Offensive to whom?

[Rainwater]

I have a lady friend. Just lately we were discussing the quality of today's pop music and the topic shifted to how much we are both offended by the content of most rap songs.  Unlike the old school rap on the 80's and early 90's there are no redeeming qualities about it. It's all fuck this and fuck that, extremely violent and and vulgar in its references to women.  And plenty of the N-word which - for someone who was raised not to use such a word - even though I am white, I find it extremely offensive, i suppose for the fact that young black men cannot find a more dignified way to address themselves and one another.

My lady friend, who is also white, describes driving places with her teenage children (1 boy, 1 girl) in the car playing the kind of music I have described, cringing at the wheel as her kids listened to this so-called "music" and rapped along with it, every nasty, filthy word... yes, every word, she noticed, except for one.  Strangely.  She said it actually sounded strange that they were rapping every other word and then dropping that one word out, and of course it came so often that they were leaving it out a lot. So she asked them after they got home one day:

"You were rapping everything else.  Why didn't you rap the n-word?"

The answer was, "Because it's offensive."

These kids have been well-trained...

[MissBarbara]

I have a lady friend. Just lately we were discussing the quality of today's pop music and the topic shifted to how much we are both offended by the content of most rap songs.  Unlike the old school rap on the 80's and early 90's there are no redeeming qualities about it. It's all fuck this and fuck that, extremely violent and and vulgar in its references to women.  And plenty of the N-word which - for someone who was raised not to use such a word - even though I am white, I find it extremely offensive, i suppose for the fact that young black men cannot find a more dignified way to address themselves and one another.

My lady friend, who is also white, describes driving places with her teenage children (1 boy, 1 girl) in the car playing the kind of music I have described, cringing at the wheel as her kids listened to this so-called "music" and rapped along with it, every nasty, filthy word... yes, every word, she noticed, except for one.  Strangely.  She said it actually sounded strange that they were rapping every other word and then dropping that one word out, and of course it came so often that they were leaving it out a lot. So she asked them after they got home one day:

"You were rapping everything else.  Why didn't you rap the n-word?"

The answer was, "Because it's offensive."

These kids have been well-trained...

I don't know how old you are, but this is the type of rant that was popular in the late 80s and early 90s, especially your assertions "there are no redeeming qualities about it" and "black men cannot find a more dignified way to address themselves and one another." That, and the fact that you put "music" in quotation marks.

Of course, we all have personal tastes in music, and no one person's taste is better or worse than anyone else's. Still moving from "I don't like rap music" or "I don't understand rap music" to declaring it not "music," finding "no redeeming qualities in it," or condemning its artists for displaying a lack of "dignity" moves far beyond personal opinion.

Meanwhile, if you hate songs with lyrics that include "fuck this," never listen to one of my favorite Sex Pistols songs, which contains this lyric:

"Fuck this and fuck that
Fuck it all
And fuck that fucking brat."

By the way, the song is called "Bodies," and the "fucking brat" is an aborted fetus. That's not very dignified.

[Writers Bloque]

I have a lady friend. Just lately we were discussing the quality of today's pop music and the topic shifted to how much we are both offended by the content of most rap songs.  Unlike the old school rap on the 80's and early 90's there are no redeeming qualities about it. It's all fuck this and fuck that, extremely violent and and vulgar in its references to women.  And plenty of the N-word which - for someone who was raised not to use such a word - even though I am white, I find it extremely offensive, i suppose for the fact that young black men cannot find a more dignified way to address themselves and one another.

My lady friend, who is also white, describes driving places with her teenage children (1 boy, 1 girl) in the car playing the kind of music I have described, cringing at the wheel as her kids listened to this so-called "music" and rapped along with it, every nasty, filthy word... yes, every word, she noticed, except for one.  Strangely.  She said it actually sounded strange that they were rapping every other word and then dropping that one word out, and of course it came so often that they were leaving it out a lot. So she asked them after they got home one day:

"You were rapping everything else.  Why didn't you rap the n-word?"

The answer was, "Because it's offensive."

These kids have been well-trained...

I don't know how old you are, but this is the type of rant that was popular in the late 80s and early 90s, especially your assertions "there are no redeeming qualities about it" and "black men cannot find a more dignified way to address themselves and one another." That, and the fact that you put "music" in quotation marks.

Of course, we all have personal tastes in music, and no one person's taste is better or worse than anyone else's. Still moving from "I don't like rap music" or "I don't understand rap music" to declaring it not "music," finding "no redeeming qualities in it," or condemning its artists for displaying a lack of "dignity" moves far beyond personal opinion.

Meanwhile, if you hate songs with lyrics that include "fuck this," never listen to one of my favorite Sex Pistols songs, which contains this lyric:

"Fuck this and fuck that
Fuck it all
And fuck that fucking brat."

By the way, the song is called "Bodies," and the "fucking brat" is an aborted fetus. That's not very dignified.

I agree, MissB and raise you another song that isnt rap but a very eloquently worded hip hop song that uses "fuck you"

(and this for MissB for her great opinion)

[Shiela_M]

Let's not forget some of the music that Cardi B and Nicki Minaj put out. Some of their music is the same. Men rap about sleeping around and sexualizing women, but then you have Cardi B going on about her WAP (wet ass pussy)

Cant expect men to change the way they perform if the female artists are just as vulgar

"Wet ass pussy, make that pullout game weak, woo!"

[staci]

I always liked "Home home on the Growler"

[Rainwater]

I never said I didn't like rap music.  But if you say "fuck that pussy" over and over again fifty times you'd be hard pressed to convince me there's any creative talent in the mix.  No, you see The Chronic, Straight Outa Compton, anything by Snoop Dogg, etc... There's tons of rap I like.

And Bodies is one of my favorite songs by the Sex Pistols, but then it isn't just using profanity like some people wipe their ass.

But my post wasn't really about that.

It was about why my lady friend's two kids would rap along with a song about violent sex but leave out the n word for being offensive. 

[phtlc]

Meanwhile, if you hate songs with lyrics that include "fuck this," never listen to one of my favorite Sex Pistols songs, which contains this lyric:

"Fuck this and fuck that
Fuck it all
And fuck that fucking brat."

By the way, the song is called "Bodies," and the "fucking brat" is an aborted fetus. That's not very dignified.

[/b]

But....but...but......it's such a touching and eloquent song

[BigSimpn]

Hello all! New here and appreciate everyone’s opinion. With that being said, I am a singer and enjoy music from many genres. My favorites are grunge, classic rock, punk, 80s pop, hairbands, 90s alternative, 90s rock, 80s and 90s hiphop, and the new rock infused country. Favorite artists are the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Duran Duran, Jane’s Addiction, Florida Georgia Line, Guns N Roses, Poison and Alice N Chains. Growing up through the 80s and into college in the early 90s, there began a big change in music and what was being allowed on radio. Hell, radio itself was put into the corner when satellite radio and streaming came to be.
Im not going to disagree with any of the points made. All are valid and all well thought out and written. I remember when Guns N Roses came out with their first album Appetite For Destruction in the mid 80s.  It was pretty gritty and it was around that same time that we started seeing the parental guidance labels on the cases. They followed that up with Use Your Illusion II and Lies Lies Lies, which were all laced with “obscenities, violent lyrics, and racial slurs.” I put the quotations in due to the fact that I for one don’t even believe in those terms. Who says what’s considered to be any one of those three things. Just because a made up word or phrase is used with feeling or passion, why is it obscene? They made up a whole new dictionary for these words and phrases. Face it, people have way too much time on their hands and their to damn smart for their own good.
I can totally see the reasoning and concern behind Rainwater’s post. For a mother to witness what she did, it must have been shocking and a bit troubling. I have a 14 year old daughter. I hear the music that the kids today are listening to and I want to drive a dagger into my skull. To be totally honest, I haven’t listened to radio or streamed modern music in 15 years. I feel sorry for the kids and what’s being imprinted into their little brains when it comes to the music. What’s worse for me is that I know these groups and artists today are no talents when it comes to vocal skill. So much is filtered and cleaned up electronically. If you’ve got a look or a gimmick you could be a star. TikTok famous!?!? YouTube famous?!?!? What in the absolute hell are we talking about here? I’ll tell you what. We’re talking about natural evolution and revolution. It takes place all the time and has since it all started. I wish I could remember what my daughter and a friend of hers were chanting in the car the other day but I informed them that what they were saying was actually popular 20 years ago. I did it word for word right back at them. Not sure if it made me cooler or made them vow to never repeat it. lol 
When it comes to rap and hiphop, dear lord folks! The best and most talked about rappers of my generation are house hold words now. Snoop! Dre! Eminem! These were and still are the best in the game. Anybody talking about Fitty Cent, Diddy, Biggy? Nope. In 10 years or so my daughter’s children will be listening to whatever they are calling alternative or hairband music just like I did as an adolescent. Try to keep them grounded and humble. Always play the “classics” like our parents did for us back then. They will grow being musically well rounded. That’s all you can hope for. Thanks for the time.
If anyone’s interested, hop on YouTube and check out my covers. BigSimpn_sangs.   All types of music. Some well sung and some, not so much. Always listen with headphones. I’ll explain if ya want to know why. Please don’t feel obligated. Don’t care about how many views I get or any of that. I posted for the friends and family to hear..

[Rainwater]

I am going on the assumption that no one really wants to address the question I asked.  Nothing new.

[MissBarbara]

I am going on the assumption that no one really wants to address the question I asked.  Nothing new.

I just re-read your OP, and I don't see a single question there.

It's hard for us to answer non-existent question.

And you're right: that's nothing new.

[Rainwater]

The question is implied.  Why is the n word too offensive for my friend's kids to rap when they are tapping sexually violent lyrics in the car with their mom?  It's hypocritical.

[MissBarbara]

The question is implied.  Why is the n word too offensive for my friend's kids to rap when they are tapping sexually violent lyrics in the car with their mom?  It's hypocritical.

If you believe this is hypocritical, then your friend's kids are the ones being hypocritical.

And they are the only ones who can answer your question. So, ask them.

[Elizabeth]

Thank God there's always country music to listen to.
Of course, there are a few heartbreaking songs, where the cowboy loses his truck and dog and the crops fail, BUT if you play the song backward, the dog comes back home, the truck is found, and the corn is six feet high.
So it's all good.

Love,
Liz

[Dudester]

I never said I didn't like rap music.  But if you say "fuck that pussy" over and over again fifty times you'd be hard pressed to convince me there's any creative talent in the mix.  No, you see The Chronic, Straight Outa Compton, anything by Snoop Dogg, etc... There's tons of rap I like.

And Bodies is one of my favorite songs by the Sex Pistols, but then it isn't just using profanity like some people wipe their ass.

But my post wasn't really about that.

It was about why my lady friend's two kids would rap along with a song about violent sex but leave out the n word for being offensive.

Rainwater, I don't know where you live. With that said, I live in the south. The N word is used, quite liberally, among black people that are on friendly terms with each other. Speaking as a former cop, more times than I can count, I have seen a black cop jack up a black kid that called the cop the N word. Likewise, a white person should never call a black person the N word. One of the funniest things I ever heard was a dispatcher/training officer (Rhonda) who was never afraid of letting people know what she was thinking. Anyway, a rookie officer had the radio way too close to his mouth and what he said sounded like "Mmmmm...mmm.mmmm, mmm mmm" to which Rhonda replied "BACK YOUR BIG OL N____ LIPS OFF THE RADIO AND TRY THAT AGAIN!!!!"

So, Rainwater, the answer to your question is that the N word is like a landmine and it is best not to land on it.