What is with all the cursing in rap songs? They talk about having sex, doing drugs, killing, etc. Some songs, I'll give them credit, don't talk about that, but most of them do. And then they curse and beep out half the song. What is the interest in such songs? Why does everyone like them so much? And why do they keep playing that stuff at prom?

I was actually planning on doing a post on this exact topic, addressing the issue of why people stereotype all rap songs the same way!! All and not even the majority of rap and hip-hop songs are on the subject of sex, rather they are on the subject of getting things in life that considers one rich, successful.
However, there is a rock group called "The Sez Pistols" and I am yet to hear anyone condemn them for such a degrading and disgusting name. Also, consider the topic of Justin Timberlake's song "Sexy-Back!!" No one seems to notice that he is propositioning someone to have sex with him in the first few lines of his song and that he proposes that she "whip him if" he "misbehaves" an audacious reference to sadomasochism!! Shouldn't this be considered an issue as well?
If you want to talk about sex being a taboo topic, think about the literature we are forced to read in high school, such as 1984, Hamlet, and all the poems of the carpe diem movement, all of which treated sex as if it wasn't important or had no real meaning.
Everywhere you look on TV someone is smoking and not only cigarettes!! More and more programs show people having sex on television as well. The rap industry is not centered on these negative topics any more than any other portion of the mass media is.

I have to say, even though there are rap songs that may have a negative vibe, i also must say that we cannot stereotype all rap this way. Also, I really get angry at the fact that people will be so quick to talk about rap in this manner, but neglect rock and heavy metal which gives off a very violent and negative feel if you ask me. Also, Some of the same topics like sex and women in rap that may be considered as inapropriate or degrading to women are the same topics in other types of music like country and pop. I guess it's just considered "cleaner" whatever that may be. For example, that country song about "badonka donks". Yall know what i'm talking about. Also, you got the playboy mansion and girls gone wild with girls acting all nasty and showing their boobs to everybody. I can go on and on about the other types of media that promotes sex and degrades women. But nobody wants to say anything about that. Go figure

Vegetarian tigress and Vonny123, I couldnt have said it better myself.

People are so quick to make judgements and accusations about Rap. They curse too much, they talking about sex all the time, they do this and they do that...But what about other types of music and the shows that are on MTV (Room raiders, Next, and etc...) It's so much profanity and perverted acts going on...I dont know what to say..I'm left speechless after watching it. The things that they are allowed to say and do are so disgusting and sickening but have anyone said anything about that...

And Pop...it maybe a little cleaner than hip hop, however, the sex, the females, the half-naked men, cars, money, and etc...plays a little or some part in all music ...So if we judge one type of music, let's judge them all..

"What is the interest in such songs? Why does everyone like them so much? And why do they keep playing that stuff at prom?"

I love rap/hip hop and there is nothing wrong with it. I can relate to it and it is an important part of my culture. If I dont prefer the profanity, I will get the explicit verse. If I dont like the video, I dont have to watch it. Rap/hip hop is great music to dance to and most of the songs have a creative and unique dance to go with them. So that is why they play them at dances, gatherings, and especially proms!

Futhermore, Rap/Hip Hop contributes alot to the music world....Rap music does not illustrate profanity or sex anymore than any other style of music or entertainment so lets not stereotype rap!

There's already been a bulletin posted about this, but I'll re-emphasize my point:

I think its about personal taste. I like all kinds of music BUT pop or rap. I enjoy country, classical, and the occassional techno band.
That classifies me as either a nerd or a dork. I don't care which.
I'm not going to label another person based on their stereotypes.
Let's not judge people based on their taste of music, and let's not look at another person and assume their tastes reflect on them as a person. Its not right or fair.

Rap is pretty pathetic now. I was listening to Tupac when I was in the 3rd grade. I loved him. He had an awesome voice and his rapping was poetry, literally. He loved to write poetry. Of course some of his songs were about the present day topics. But still, you can't take out all that content. I think rappers need to make more music like Tupac and Lupe Fiasco. Quality rap music.

Interesting replies....I listen to Christian rap...I wasn't really trying to degrade all rap in that sense...Christian rap is pretty awesome and not what everyone expects...especially Tobymac. But I just meant the rappers who wear bling and stay with their homies, ya know, G? I can't even say that stuff with a straight face.

That's what Im sayin...dont judge someone because of their differences or their taste...What if I like bling bling or what if I stay with my homies...ya know, G?!?!

Am I wrong for that, should I be judge because of that? There is nothing wrong with that...if that's not what you prefer than fine...but dont degrade or put down others because of your differences!

I like all music. Even the occational rap song. I do prefer 'old school' 80's rap or early 90's, but that is what I listened to when I was a kid.

I think the problem I have with rap in particular is the use of the "n" word. Now, I don't want to say it becuase I am not here to offend anyone. Why must there be so much cursing and that stupid word? If I was to walk down the street and called someone a n****r I'd get shot. But, if my best friend said it, there would be no problem because she is black. I don't recall any rock music or heavy metal calling people names like Polock (sp?) or Wop. I have a problem with any music that takes aim at a peticular race, gender, faith, or what have you. The problem isn't the rap music in general. It is what is in a lot of it that I don't like.

I am not judging anyone here on their taste or what they like. I am just saying that the lack of respect in music is what makes me not like it.

I AM SO GLAD SOMEONE FINALLY DID A POST ON THIS, I WOULD VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN IF I COULD!!! I am black, but I hate rap for the exact reasons listed. I don't want to hear people talking about bitches and hoes on the radio. Why people like it, I honestly have no clue, but I hate being black and not liking rap because it causes problems. I get called stuff like...Suzy Q (black on the outside, white on the inside DON'T LAUGH!!!) all the time because I don't like that stuff. Prom is supposed to be an elegant event, so why play "Drop It Like It's Hot" at a prom. At my prom (I'm only a junior, so I did not go, I only heard about it) people were grinding on each other ( If you don't know what that is, it's bascially dry-humping) and all sorts of crap. Gowns and tuxedos were stained with a bodily fluid, that wasn't sweat (ewww...), girls went to hotel rooms with guys (need I say more?) and there were enough babies made to start sports team!!! If prom is going to be like that, I may not go! Stop snitchin' was another movement brought on by rap that is the reasons gangs and killers walk the streets because no one wants to get labeled a snitch! How stupid!!! I will give a first hand account on rap...tomorrow...I just reached my post limit.(NOOOO!)

My problem with this forum is that a couple of you aren't realizing simple CULTURAL DIFFERENCES.

For instance, I laugh when I hear that retarded phrase "GIT ER' DONE" or when I hear someone say something like "Dude, like I just so like freakin' hooked up with like Heather, and she was like so like fetch!" or "that HONKY-TONK BADONKA DONK"... what is honky-tonk anyway? I think he stole the whole badonka donk thing...LOL

You can choose to laugh at other people's CULTURE, which is what you're doing, OR you can accept that another culture is JUST DIFFERENT than yours! You don't say "I'm goin ta chill wit my homies", and really, neither do most black people. Even if they did, that would be okay. You don't have to turn on the stations that play rap, R n' B, or hip-hop.
The reason they played it at your school prom is because it's so popular. The MAJORITY of people like it. You may have wanted to talk to your DJ or something to get another type of song played!

Just for some information, "G" stands for "gangsta". Like, one of my friends calls me "B" because my last name's Branch. It's just an abbreviation. The term "Homeboys" was also derived from gang affiliation.
I would hope that you're not classifying all rap or all rappers in that manner. MOST rappers are not gangsters.

I listen to ALL kinds of music.
Alternative, Classical, Pop, R n' B, rap, hip-hop, country, go-go, reggae, heavy metal, death metal, dance...
I've heard ALL kinds of things. Try listening to some heavy metal sometimes. Most of the old stuff referred to nothing but sex and drugs!

I really hate the stereotypes people put on a music or race, even when they think they're not.

If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Plain and simple.

Another thing, as for the 'dry humping' at the prom and kids going back to hotel rooms...
NEWS FLASH!!!
That happens no matter what kind of music is played, if that's what your particular school allows.
After my CHRISTIAN SCHOOL's prom was out, the seniors all went to hotel rooms. I think that's just a tradition and a kind of right-of-passage for some kids. It's not necessarily my piece of cake, but again...

WHO AM I TO JUDGE?!?!?!?

I wasn't picking on a certain race or anything....please, I'm not a racist.
But I'll tell you what, the majority of my school doesn't like that kind of music (most of them just pretend to sometimes). But their true nature is rock and country music, but the prom rarely plays any of that.
I was thoroughly disgusted at my prom a few weeks ago. People dancing too close, being separated by cops...yeah, that's just not my thing.

The reason why to me is because it's the only way they can actually express how they feel by rappin. Second, people listen to it because they probably know someone or they could of had an similar experience. Third, they play it at proms mainly because of the background music and alot of people either request it or need somethin to make their day by listen to someone's horrible experience.

IT IS THE ONLY MUSIC YOU CAN DANCE TO AS A GROUP.

If you've been in a club, it's probably the only music that would be appropriate for a young crowd.

I can't imagine dancing to smooth jazz or Elvis in a night club....

I'm not going to do the Hokey Pokey or the Electric Slide.. Sorry

Personally, i'm not a huge rap fan. i'm just not fond of most of the sounds. Sure, i like some rap, but my ipod is mostly filled with classic rock and emo stuff. I like lots of different music though, but rap is definitely lower on the list. However, it surely isn't the only music to talk about sex and drugs: Justin Timberlake (as vegetarian tigress said) for one thing has some provocative lyrics, as does limp bizkit (F*ck you like an animal), Maroon 5 (all their songs are rather sex-oriented in a way), Aerosmith (Pink?!), that's just to name a few. Perhaps sex in music is a good thing, or an inspirational thing. Personally, I find Maroon 5 talking about "pushing forward, arching back" a little more appealing than Ludacris' "back seats windows up that's the way you like to..." (though I'll admit to being a fan to both). No, I'm not fond of rap, but they're not the only one's guilty, and it's definitely in the way it's said that makes it ok or not.

By the way, I'll admit rap is common and easy to dance too, but so is techno, and lots of latin music. I hope they play stuff besides rap at prom...

When observing the evironment, we learn there are many different people and what makes people different is their environment, and though, we as young people have had a chance to observe the world only at school,(until recently-there were government restrictions on the hours and days we work and in public we were mostly with family)but it has showed us how greatly people of the same age range (most went to public, age divided schools)within the same radius(most attended feter schools) can expirience drastically different expieiences; we learned different people have different views, different views create different expressions.
Poetstar's question has been answered every day for the last 13 years from 7am-3pm, suffering children are more likely to grow up having pessimestic views, defensive demenors, and harsher tones. (The study of linguistics reflects how language and environment relate, the Alaskans have 9 words for ice, someone impoverished and exposed to the dynamics of poverty will have many words for and a lot to say about life's 'unpleasant-ries'. And why, Poetstar, should someone not use expression to become lucritive? Prose, novels, poets, theature, rap... what is really the difference? Should someone, because having been impoverished, abused, or supressed in some way exploit others or encourage misbehavior? No. It is a shameful thing to do. But, someone who has expiriences they wish to share or education they wish to spread, they should be allowed and it is needed. Most rap is full of grief, heeding, homage, encouragement, triumph, the same contents in published essays, poetry, books,plays and other genres of music. Artists should respect other artists.
And, just like in school(birds-eye view of the cafeteria)people want to be with those they can relate to People relating to others and showing support (C.D. purchse, site logging, text voting, video watching)is what we've been doning all along! "Yeah, I'll save you a seat", "Yeah, I'll help you with your math." "Yeah, I'll share my textbook with you." Now, older and working, we can extend our support.
Rap has terrible aspects, any music with lyrics does. There's contemporary, adult contemporay, there's 'good' pop, and there's 'I'm a nearly naked virgin so "Hit me baby one more time", there's R&B's love and there's R&B's "let me lick you up and down". The question is why is the music industry so vulgar.
And,Why play it at proms? Wide intrest equals wide response.

Same thing, I always think why this type of music is allowed in this nation. It is like bad words is needed for the song to be a hit, and then everybody dancing it and repeating the bad words out loud. I think this wont stop for a long time until somebody put a stop to the listenning of this music and becomes ilegal.

They play those songs because they have a good beat, and are easiest to dance to. Well actually, there is a difference between rap and hip-hop music. Rap is where there isnt much beat going, and they're mostly, well.. Rapping. Usually when I think of rap I think of Tupac.. He told stories with his music.. not just throwing out random words about rolling fatties, and getting laid. Hip-hop has beats.. and those are the ones that use dumb lyrics. I listen to hip hop music because I love to dance... I cant dance to any other music the way I dance to hip hop. Although, I do eventually learn the words from listening to it several times... I never take the time to learn the words of hip hop songs.. because it just doesnt interest me.

But like Vonny said: Heavy Metal, alternative, rock songs have the same kind of meaning, they just dont use the same words. && half the time.. You cant even hear what they're saying over all that screaming. :]

YVO... rap songs will never be illegal.
It's called a freedom of speech.. so people can say what they want in their music.

I love hip hop music.. and I'll defend it all day. :]