Rap Music

[PeteZaHut]

I listen to rap music. I don’t listen to it for what they say (because most of what they say is horrible), but I enjoy it for the beats and the flow of words. Is it wrong to purchase a rap CD knowing that I am encouraging them to have inappropriate lyrics?

 

[BobP123]

A good book to read on the subject:

Gods of Wasteland, Fifty Years of Rock ‘n’ Roll, by Michael J. Matt.

It addresses all of your issues. Lyrics, beat, etc.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

No, not at all. Like you said, if you just like it for the beat but are mature enough to ignore/handle the lyrics you are just fine. There is no conflict of interest here.

 

[DaveBj]

Warning! Personal Opinion Expression Follows!

I have always considered the phrase “rap music” as being the perfect example of an oxymoron.

Back to your regularly scheduled thread

 

[Eileen_T]

I listen to rap music. I don’t listen to it for what they say (because most of what they say is horrible), but I enjoy it for the beats and the flow of words. Is it wrong to purchase a rap CD knowing that I am encouraging them to have inappropriate lyrics?

I must admit that I like Eminem’s music. My kids & their friends and cousins thought that was hilarious since I am 50+.

One day driving to Mass I was listening to his music and suddenly felt it was inappropriate to listen to the foul words just before approaching the altar and Presence of Jesus. Then I reasoned that it would also be inappropriate listening after receiving Communion.

From there it was a short step to how uncomfortable I would be if Jesus was sitting nearby while I listened. So I stopped and started listening only to music that I felt would not offend God. It took awhile to find other forms of music I enjoyed, strangely enough it turned out to be Gregorian Chant and other old Church music.

 

[Wolseley]

I would sooner listen to cats mating.

 

[kage_ar]

Check out some of the artists at phatmass.com/

 

[edwest2]

Rap and music are just two words that do not go together for me. On another thread, someone ponted out that the most common rap is not reflective of what rap was originally meant to be. OK. But I’ll tell you, when I’m stopped at a red light and the car next to me is blasting profanity, violence and sex talk - I have got to roll up the window.

Eminem turns my stomach.

God bless,
Ed

 

[PeteZaHut]

but do you all think it is wrong to purchase the music if you know you can control yourself to have clean enjoyment out of it. Is it wrong to give them money for what they are doing?

 

[melensdad]

Is it wrong to purchase a rap CD knowing that I am encouraging them to have inappropriate lyrics?

Maybe I have a different take on this. First, I don’t oppose rap music. Emminem has some amazingly good lyrics. As a 46 year old white guy who lives in a rural area, I find that not too many of my peers feel that he is worthy of such praise, but honestly I think some of his stuff is pretty amazing.

But have you tried to listen to any of the Catholic rappers? Seems that you’d get the “beat” and you would not be encouraging the rap industry that is, predominantly anti-religion, anti-women, anti-family. You may want to check out a podcast called Catholic Rockers, (link on www.sqpn.com ) they regularly feature music from Catholic rap artists.

Honestly it seems to me that to support SOME of these rappers who degrade women, support violence, etc in their lyrics is actually harmful to society. It does encourage them. Why not just buy Playboy magazine because you like to read the articles? Is that not a parallel arguement?

 

[Eileen_T]

Maybe I have a different take on this. First, I don’t oppose rap music. Emminem has some amazingly good lyrics. As a 46 year old white guy who lives in a rural area, I find that not too many of my peers feel that he is worthy of such praise, but honestly I think some of his stuff is pretty amazing.

But have you tried to listen to any of the Catholic rappers? Seems that you’d get the “beat” and you would not be encouraging the rap industry that is, predominantly anti-religion, anti-women, anti-family. You may want to check out a podcast called Catholic Rockers, (link on www.sqpn.com ) they regularly feature music from Catholic rap artists.

Honestly it seems to me that to support SOME of these rappers who degrade women, support violence, etc in their lyrics is actually harmful to society. It does encourage them. Why not just buy Playboy magazine because you like to read the articles? Is that not a parallel arguement?

Eminem writes from his life and emotions. Much of his work is a social commentary on the environment he grew up in and lives in today. His “Slim Shady” persona’s songs are offensive and extremely tasteless more often than not, which is why I don’t listen to them any more. (I heard language just as crude and offensive all Sunday afternoon as my neighbours had friends over for a BBQ. All at top volume and I couldn’t “turn it off” or change the station.)

I have noticed, though that his latest songs don’t have the same anger motivating them, and I hope he will evolve and develop a new style. He’s certainly got the talent to make a change and survive doing so. Wouldn’t it be great if he became a Catholic. I often think what his talent could achieve among the younger generation if he used it to glorify God.

The first rapper I ever actually listened to was Fr Stan Fortuna. That is where I came to enjoy the genre. It was fun because my kids (6 of them) freaked out that their mother was listening to Rap.

 

[Mirdath]

Warning! Personal Opinion Expression Follows!

I have always considered the phrase “rap music” as being the perfect example of an oxymoron.

Back to your regularly scheduled thread

Technically you could make a case for that, since rap doesn’t do anything with melody, but it’s still poetry and it’s still art – when done well

 

[melensdad]

The first rapper I ever actually listened to was Fr Stan Fortuna. That is where I came to enjoy the genre. It was fun because my kids (6 of them) freaked out that their mother was listening to Rap.

HE IS AWESOME. I also listen to some of his music. He is often featured over at the Catholic Rocker’s podcast on www.sqpn.com and it is amazing what he can do in the name of our Lord.

Honestly I think Catholic Music has come a long way. It is somewhat different than Christian music, often shunned on the Christian music stations because of topics like Mary. Consequently the Catholic Jukebox and Catholic Rockers shows are the best place to hear it.

 

[FrankLawrence]

I listen to rap music. I don’t listen to it for what they say (because most of what they say is horrible), but I enjoy it for the beats and the flow of words. Is it wrong to purchase a rap CD knowing that I am encouraging them to have inappropriate lyrics?

The question you are really asking is, “Is it alright if I compromise my faith and fail to live in FULL submission to God?”
The answer is NO!!! We are called to be OBEDIENT servants. By giving money to the secular rap industry, you are contributing to the destruction of future generations of children. You are aiding and abbetting(sic?) criminal behavior. You are paying to hear lyrics that degrade women, increase the probability of fornication and abortion, increase the probability of drug and gang violence, and are loaded with profanity. In fact, the money you spend on that CD may be used to contribute to someone’s murder.
Would you want your little sister or daughter listening to music that sends her a message that she is nothing but an object to be used and toyed with? Would you want her bimbotically to be flocking to men who have a history of cheating, beating, impregnating, and leaving, just because MTV says that it is the “popular” thing to do?
If some hate group made a song that talked about how they were going to take pleasure in violently murdering Catholics, yet they put it behind a catchy beat, would you spend money to listen to it?
Read Romans 12:1-2 (I’m not in the mood to quote it, now.)
As Catholics, we should unite with our separated Protestant brethren, and together DEMAND that all secular rap music be removed from all elements of American society.
If you are spending money on secular rap, “music” don’t even THINK of claiming to be in obedience to God. Make your choice now. Who will you serve? God or some ghetto thug who would just as soon rape your girlfriend without an ounce of remorse.

 

[fellowChristian]

Rap had it’s hold on me.

No light for me to see.

Dark song up all night long.

No light for me to see.

That Rap had a hold on me.

Bad words bad taste no good for my race.

No light for me to see.

Rap had a hold on me.

To young to know and there I go.

Singing songs that make men strong.

Girls show so much skin make their momma cringe.

No light for me to see.

Rap had a hold on me.

Oh and now I see

Bathe me in the light

With evil I fight

On bended knee I pray

Both night and day

Our Lord will show mercy for my wicked ways.

Rap had a hold on me.

 

[rciadan]

but do you all think it is wrong to purchase the music if you know you can control yourself to have clean enjoyment out of it. Is it wrong to give them money for what they are doing?

Yes it is wrong. It is a sin to knowingly promote sin. You are committing a sin of commission by giving material support to those whose goal is to subvert our children away from God. You are in bed with Jezabel, not because of what she is saying but because she looks and sounds good saying it. Read Apocalypse 3:20 for referrence. Besides, what kind of witness are you giving to your neighbors when they see you on your way to Mass, listening to “Come on and @# my #@! and I will kill you and your #@&*@!# children! I want to #@!$ you in da #@!”? There are a myriad of great Christian alternatives out there that provide the same music with uplifting and wholesome lyrics. Try Father Stan Fortuna - francescoproductions.com/

 

[dolphinlove]

I was sort of going through the same thing, but mine is with techno music.
Ive always loved techno, and ive never taken drugs to appreciate it, which im happy to admit.
But ive come to the conclusion cause there is not really any words in techno music, i dont really have much to worry about, i dont think it would offend Jesus.
I still listen to it!

 

[Mirdath]

As Catholics, we should unite with our separated Protestant brethren, and together DEMAND that all secular rap music be removed from all elements of American society.
If you are spending money on secular rap, “music” don’t even THINK of claiming to be in obedience to God. Make your choice now. Who will you serve? God or some ghetto thug who would just as soon rape your girlfriend without an ounce of remorse.

Public Enemy:

I try to tell my people
There should not be any hatred
For a brother or a sister
Whose opposite race they’ve mated
No man is God
And God put us all here (yeah)
But this system has no wisdom
The devil split us in pairs
And taught us White is good, Black is bad
And Black and White is still too bad
That’s why everytime I turn around
All the people in my neighborhood
Look mad and sing…

Tell me that offends God.

 

[FrankLawrence]

Originally Posted by Public Enemy
“I try to tell my people
There should not be any hatred
For a brother or a sister
Whose opposite race they’ve mated
No man is God
And God put us all here (yeah)
But this system has no wisdom
The devil split us in pairs
And taught us White is good, Black is bad
And Black and White is still too bad
That’s why everytime I turn around
All the people in my neighborhood
Look mad and sing…”
That most certainly is offensive. “Opposite race they’ve mated.”
Is that implying interracial fornication? “No man is God.” Is that denying the incarnation of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? “The devil split us in pairs.” Is that suggesting that Genesis 11:1-9 is erroneous? The word “in” should be, “into,” by the way. “And taught us White is good, Black is bad.” Oh, cry me a river! “And Black and White is still too bad.” In and of itself, it is not bad. It can be bad, however, if it is a result of a naive teenage white bimbo dating a gangster thug black guy (as opposed to a dignified black person), just because MTV tells her it is the “in” thing to do to be “popular.” This song seems to be trying to send a message that white people need to “tolerate,” watching their daughters, sisters, and white female friends get beaten, cheated on, impregnated, and dumped by black thugs and gangsters, and that failure to do so makes us “racist.” Personally, I feel that failure to object to secular rap music makes someone a racist, because there has never been anything that has portrayed black America in a more deplorable manner. Not slavery, not segregation, not even the Ku Klux Klan can compete with the damage that secular rap music has caused to black America. It’s wonderful that prominent black Americans such as Bill Cosby and Reverend Al Sharpton are speaking out against rap music and the culture that surrounds it. Raping, bullying, joining gangs, murdering, taking drugs, disrespecting authority, cheating on girlfriends and wives, using profanity, talking as if you’ve never received an education, objectifying women, encouraging children to do things that will get them thrown in jail, and then calling whitey “racist” when he objects to such behaviors are certainly NOT elements of “African American culture.” Yet, secular rap music and MTV want to say that those things ARE African American culture. If we don’t stand up and speak out against this, young African American children are going to start thinking that such things actually are African American culture, to the point where when they grow up, such abominable evil will BECOME African American culture. The elimination of secular rap music from American society should be a secular national priority second only to the elimination of pornography.

 

[FrankLawrence]

\ Not slavery, not segregation, not even the Ku Klux Klan can compete with the damage that secular rap music has caused to black America.

Just to clarify, because I worded that very poorly; I meant that those things never portrayed black America in quite as negative a manner as secular rap music does. Being a victim of something horrific, such as slavery, is not a negative upon the slave, but upon the slave owner. Being a victim of segregation is not a negative upon the segregated, but on the segregator. The Ku Klux Klan is generally regarded as a hate group, and their bigoted words not taken seriously by anyone intelligent. Secular rap music, on the other hand, tells the world, “We are proud to be degenerates. It is our culture. Failure to be a degenerate like us is failure to be BLACK.” White people, such as Eminem, who eminate that culture are then accused of “trying to be black.” Thus, suddenly, as a result of secular rap music, a skin color(black) has suddenly gotten a bunch of negative personality traits associated with it to such a degree that people of a different skin color (white) who have those same negative personality traits gets accused of trying to be that skin color (black). Could racism possibly be any worse? THAT is what I meant by my statement.