Vote

Actually, I don't consider it music.

The answer is never, but I never listen to the type of music David Chesky produces, either. Taste is discrimination, and I'm flabbergasted when people claim to like all kinds of music. I would argue that jazz, punk, and rap are anti-music. They lack a combination of harmony, melody, and rhythm. I'm also surprised when people are offended if you don't like music they like. Some people react as if they were the artist. Even within the genres I like, I only like a certain (generally small) percentage of commercial recordings. I like about 11,000 songs that fit under the overall pop umbrella (non-classical), and I don't think any of them could be labeled jazz, rap, or electronica.

Frankly, I'd rather listen to that horrible strain of Nashville "new" country!

The older stuff seemed to be quite a bit more talent-based and, IMHO, was more listenable. Don't waste your time with anything past 2000.

You have got to be kidding! No chance, no way, no how! I will say that music is a matter of taste and should not be judged per se, but some of the socially questionable and offensive ideas put forth in some of that music precludes it from my consideration. Also, although I am not necessarily offended by swearing, (as sometimes appears in Stereophile), its use serves no purpose for the most part (a line from John Lennon's song "Working Class Hero" uses the F word to emphasize a point which I feel is appropriate) and is indicative of low intelligence and conveys no meaningful sentiment or content. The Doors & Jim Morrison were able to convey the sexual intent in the song "The End" with the line "...Mother, I want to..." with the rest being jazz-scat like semi gibberish, but made the intent clear. I also do not care for country music, and try as I have, cannot warm up to most classical music (and I am 52), but neither of those genres contain anything truly sexist and macho as rap can. Even without the negatives I have described, rap does nothing for me. Thankfully, none of my children like rap whatsoever, and like music ranging from the All American Rejects, to Beatles and Led Zepellin. Praise to Jah for that! Speaking of Jah, did Bob Marley ever curse in any of his songs? I doubt it.

I have heard some rap (I don't know the dif between rap and hip-hop) that I like. I remember the song by Blondie ("The man from Mars"?) And I used to laugh at the Will Smith (he started as a rapper I think) song ("Parents Just Don't Under Stand"). Seems to me now that this style of music (poetry) has lost a lot of its universality (broad appeal). The same kind of thing happened when rock was hi-jacked by one-upsmanship combined with drug abuse. In rap (and or hip-hop) the one-upsmanship has taken a tragic turn towards violent crime.

Rap has helped ruin the major record companies. It was easy profits, but nobody ever buys the back catalog stuff.

Bad poetry (sic) to drum machines? How the hell is that music, let alone audiophile music?

I do listen to some equally "unsophisticated" genres, but it just ain't my bailiwick.

The stuff I listen to is more likely to be old-school, well, because I am an old fart. None of it is bitch and ho and popping caps stuff.

I have listened to it, when a friend wanted me to hear something. But I can't think of a single reason why.

Why?

I do not consider rap to be music. It is ugly, hateful noise. It is an embarrassment to our society.

I will confirm: Never. If it had some even minimal social value, I might. Lord knows I've tried. This is what happens when music gets dumbed down. But Dub? King Tubby? Lee Perry? Absofrinkinloutly! Some of my favorite music on the planet is "Acid/Trance/ Electronic/Ambient/Reggae/Dub."

Like some of the melodic songs that have actual instrumentation. Like Coolio's Gangster In Paradise.

Hell yeah! And it's about time we finally got some classic hip-hop/rap albums in SACD format. Dr. Dre: The Chronic, De La Soul: Buhloone Mindstate, Notorious BIG: Ready To Die, The Roots: Illadelph Halflife, DJ Quik Rhythm: al-ism, Outkast: Aqemini (to name a few) would sound great on high-resolution SACD.

I don't consider hip-hop or rap to even be classified as music. It is absolute garbage to my ears and brain.

Once in a great while at work or in the car, but never on my big rig. That's reserved primarily for jazz.

Sure do! The talent and cultural significance of many of these artists cannot and should not be ignored. Some examples are Eminem, NWA, and lesser known acts such as Aesop Rock. Once you get past the crude language I think you will find that a number of hip-hop/rap artists are extremely gifted and unashamedly emotional story tellers who are simply a joy to listen to.

My interest is more in music than lyrics, so if the music interests me, I'll give it a listen. Eminem has done a couple of things I like, and I did like "Bust a Move" by Young MC.

While I have much interest in using words rhythmically, the current nature of rap and hip-hop just doesn't connect for me.

Rap and/or hip-hip is garbage. I would never waste my time with that junk.

David, Yes! That's for certain! DJs here in the DC area still bump old-school vinyl at the clubs from hip-hop, r&b, to rap and dance. You old-school audiophile guys should be open minded. Its not all about ambience of sound, its the whole package!

Yes, I know there are some artistically worthy creations under the heading: "hip-hop," but frankly I have little time to try and rake it out of the mountain of reeking dung it is buried within.

The more power cords a band needs, the more it will sound like noise.

I mostly use it for checking for mechanical speaker noises. But, it just never appealed to me for regular listening

I have no rap, or hip-hop in my music collection. It does not speak to me.

My grandaughters turned me on to this and it sounds great on my system!

I don't listen to any angry music, and death metal is so ruthless it makes rap sound like the Beach Boys. Music is my positive side.

Some hip-hop is worthwhile, but most is not. Audiophile and rap don't often go together.