This guy is good, scary good...

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I appreciate a lot of different genres of music, ranging for baroque, classical and chamber music through to rock, metal, blues, jazz, celtic, bluegrass, reggae, folk, alt country to various types of world music, including Tuvan throat singing, (Kongar-ol Ondar is hip!) and Latin to various African influences. Traditional Madagascar music is wicked. I can even understand what people get about other genres that I may not like ... disco, punk, techno, big band ... I get those even though I don't enjoy them. But rap I totally don't get, and I'm afraid your explanation didn't help to understand why this guy is awesome or what I'm not getting about his stuff. Are you saying it's his rhythm? Is that it?

I was speaking from more a stylistic context. But since you have a very good musical vocabulary it seems, I dont think there is too much for me to add.

Its also combining a lot of these elements with poetry and spoken word. In solo spoken word, the sound and inflection (basically, how the sound exists in the air) are just as important as the words themselves. Sometimes so much so that I can't comprehend what the f they're talking about!

Guess thats why I don't "get" spoken word as much as I understand its place.

***Traddy gets smacked in the head by his girlfriend's poetry book.***

[Flashpoint]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

So he's an awesome impersonator, is that what's so wicked about his stuff?

That's what I took from it.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I was speaking from more a stylistic context. But since you have a very good musical vocabulary it seems, I dont think there is too much for me to add.

Its also combining a lot of these elements with poetry and spoken word. In solo spoken word, the sound and inflection (basically, how the sound exists in the air) are just as important as the words themselves. Sometimes so much so that I can't comprehend what the f they're talking about!

Guess thats why I don't "get" spoken word as much as I understand its place.

***Traddy gets smacked in the head by his girlfriend's poetry book.***

Ah, I get it. It takes good pot to really appreciate it.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Ah, I get it. It takes good pot to really appreciate it.

...well, I didn't want to just default to that from the beginning, but yeah, basically...

[driveway]

Ford, yes, what's impressive about the youtube vid I posted is the guy's (Ares Spears, formerly of MadTV) ability to do spot-on impressions of three very different rappers voices and cadences. (Specifically, Snoop Dogg, DMX, and Jay-Z)

As for getting into rap - the first thing that you need to have is an appreciation for rhythm almost above all else. If you don't find yourself helplessly tapping your feet and bobbing your head to raw beats, then it just might not be your bag. The second thing you have to do is ignore all the rap you hear on the radio and tv. Mainstream rap is terrible. I know mainstream rock is bad, but in the rap world it feels like there are a hundred Nickleback's with hits for every Radiohead.

If you actually want to start trying to get into hip hop, the place I suggest you start is with A Tribe Called Quest. They're old school, one of the innovators, and they are absolutely outstanding. Their 'greatest hits' album is called The Anthology. I also recommend the Pharcyde and their album Labcabincalifornia. Those were the two groups and specifically albums that got me into hip hop.

Also, check out this podcast: http://web.mac.com/imanuel_ilao/iWeb...t/Podcast.html

This guy does fantastic mixes of underground hip-hop, remixes, and he brings in some solid 'white' music too.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by driveway

Ford, yes, what's impressive about the youtube vid I posted is the guy's (Ares Spears, formerly of MadTV) ability to do spot-on impressions of three very different rappers voices and cadences. (Specifically, Snoop Dogg, DMX, and Jay-Z)

As for getting into rap - the first thing that you need to have is an appreciation for rhythm almost above all else. If you don't find yourself helplessly tapping your feet and bobbing your head to raw beats, then it just might not be your bag. The second thing you have to do is ignore all the rap you hear on the radio and tv. Mainstream rap is terrible. I know mainstream rock is bad, but in the rap world it feels like there are a hundred Nickleback's with hits for every Radiohead.

If you actually want to start trying to get into hip hop, the place I suggest you start is with A Tribe Called Quest. They're old school, one of the innovators, and they are absolutely outstanding. Their 'greatest hits' album is called The Anthology. I also recommend the Pharcyde and their album Labcabincalifornia. Those were the two groups and specifically albums that got me into hip hop.

Also, check out this podcast: http://web.mac.com/imanuel_ilao/iWeb...t/Podcast.html

This guy does fantastic mixes of underground hip-hop, remixes, and he brings in some solid 'white' music too.

Thanks driveway ... that's explains both the vid and rap to me quite well. I checked out some Tribe Called Quest at your recommendation and sorry, but rap/hip hop just ain't my thing I guess. I don't have any appreciation for spoken word stuff or rhythm by itself. I appreciate rhythm ... in music. But rhythm put to spoken word doesn't do anything for me. At least now I know what is about rap and hip hop that people like though, so that's a gain. Thanks for the education.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Thanks driveway ... that's explains both the vid and rap to me quite well. I checked out some Tribe Called Quest at your recommendation and sorry, but rap/hip hop just ain't my thing I guess. I don't have any appreciation for spoken word stuff or rhythm by itself. I appreciate rhythm ... in music. But rhythm put to spoken word doesn't do anything for me. At least now I know what is about rap and hip hop that people like though, so that's a gain. Thanks for the education.

Check out Deltron3030, the content may be more up your alley.

...and Jurassic5

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

Check out Deltron3030, the content may be more up your alley.

...and Jurassic5

Nope ... that doesn't appeal either. It's not the content that I have a problem with. Vulgarity and crudeness does not offend me, and if used right can be quite artistic even. There's just no appeal to rap/hip hop for me. Perhaps your and other posters have misinterpreted my interest. I'm not interested in discovering how to like rap. I don't like it. Case closed. I'm not putting it down or anything. I listen to too much weird and offbeat stuff to start looking down on others' tastes. I was just trying to find out what qualities make rap appealing to those who like that sort of thing, because I totally don't get it. driveway's explanation helped out immensely in that regard. What I got from his explanation is that the basic raw rhythm appeals, and having an appreciation for spoken word work is also helpful. And according to Traddy, a bit of reefer helps too. Maybe the reefer would help me appreciate rap, but if I were to smoke a joint I'd rather listen to Pink Floyd or Ravi Shankar than rap.

[driveway]

Ravi Shankar? Ah yes... I see your problem. You have a severe case of the 'olds'. I suggest you acquire for yourself a basset hound, a rocking chair, and a muzzle-loading musket to keep them damn kids off your lawn.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by driveway

Ravi Shankar? Ah yes... I see your problem. You have a severe case of the 'olds'. I suggest you acquire for yourself a basset hound, a rocking chair, and a muzzle-loading musket to keep them damn kids off your lawn.

Hey, come on. I'm open to many genres of music. I'll listen to new stuff like Manu Chao, Xavier Rudd, Spiderbait, Iron & Wine, Garmarna, the Heathens, Daby Toure. And I'll listen to a lot older stuff than Ravi too ... Jimmy Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Dave Appollon, Django Rheinhardt, Segovia. Just because rap is a genre I don't appreciate is no reason to get insulting. Did I insult rap anywhere in my posts?

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Hey, come on. I'm open to many genres of music. I'll listen to new stuff like Manu Chao, Xavier Rudd, Spiderbait, Iron & Wine, Garmarna, the Heathens, Daby Toure. And I'll listen to a lot older stuff than Ravi too ... Jimmy Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Dave Appollon, Django Rheinhardt, Segovia. Just because rap is a genre I don't appreciate is no reason to get insulting.

I was hoping it would come off as gentle teasing, more than an insult. I understand completely, the vast majority of this 'mod' music that the kids are listening to these days: Broken Social Scene, the Postal Service, Arcade Fire, OK GO, etc. etc. all sound the same to me and that sound is lousy.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by driveway

I was hoping it would come off as gentle teasing, more than an insult. I understand completely, the vast majority of this 'mod' music that the kids are listening to these days: Broken Social Scene, the Postal Service, Arcade Fire, OK GO, etc. etc. all sound the same to me and that sound is lousy.

No problem ... should have just dropped a smiley at the end for clarity. As for the vast majority of modern music being crap ... that's always the case. At least it always has been in my experience. However, there's always a bit of good current stuff being done too. That's why I listen to wide variety of stuff from many eras, including from long before I was born. I find having a wider scope provides a much larger body of music to draw from.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

No problem ... should have just dropped a smiley at the end for clarity. As for the vast majority of modern music being crap ... that's always the case. At least it always has been in my experience. However, there's always a bit of good current stuff being done too. That's why I listen to wide variety of stuff from many eras, including from long before I was born. I find having a wider scope provides a much larger body of music to draw from.

I wish more people had your attitude towards music. Then everything might not sound like crap.

Maybe we should start a thread of artists who were only recognized as genius posthumously?

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

So he's an awesome impersonator, is that what's so wicked about his stuff?

Uh that's Aries Spears...he's a comedian not a rapper. O.o

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Super-Rye

Uh that's Aries Spears...he's a comedian not a rapper. O.o

Sorry ... I didn't realize what his claim to fame is. I don't follow pop culture too closely. The likes of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears and a load of other "artists" have pretty much scared me into the bunker. Now that you mention his name I've heard my son talk about him. For me to appreciate his work as a comedian or impersonator though would require me to be familiar with the rappers he's impersonating, which I'm not.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Sorry ... I didn't realize what his claim to fame is. I don't follow pop culture too closely. The likes of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears and a load of other "artists" have pretty much scared me into the bunker. Now that you mention his name I've heard my son talk about him. For me to appreciate his work as a comedian or impersonator though would require me to be familiar with the rappers he's impersonating, which I'm not.

Michael Jackson?

Come on, now...

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Michael Jackson?

Come on, now...

You know that Home Alone/Michael Jackson poster? My son used to have nightmares like that about Michael Jackson when he was younger. He still does, but it's because of his music now rather than that poster.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

You know that Home Alone/Michael Jackson poster? My son used to have nightmares like that about Michael Jackson when he was younger. He still does, but it's because of his music now rather than that poster.

This is the internet, you can be anonymous. Admit you like Michael Jackson. Admit it and you will be absolved.

I haven't met a single person who wouldn't eventually go on to break down and reveal that yes, in the deepest, darkest, creepiest part of their heart, they did in fact, enjoy Michael Jackson.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

This is the internet, you can be anonymous. Admit you like Michael Jackson. Admit it and you will be absolved.

I haven't met a single person who wouldn't eventually go on to break down and reveal that yes, in the deepest, darkest, creepiest part of their heart, they did in fact, enjoy Michael Jackson.

Sorry ... no can do. However, I will clarify my mockery of Michael and Britney. It's not actually their music that I mock, it's the freak show they've made of their lives. They have many fans who are inspired by and appreciate their music, so who am I too mock that? But the other things they've done with their lives is what makes them such bizarre caricatures to me. I guess I should feel sorry for them in that regard rather than mocking them, but I am only a mere mortal. When I see an older picture of Jackson for example, and compare it to what his face looks like today, I can't help myself. The words "What a freak" just naturally pop out of my mouth.

[arloiginla]

That first guy doesn't sing that high. His highest note is the D an octave and a note above middle C, easily reachable through trained falsetto. I take voice lessons as part of my music degree at the U of C and can hit all those notes with relative ease. I am a tenor, but actually what is surprising is that given the nature of the falsetto, most contra-tenors (ie those with trained falsetto) are actually baritones or basses and have low speaking voices.

He does a good job but in no way is it really out of the ordinary.