Thoughts on Music

Well I'm back after a weekend of drinking and smoking with a very good friend of mine and I'm ready to write again. Today my thoughts on music specifically. One question I hate being asked is what kind of music I like. The only answer I find to be fitting is "Good music". Of course there are some genres I prefer to others, but I will listen to any music that is good (and some bad as well, I have my vices). My favourite genre currently is metal. I love a loud song that gets me hyped up with amazing guitar riffs, booming drums and lyrics that tell a short, but brilliant story. My brother and the aforementioned good friend of mine both prefer rap music (although they would have a few disagreements as to what constitutes rap). This made me think about the two genres and how much they have in common.

What do you think of, when you think of the typical fan of rap music? Many people would think of a 15 year old wannabe gangster with his jeans around his knees and a hoodie four sizes too big. What about the typical fan of metal? Many people would think of a man with long hair, satanic beliefs and a casual attitude towards violence. I know most people see beyond these stereotypes, but too many people don't. The fans of both genres have been negatively stereotyped beyond belief. Granted there will be some fans who do conform to the stereotype, but many do not. I am not a long-haired, violent satanist (despite what some people would have you believe). Neither my brother nor my friend want to join the crips or the bloods.

It's not just the fans that are stereotyped, but the music too. Rap music is thought to be solely about making money, having sex and doing drugs. Metal on the other hand is thought to be simply noise with an angry man screaming unintelligible nonsense over the top. People who think like this have never heard rappers like Immortal Technique or Lowkey. Hell, you don't even need to look underground! When at his best, Eminem's music can be inspiring, touching or both. 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G. Nas, Public Enemy and N.W.A. all are examples of rappers or rap groups with meaning behind their songs. Thos who think metal is merely noise have never heard Metallica, Megadeth, Black Sabbath Iron Maiden and many others who provide substance in their songs. Both genres have these negative stereotypes and I believe that has something to do with my next point.

Both rap and metal are often used to express dissatisfaction. N.W.A. didn't write "Fuck Tha Police" because they thought it would get them a lot of street-cred. They wrote it because they wanted to send a message to the LAPD specifically and American police in general. Public Enemy did not write "Fight the Power" because they thought it was catchy. They wrote it because they wanted people to stand up to those in power and remind them why they have the power in the first place. On the metal side, Metallica didn't write Master of Puppets because they enjoyed a marionette show. They wrote it to send a message about just how awful drug addiction is. Megadeth didn't write "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" because they had the guitar riff down and needed some random lyrics. They were criticising the conflict going on in Northern Ireland specifically and any conflict motivated by religion in general. There are messages behind many of these songs that people should listen to.

Why not listen to some rap or metal some time. You might just like it. Let's also be honest: Music is declining in quality (Popular music at least). Heading back to the 80s and 90s will get you some great music, especially rap and metal.

Steven