[Bones75]

Would you consider, say, percussive drumming type music as "music"? I would.

Rap does indeed have melody and harmony, and percussions..

It's has a percussive beat and the bottom layers, then it will usually have a synth line, piano line, (repetitive thought it may be) or some other melody layed over the mass and drums, then then the rhyme often serves as the harmony, as (and you may not believe this) but most rappers rap on pitch. The songs have verses, choruses and often bridges, sometimes key changes.

There may also be samples, etc.. all of which has to blend for it to sound right.

The elements you say it lacks, are indeed present, though they make take a form you don't readily recognize, given your likely musical background.

There is good and bad in everything. Forgive me for the assumption, but I would venture the little bit of rap you've been exposed to has been crap. Most rap that is played on what I call the "kiddie media" (MTV, many FM stations) is crap. The real good stuff is rarely heard.

-Bones

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Would you consider, say, percussive drumming type music as "music"? I would.

And I wouldn't. No melody equals no music. Beat is a part of music but in and of it's self is not music.

There is good and bad in everything.

Once again. Not arguing. But it is not music. And I have heard some very good stuff.

But like I said, you can not hum it. There may be a few places in a rap where the rhythmic chant becomes song but this does not compose a majority of the chant. So it should not be classified as a song. It is a rap.