Double standard regarding use of English language (rap/hiphop vs country singers)?

self

[rudy45]

Please help me settle a disagreement with my teenage daughter. She likes rap and hiphop (artists such as Usher, Eminem etc.). I frequently criticize these singers for their poor use of the English language.

However, she criticizes me, in turn, because I listen to Brooks & Dunn. In fact, just to annoy her, I sometimes adopt their style of speaking. She wants to know why (in my view) it's OK for country singers to talk "funny" in their songs, but not for rap artists.

She doesn't go for my answer that the latter singers are more politically conservative LOL.

Thanks LOL

[thoughtomator]

Teach her the difference between an accent and a gutter dialect.

[mhking]

I have my own "teenage daughter" battles (mine went on her "first date" yesterday) -- you're on your own, m'friend.

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[rudy45]

LOLOLOLOL!!!!!

You're absolutely right!!!

Brooks & Dunn say the right words, but just in a "funny" (LOL) way.

Rap artists say the wrong words....

[SirLurkedalot]

Talk like a rapper in front of her friends. Every time you see them.

[ECM]

Oh God, what I wouldn't give to be there for that.

[SirLurkedalot]

"Hey kids call me Snoop Daddy... known from coast to coast like butter and toast, ya dig?" My parents never griped about my tunes, mainly because they were stealing MY albums. I was the guy listening to jazz fusion in high school. Kids in school knew Metallica but thought Weather Report was at the end of the nighly news.

[mtbopfuyn]

I don't recall Brooks and Dunn ever singing about @#%^&^$_(@#$^$^*$_(*!%&#%!

[rudy45]

Absolutely. See my earlier post regarding a poor choice of words vs. a "funny" or endearing way of saying the right choice of words.

I have only "Steers and Stripes" album, and the only song that REMOTELY comes close to being questionable would be track 14, "See Jane Dance." But even that song is mild compared to rap, right?

On the other hand, e.g. "Only in America" is rock solid content wise.

[wysiwyg]

...it's OK for country singers to talk "funny" in their songs...

What do you mean? Country singers don't talk "funny." Pennsylvanians -- now there's a funny-talking group of people! [Note tongue firmly planted in cheek] LOL

[4mycountry]

Well, let's see...

Country music is popular in the Southern part of America, and most of the singers are from Southern states (Texas, Oklahoma, etc.). Everyone knows that we Southerners have certain words all our own which get incorporated into songs, such as the ever-popular "y'all", "Howdy", and "fixin'". Some Southerners have an accent depending on what part of the South they come from. This does not cause them to botch the English language in their songs, however. Everyone who hears country understands the words that they hear.

Now, let's look at rap. Rapping is talking -- talking, not singing -- very very quickly, to music. This talk is often riddled with cursewords and slang. So if you can make out something the first time, you probably won't like what you hear. You may also not be able to comprehend what the "singers" are saying because of all that slang.


IMNSHO: Country is far better.

[Sixgun Symphony]

Tell her that the country-n-western music scene has far more class than Rap/Hip-Hop.

[Brainhose]

This is a no brainer. I had the same argument with an ex-friend, I complained about Rap's vile lyrics and he said: "Ya know, our parents complained about the Beatles".
A completely moronic argument, since I was young we've now gone from the scandalous "I Want To Hold Your Hand" (GASP) to rap lyrics that call women B*tches and whores and urging the killing of police officers.
Why don't you discuss that aspect with your daughter? Why quibble over dialect when the core of the songs are just so different? I'm sure you must find the subject of these rap songs terrible. I don't understand why you let your children listen to it.

[LisaMalia]

My son went through a "rap" phase in his mid-teens. I just told him that I trusted him enough to know that HE KNEW that it was just another form of music, and not to take the words to heart. Had I thrown a hissy fit about him listening to it, he would have anyway, and probably have really gotten into it. As it turned out, he lost interest in a short time.

As far as fracturing the English language, who wants to listen to music that is grammatically correct? Not me! My favorite music is "old country", and if a song don't have "ain't" in it, it "ain't a good song!...:)

Good luck! The fact that you are having this dialog with your teen shows that you're a good parent.

[supercat]

Grammar in song, rap, poetry, or other forms of verse should be considered a non-issue. Although better writers can maintain grammer while maintaining meter and (optionally) rhyme, it is better to use questionable grammar while maintaining smooth meter than to use sound grammar and awkward meter.

A much bigger complaint with most rap songs is the content. To be sure, complaining that "Life ain't much fun since I quit drinkin'" (popular country song) isn't exactly a great message, but even that's better than a lot of what rappers are putting forth.

[weegee]

Former pimps, drug runners, and hustlers who "got a break" and a record contract are hardly in the same class as the Beatles (who played strip club dives early in their careers).

"Are you frontin'" is a challenge put on "you" by players in the game on the street trying to cast you off as a bulls***er and not as "tough" as they are. One upsmanship among a bunch of thugs (not necessarily low rent). Some continue to traffic in a life of crime even after they become big. Getting gunned down by another criminal before you are thirty does not make you a "big man".

[Keith in Iowa]

"Rap Music" is an oxymoron.