sidewalk rapper. You can hear the sounds of Fela Anikulapo Kouti as a bridge between the modern rapper and earlier forms of Afro-speech in song.

Bling and commerciality aside, there is a case to be made that record scratching by DJ's is a folk art and so too the rappers that don't make the charts but are in the community. Now, rap is an international expression.

Hey, you don't have to like all folk music if you don't like rap. But folkies can use an open mind sometime.

Frank