[W T Clark]

People still die because of verses in America — though I will not go so far as to call it "poetry". Still, this place is a place for verses, at least?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68972253

[Yves S L]

Negative behaviour has negative consequences, go figure!

[John Riley]

I heard about this and thought maybe one stole the other’s girlfriend or millions were lost. Nope, it’s because of a couple of lines in a couple of songs. It’s always interesting how the bigger your name and wallet are the thinner the ego gets. Maybe there’s an algorithm.

[Mark McDonnell]

Maybe the shooting was nothing to do with the Kendrick Lamar beef. Maybe it was someone who paid good money for Drake's actual "poetry" book.

https://youtu.be/Hug84vXvc_4?si=irq4uOcTJiJEE5LJ

[Shaun J. Russell]

We've come a long way from Byron's "diss track" of Keats's "piss-a-bed poetry."

[Ann Drysdale]

I am remembering, a little sadly, the Flyting threads on D&A. Those were the days.

[W T Clark]

I would not be as confident as Jim to put down this music. I have learnt more about compression and energy from most rappers than from some poets of the past esteemed highly here. Rap has true authentic energy combined with craft: twofold vision; in this sense: it is a truer formalism than half the versified metrical efforts I am told is "formalist". Not that Kendrick can hold me like Blake or Dickinson or Mandelstam; but to deny his energy would be braver than I am. Of course much of it is trash; but what isn't very much trash? — And to deny all rappers when I hear them every day is beyond me! — And To Pimp a Butterfly has an effect I would not disdain.

As for this talk of pettiness; it is true: yes John. but show me a poet who isn't and I will show you ten. As with everything: silliness is stranger and older than we know.

[Shaun J. Russell]

Originally Posted by W T Clark

I would not be as confident as Jim to put down this music. I have learnt more about compression and energy from most rappers than from some poets of the past esteemed highly here. Rap has true authentic energy combined with craft: twofold vision; in this sense: it is a truer formalism than half the versified metrical efforts I am told is "formalist". Not that Kendrick can hold me like Blake or Dickinson or Mandelstam; but to deny his energy would be braver than I am. Of course much of it is trash; but what isn't very much trash? — And to deny all rappers when I hear them every day is beyond me! — And To Pimp a Butterfly has an effect I would not disdain.

As for this talk of pettiness; it is true: yes John. but show me a poet who isn't and I will show you ten. As with everything: silliness is stranger and older than we know.

Yes, I very much agree with this. I teach analysis with a "music and image" theme, and most students choose music videos as their primary source for a semester-long sequence of assignments and papers. For the last couple of years, Kendrick Lamar has been the most popular choice, and the only one who comes anywhere close is Taylor Swift. What's particularly eye-opening is how much the students are able to analyze in his lyrics, videos, and his musical choices. I'm not personally a hip-hop fan (and generally like very little "pop" music), but I can also very much appreciate that there's a lot of excellent artistry in the genre.



Check out this video for "Count Me Out," featuring Helen Mirren as a therapist, and Lamar delving into his personal insecurities.

[John Riley]

Cam, yes, silliness is universal. In my 12-step group I’ve seen people go to jail for serious time from violence that happened from being “disrespected.” People relapsing a dying behind hurt feelings over nothing. Prisons full of people who were “disrespected.” We have an entire fascist movement over here because people who couldn’t be bothered to get an education feel disrespected by educated liberals. (I’m not saying all fascist are uneducated but it’s the base.) Yep, I’m tired of it all. The whole fucking world is one big Scot-Irish feud. Yes, it’s a shame that one of these talented and successful men can’t shake his head and walk away.

What do I know? Maybe one has by now.

Why did Tupac die? Before your time but same BS. (No. It isn’t only in the African American part of the world.)

[Jim Moonan]

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I can't help but notice that Rap and the Bible are in tandem on this Board... Take it as you will. I see Armageddon : )

If God and Satan rap battled... Here's an interesting manifestation of the rap genre: https: //www.youtube.com/@erb

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