We performed a rap song the other night in a folk/alt country setting. We did Gin and Juice by Snoop Dogg and Dr.Dre. We sung it and played guitar and mandolin with it. The crowd went through the roof. We did not come up with this arrangement though I am not trying to steal anyone's thunder lol. I played a gig with a band called the Gourds and it was an arrangement that they have of the song. Alot of people credit the jam band Fish with recording it but it wasn't Fish it was the Gourds. I think in the future some of the rap will be viewed as folk. Rage Against the Machine addressed current social issues straight forward and without pulling any punches. Tupac Shakur was another that rapped about social injustices and the good and bad of both sides of the economic and social lines. I am not a rap fan (although I do love Rage Against the Machine) but they (some of them not all) do chronicle what is going on in modern society better than most music forms that are popular today. Most of mainstream music today is worried about writing and delivering a big hook line that will sale umpteen million copies. They are more worried about the package that is delivering the hook (looks, marketability) than the actual content of the package being delivered. So I think (whether I like it or not) Rap is more of a source for social documentation than other popular forms of music today. For that reason I think rap will be the next folk. Even punk which has a reputation for social observations has failed to step up to bat. Then is you think about how many young people know the words to tons of rap songs by heart it becomes very clear to me. Remeber today's youth is tomorrows elderly that will be passing on thier way of life. I belive it will become the next folk even more. If the youth of today was around alot of folk when they were younger though that would make a big difference. Alot of times it seems that as people age they like to search out things that remind them of the past. Things that offered them happiness in thier younger days and provided them fond memories. So I think we could see some kind of resurgence on the music scene (not sure what). I know my son (he's 10) and alot of kids on their early teens around here are into 80's heavy metal instead of rap. I know that is not a saving characteristic for many on this board. My son is into folk though he has grown up listening to it from me and alot of different family members. He has a TON of friends that have grown up listening to it by always being around me and my brother playing music and listening to it. So they are aware of it and like some of the songs. I guess that is why we all have to do our parts to keep our music alive. If not Rap will take over without a doubt. I Think it is anyway but I have time to breath so I have time to fight lol.
cya
JT